WWAMI Faculty Newsletter
News & Information from the University of Washington School of Medicine
|
|
|
|
|
A Message from Dr. Suzanne Allen
|
|
|
|
|
|
I hope you are all having a wonderful spring!
The wide availability of the COVID-19 vaccine is an encouraging start to what we hope is the end of this pandemic.
In March, UW announced that at the onset of the 2021 fall quarter, the Seattle campus will return to in-person instruction. To keep our students healthy, we are working with UW facilities to take necessary precautions for a safe return to the classrooms. The other WWAMI regional campuses also plan to have in-person instruction in the fall; those campuses will also be working to ensure a safe return to the classroom.
|
|
|
|
UW also announced that all students are required to be vaccinated before returning to campus in the fall. Current WWAMI students have had opportunities to get fully vaccinated since the beginning of 2021. Incoming students will receive vaccine information if they have not already been vaccinated. Foundations sites across WWAMI will continue to follow the COVID-19 recommendations from our partner universities. Thank you for continuing to make it your priority to help our students stay safe and healthy!
Aside from COVID-19 updates, I would like to share a few additional announcements.
UWSOM received the No. 1 ranking for primary care education and No. 2 ranking for family medicine training in the 2022 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s, "Best Graduate Schools." U.S. News has ranked the school as the top primary care medical school 26 times since the category was introduced in 1995, and as one of the top two medical schools for family medicine training for 29 years. UWSOM also received very high rankings for research. The school remains second in the nation in federal grant funding, with $960 million in federal grants received in 2019. We are very proud to be leaders in medical education and could not have reached these rankings without your hard work and dedication to our school!
The virtual Physician’s Oath and Hooding Ceremony took place on Saturday, May 22. We were delighted to have Dr. Ben Danielson, UW clinical professor of pediatrics, as our keynote speaker. The ceremony recording is available to view on YouTube. Join me in congratulating our graduating medical students!
Please continue to stay safe and healthy!
Suzanne Allen, M.D., M.P.H.
Vice Dean for Academic, Rural & Regional Affairs
University of Washington School of Medicine
|
|
In this Newsletter:
|
- Announcements
- Academic & Learning Technologies (SOMALT)
- Admissions
- Advancement
- Center for Leadership and Innovation in Medical Education (CLIME)
- Continuing Medical Education (CME)
- Educational Quality Improvement (EQI)
- Faculty Development
- Graduate Medical Education (GME)
- Learning Environment
- Rural Programs
- Service Learning
- WWAMI Roundup
- Important Links
|
|
Announcements
|
|
|
|
Health Sciences Library Collections
|
|
|
|
Welcome to the WWAMILY - New Director of Academic Support
Please join us in welcoming Erica Brice, PhD, as Director of Academic Support. Dr. Brice will be leading our academic support unit and working with our learning specialists to develop and enhance programs and initiatives across WWAMI. Dr. Brice has previously worked for Vanderbilt University, Georgia State University, Fisk University, and at Tennessee State University where she worked as a counselor, faculty, and administrator who oversaw a team of social workers, recovery coaches, and clinical counselors. She also was an educational and research specialist for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. Most recently she worked as an independent consultant for healthcare agencies and higher education institutions in developing strategies for improving overall operations. Welcome Dr. Brice!
|
|
|
|
Invitation to Apply to Teaching Scholars Program
Dear WWAMI Colleagues,
I invite you to apply to the Teaching Scholars Program if you love to teach and want to improve your
scholarship and leadership skills. We are delighted that regional faculty have been able to participate by
Zoom. So far, we have had participants from all of our WWAMI sites – except Wyoming! Since 1995, the
Teaching Scholars Program has developed a cadre of highly skilled academic leaders, many of whom have
received local and national teaching awards and leadership responsibilities.
Teaching Scholars is a ten-month, part-time, certificate program consisting of integrative seminars, scholarly
projects, and a professional peer group. Participants accepted to the Teaching Scholars Program devote one
morning a week (from 9 a.m. until noon Pacific Time) for ten months to scholarly discussion of and
reflection on topics related to the education and training of health professionals and career development.
Participants must be able to schedule Tuesday mornings for this program.
