On February 4, 2022, educators and trainees logged on to the seventh annual Department of Medicine Education Day. The half-day event brings together faculty leaders, learners, and staff focused on undergraduate and graduate medical education.

The day began with a Grand Rounds presentation from Margaret Lo, MD, professor, University of Florida, “In Search of Joy in Academic Medicine: 8 Tips to finding your “why.”’ The morning was followed with a research presentation supported by Department of Medicine Education Innovation Grants, education awards, and breakout sessions.

Education Innovation Presentation

Daniel Rosenberg, MD, assistant professor, Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, presented this year’s education innovation award project, “A 2 Week Medical Student Curriculum in an Outpatient Allergy Clinic.” This project invited medical students completing a two-week Allergy/Immunology elective to participate in a curricular research study where they were randomized to either a reading-based or case-based curriculum. After completing a pre- and post-test on common allergy topics, the results showed that while students from the case-based curriculum had slightly more improvement, both groups of students improved significantly from pre to post-test.

Education Awards

The Excellence in Education Mentoring Award was given to two faculty mentors who exemplify extraordinary selflessness as they support and contribute to the education, career development and advancement of other clinician-educators. Award winners received a plaque, a pin and $1000 added to their professional development funds.

The first Excellence in Education Award was presented to Maha Mohamed, MD, associate professor, Nephrology. Dr. Mohamed is director of the transplant nephrology fellowship and the inaugural director of the Equity and Inclusion Curriculum. In these roles, many underrepresented students and residents, and her mentees have successfully matched into residencies, fellowships and have found their first faculty positions. One fellow wrote that Dr. Mohamed made them want to “give 200% of myself…I truly love working with her.”

The next Excellence in Education Award was presented to Daniel Shirley, MD, MS, assistant professor, Infectious Disease. Dr. Shirley is the leader for research in the Global Health Pathway. One recent medical school graduate describes Dr. Shirley as “an incredible mentor and teacher for me since my first year of medical school…his advice and guidance have been instrumental to my professional and career development throughout medical school.”

The Dr. Bennett Vogelman Excellence in Education Mentoring Award recognizes a senior faculty member with a career-long devotion to education mentoring of junior faculty that exemplifies long-time internal medicine residency director Dr. Vogelman’s dedication to educators.

This year’s award was presented to Nasia Safdar, MD, PhD, professor, Infectious Disease. Dr. Safdar has mentored over 150 students, residents, post-doctoral fellows and junior faculty members. Specifically, her mentorship in the development of the Global Health Pathway and the Health Equity Pathway for trainees have contributed to their success as educational programs.

The Inspirational Educator Awards recognized three faculty and advanced practice providers who display unparalleled energy, passion and skill for educating students, residents and fellows.

With a passion for resident education with her commitment to health equity, Hannah Bell, MD, assistant clinical adjunct professor, Hospital Medicine, has developed numerous projects for trainees such as a high-value care simulation game, a primary care curriculum for residents on their VA block rotation and a Health Equity Pathways for residents.

Michael Richardson, PA-C, MS, MPAS, Infectious Disease, is well-known amongst trainees for creating a positive learning climate, treating all learners with respect, and providing personalized education to whomever he works with.

Eliot Williams, MD, PhD, professor, Hematology, Medical Oncology and Palliative Care, is fully invested in the education of the fellows. Dr. Williams does not hesitate to take extra time on rotations or at conferences to teach fellows about important concepts in hematology, or providing feedback in a safe learning environment.

Breakout Sessions

• “Active Bystander Training to Address Microaggressions in Patient Encounters,” presented by Maryam Leila Famouri, MD, MPH, assistant professor, General Internal Medicine
• “Minimizing Gender Bias in Performance Assessment,” presented by Margaret Walker, MD, MPH, PG-2, and Caroline Burkey, MD, PG-2
• “Culturally Responsive Mentorship,” presented by Christine Sharkey, MD, assistant clinical professor, Rheumatology
• “Misrepresentation of Race in Medical Education,” presented by Andrea Schnell, MD, assistant clinical professor, General Internal Medicine, and Maha Mohamed, MD, associate professor, Nephrology

Watch the breakout sessions.

Associate Vice Chair of Undergraduate Medical Education, Laura Zakowski, MD, professor, General Internal Medicine, says they day was a tremendous success. “Our virtual format facilitated participation across divisions and departments. Our interactive breakout sessions were led by gifted Department of Medicine educators who provided important take home points on contemporary topics. And the day was expertly coordinated by our education team, Carley Garvens, Tara Loushine, MS, CHES, and Abi Rudzianis.”

Banner: Daniel Shirley, MD, recipient of an Excellence in Education Mentoring Award. Credit: Clint Thayer/Department of Medicine