On February 5, 2021, educators and trainees logged on to the sixth annual, and first-ever virtual Department of Medicine Education Day. The half-day event brings together faculty leaders, learners, and staff focused on graduate medical education. This year’s virtual format brought a record number of attendees with nearly 70 participants in the main session, and 40 people in the breakout sessions.

The day began with a Grand Rounds presentation on medical education during the pandemic from Başak Çoruh, MD, associate professor, University of Washington, followed by research presentations supported by Department of Medicine Education Innovation Grants, education awards, and breakout sessions.

Education Innovation Presentations

Each of these projects were awarded competitive and peer reviewed grants in Spring 2019, and addresses an important area of education within the Department of Medicine.

“Gaming for High Value Care,” presented by Hannah Bell, MD, clinical adjunct assistant professor and core residency faculty, VA Hospital, and internal medicine residents Nimrod Deiss-Yehiely, MD, Christina Hughey, MD, and Katrina Wolfe, MD, presented their virtual game that teaches residents about increasing the quality, and decreasing the costs, of patient care. The game incorporates active learning with real-life scenarios and in-the-moment feedback on how to provide value-based care.

As part of the Global Health Pathway for residents, Gregory Gauthier, MD, associate professor, Infectious Disease, presented “Global Health Simulation Curriculum for Internal Medicine Residents.” This work is a novel simulation-based, pre-travel curriculum that focuses on disease, social determinants of health, cultural humility and ethics encountered on global health rotations and in resource-limited settings. 

Amanda Parkes, MD, assistant professor, Hematology, Medical Oncology and Palliative Care, presented, “Building Research Communities: An Educational Framework and Formative Evaluation Tools for Research Mentors and Trainees,” that proposed to create a professional learning community dedicated to the development and support of research skills in fellowship training.

Education Awards

In a very competitive nominee pool, seven people were selected as winners of this year’s inaugural education awards. Award winners will receive a plaque, a pin and $1000 added to their professional development funds.

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.

The first awardee was Laura Maursetter, DO, associate professor, Nephrology (above). A former student describes Dr. Maursetter as someone who “pushes me to imagine and reimagine solutions, and taught me to try again when things don’t go as planned.”

The second award went to Amy Zelenski, PhD, assistant professor, General Internal Medicine (above). Dr. Zelenski’s mentees think of her as “trustworthy and committed to their long-term success,” and one who “provides unyielding advocacy and guidance for her learners and mentees.”

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.

The mentor who was selected as this year’s recipient is Michael Lucey, MD, professor, Gastroenterology and Hepatology (above). One of the nominators recalls the first time he met Dr. Lucey:

“Early my intern year, I found myself sitting in a corner office across from the chair of the Gastroenterology and Hepatology division. I went into the meeting expecting a lackluster conversation on research; I left with a mentor who single-handedly shaped the rest of my residency.”

Lastly, the Department of Medicine honors and celebrates the valuable efforts of educators who motivate and inspire others. The Inspirational Educator Awards recognize faculty and advanced practice providers who display unparalleled energy, passion and skill for educating students, residents and fellows. These four awardees were selected for their invaluable qualities as educators and the positive influence they have over their trainees.

• Maxfield Flynn, MD, PhD, assistant professor, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
• Gregory Gauthier, MD, associate professor, Infectious Disease
• Sean O’Neill, MD, clinical associate professor, Hospital Medicine
• Tripti Singh, MD, assistant professor, Nephrology

Associate Vice Chair of Undergraduate Medical Education, Laura Zakowski, MD, professor, General Internal Medicine, believed it to be an outstanding day overall. “Not only did we hear excellent presentations and participate in thought provoking workshops, we recognized several of our top educators and mentors,” she said.

Additionally, Dr. Zakowski thanks Tara Loushine, instructional program manager, Administration-education, and Abigail Rudzianis, associate instructional specialist, Administration-education, “who were instrumental in coordinating the day and successfully transitioning Education Day to a virtual format.”