To be eligible for participation in the 2021-2022 program, you must be nominated by a sponsor (e.g., chair,
dean, division head) who can provide Tuesday morning release time, and a program fee of $4,500.
Scholars 2021-2022. Complete the survey and submit electronically. Your curriculum vitae and a letter of
support from your department chair should be emailed to Marla Hill, Teaching Scholars Program
Coordinator, at mdhill@uw.edu. The deadline for receipt of applications is June 30th, 2021.
If you need any further information, please contact Marla Hill, Program Coordinator at (206) 616-9875 or
Sincerely,
Amanda Kost, MD
Associate Professor and Program Director,
Teaching Scholars Program
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SOM Academic & Learning Technologies (SOMALT)
|
Using NameCoach to Foster an Inclusive Learning Environment
The School of Medicine is in the process of implementing NameCoach, a tool that allows students, faculty, and staff to create audio recordings of their name pronunciation, provide phonetic spelling of their name, and indicate their pronouns.
NameCoach has been implemented for the Foundations Phase through Canvas. Each required block will have the NameCoach tab activated automatically and elective courses may activate it through the Canvas navigation settings. Faculty are strongly encouraged to enter their own information in NameCoach and monitor the Canvas page to see the information entered by students.
Implementation of NameCoach for the Patient Care and Explore & Focus Phases is coming soon. Since most clerkships do not use Canvas, SOMALT is working on other ways to provide student name pronunciation and pronoun data to clerkship educators.
Additional information can be found on the NameCoach page of the Learning Technologies website. Information about clerkship implementation will be added to that page as soon as it becomes available. Questions or comments can be sent to somaltsupport@uw.edu.
|
Technology Office Hours
SOMALT hosts open technology office hours every Wednesday at noon Pacific Time for an hour. Please come with any technology-related questions and we’ll do our best to help you make the best use of the tech tools available. Past topics have included: video making techniques and best practices for making pre-recorded videos for your course, Zoom teaching tools and techniques, interactivity enhancement for virtual teaching sessions, how to use Microsoft Teams, and a variety of others.
Technology office hours hosted by SOMALT:
Wednesdays, 12-1 PM PT
Meeting ID: 956 2273 7795
Passcode: 875034
|
|
Admissions
|
Seattle Admissions Committee Application
We are now accepting applications for new members to the Seattle Committee on Admissions. This is an opportunity to interview prospective medical school applicants and help shape the future of medicine. Our Committee does holistic review and 3-person panel interviews. The Executive Committee (experienced Admissions Committee members) screen, lead the panel interviews, and meet to make final decisions. New members participate as interviewers; their impressions of applicants are taken into consideration during the final decisions. Different voices are welcomed and encouraged on the Committee.
Members are expected to prepare for and conduct approximately 20 interviews (six or seven half-days) during specific weeks from October to February. This is a significant time commitment, but members regard participation on this committee as a rewarding and enjoyable experience. If you are interested in joining the Committee, please email the Admissions Team at mdintrvw@uw.edu no later than June 30, 2021, and they will send you more information. Currently, membership is open to those in the Puget Sound region who have a connection to UW Medicine.
Learn more about our process and expectations for applicants at our website.
|
|
Advancement
|
|
|
|
Reunion Weekend
The 2021 UW School of Medicine Reunion Weekend will take place virtually on Friday, June 4, and Saturday, June 5. Join us on our new, easy-to-use online platform to celebrate your UW School of Medicine reunion with classmates and friends from your WWAMI site, distinguished alumni and School leaders. Friday and Saturday will both consist of fun live events with classmates and faculty; plus, we’ll have videos, student stories, updates on the School and more that you can access anytime starting June 4. Visit uwsomreunion.org to learn more and register! If you have questions, please contact the School of Medicine Alumni Office at medalum@uw.edu.
|
|
|
|
|
Center for Leadership and Innovation in Medical Education (CLIME)
|
|
|
|
2021 CLIME Together Symposium: June 11, 2021
CLIME invites all health sciences educators to participate in its 6th annual CLIME Together Symposium for Excellence in Health Professions Education on Friday, June 11, 2021, 9:30am-12:30pm (PST) via Zoom.
This year's plenary speaker is Thema Bryant-Davis, PhD. Dr. Bryant-Davis is a professor of psychology at Pepperdine University and director of the Culture and Trauma Research Lab. She published one of the early frameworks and models for the treatment of racial trauma and has provided training for associations, Universities, counseling centers, and non-profit organizations nationally and internationally.
Come meet other members of UW’s vibrant community of educators and participate in a half-day of activities devoted to sharing educational innovations and scholarship. Let’s celebrate our education community and its accomplishments together!
|
|
|
|
|
Continuing Medical Education (CME)
|
Upcoming CME Courses
We are already halfway through 2021 and hope you have joined us virtually at a UW CME offering. If you haven’t, or still need to get your CME credits for the year, check out our remaining 2021 programs. With topics ranging from hospital medicine to travel during COVID, updates for family medicine providers to managing and treating pain, we have your educational needs covered. Check out our upcoming offerings and register now!
|
|
Educational Quality Improvement (EQI)
|
|
|
|
Strategic Planning
After evaluating and modifying UWSOM’s existing strategic plan, the Educational Quality Improvement Strategic Planning (EQISP) Committee has been working to craft a new strategic plan for the School’s medical student education program. The draft plan includes new mission, vision and values statements along with strategic priorities. Currently, there are five draft strategic priorities focused on improving school governance, innovative medical education, health care equity, educational resources, and faculty development. The EQISP Committee is seeking additional community feedback. Please review the current draft and provide your feedback in this survey. After reviewing your input, along with other community feedback, the Committee will make revisions and move the draft plan forward for formal adoption at the end of 2021.
|
AAMC’s Year-Two Questionnaire
Faculty can now review the AAMC’s Year-Two Questionnaire (Y2Q) survey report online. In total, 192 UWSOM E19 medical students completed the survey for a 70% response rate. E19 students indicated a high degree of satisfaction with the overall quality of medical education (91%) and with being fostered and nurtured in their development as future physician. Data associated with one of the school’s continuous quality improvement priorities, student mistreatment experiences, were mixed: offensive sexist comments slightly decreased (12% vs. 15%, 2019); public humiliation as a mistreatment source increased (11% vs. 8%, 2019) and so did racially/ethnically offensive remarks/names (7% vs. 5%, 2019). We appreciate all your efforts to continue improving our learning environment and overall experiences for our medical students. Those efforts are reflected in the recent survey results.
Contact eqi@uw.edu if you have any additional questions about the current strategic plan draft or Y2Q results.
|
|
Graduate Medical Education (GME)
|
|
|
|
GME 2021-2022 Events
Save the dates for GME’s Program Director Development Series (PDDS). Fall events will be held on September 20 or October 5, 2021; Spring events will be held on March 29 or April 28, 2022. The series is available on Zoom and will be recorded.
PDDS is open to Program Directors, Associate Program Directors, key faculty, and Program Administrators. The curriculum is designed to meet ACGME annual faculty development and Common Program Requirements (CPRs). Registration is required and will open approx. 1 month prior to event dates.
|
|
Learning Environment
|
UW Department of Surgery Women's Council
Did you know that the University of Washington Department of Surgery (DOS) boasts four departmental organizations working to promote gender equity in surgery?
This month we highlight the first of the groups to be formed, the UW DOS “Women’s Council,” established in 2016, which empowers and supports faculty with the goal of promoting gender equity in surgery. Although specifically developed to advise the department chair on issues impacting women faculty and trainees within the department, the overarching goal of the Council is to improve the working and learning environments for all.
As its first major initiative, the Council administered a department-wide anonymous, modified Career Barriers Inventory to better understand whether gender was perceived as a barrier to a surgical career at either the faculty or resident level. The DOS’s Drs. Kris Calhoun, Sherene Shalhub, and Nicole Zern presented the inventory results at the Council’s inaugural annual Grand Rounds in 2018. This well-received work was subsequently presented to several UWSOM groups, including the Dean’s Committee on Women in Medicine, and as a podium presentation at the Pacific Coast Surgical Association annual meeting in 2019, in addition to being published in JAMA Surgery.
For its next project, the Council created a policy that more clearly defined standards around pregnancy, parental leave, and lactation for both faculty and residents. Issues for the pregnant surgeon such as when call, clinic, and elective surgery scheduling can stop were defined, as were clearer standards regarding leave time for all parents, as well as for those adding children to their families. The information within the policy and the knowledge gained from discussions about it were helpful to Dr. Douglas Wood, The Henry N. Harkins Professor and Chair, during his work as a member of the American College of Surgeons' (ACS) committee that drafted a statement on pregnancy, parental leave and workplace accommodations for surgical trainees in 2020.
Additional accomplishments and initiatives:
- The DOS’s Dr. Eileen Bulger, the first woman elected Chair of the ACS Committee, presented the Council’s second annual Grand Rounds, in 2019, on trauma, which was well-received.
- The Council’s work-to-date was presented in 2019 at the Harkins Symposium, in a presentation entitled, “Diversity and Inclusion: An Update on the Women’s Council.”
- Working with a member of the UW DOS Resident Women’s Council, the group investigated the impact of gender on grading within its multi-site, multi-state surgical medical student clerkship. This work was accepted for presentation in April 2020, at the Association of Surgical Education annual meeting during Surgical Education Week, which occurred virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Currently, the Council is developing a sponsorship program, as well as addressing ongoing issues that impact the success of breast feeding among surgeons. It looks forward to continuing its work to ensure gender equity in the department.
|
|
Rural Programs
|
2020-2021 WRITE Excellence in Teaching Awards
WRITE is a clinical education program established in 1996 to help meet the need for more rural primary care physicians in the WWAMI region. This unique program integrates community involvement and continuity of experience. The Office of Rural Programs is pleased to share our WRITE Excellence in Teaching Awards for 2020-2021.
The WRITE Excellence in Teaching Awards aim to recognize and honor preceptors with a track record of excellence in teaching medical students, across any specialty, as well as those that serve as a leader in their community. Nominations were collected from WRITE students across WWAMI. A selection committee then reviewed all nominations based on five criteria: commitment to student success, effective teaching methods, positive impact in the community, excellence as a role model for students, and commitment to continuous improvement. The following preceptors embody the qualities we look for in outstanding preceptors and recipients of this award.
|
|
|
|
2021: Dr. Robin Caldwell, Lynden
|
2020: Dr. Tobe Harberd, Chelan
|
|
|
|
Pictured to the right: Dr. Devin Sawyer, Assistant Clinical Dean, Western Washington, and Michelle Pelt, Regional Administrator, Western Washington, “present” Dr. Caldwell with the 2021 WRITE Excellence in Teaching Award.
|
|
|
|
2020: Dr. Curtis Mortenson, Kodiak
|
|
|
|
2021: Dr. Ashley Quanbeck, Hardin
|
|
|
|
2020: Dr. Jonathan Bowman, Nampa
|
|
|
|
2021 Match Results Support Workforce Aims of TRUST
The Targeted Rural and Underserved Track (TRUST) provides an exceptional educational experience to prepare University of Washington WWAMI medical students for careers working in underserved rural areas and underserved small cities of Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho.
178 TRUST Scholars have graduated since the inception of TRUST in 2008.* Out of the 178 Scholars, 62% chose careers in primary care.** Additionally, 10% of TRUST graduates matched into General Surgery which serves another key workforce need in rural communities. Every year the results continue to show encouraging outcomes and reaffirms the impact of the TRUST program.
*Data updates include 2021 match results.
**Primary Care = Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine – Primary Care, Internal Medicine – Pediatrics, and Pediatrics)
|
|
|
Service Learning
|
|
|
|
Service Learning Buzz in Bozeman
Neighborhood Health Initiative Expansion
The COVID-19 pandemic has not deterred Bozeman students from implementing innovative new plans for their Neighborhood Health Initiative (NHI) service project. NHI provides footcare and vaccinations at a local Warming Center shelter. When E20 students, Rachel Temme and Hannah Wolf took over leadership in January 2021, their goal was to both expand existing services and ultimately create a full-service free clinic. They soon realized that the second part of this goal might be four to five years down the line, but the first part was within reach.
The expansion of services was made possible by adding an additional footcare station at each event. They also broadened their reach by setting up events at a nearby annex that specializes in serving families and elders. So far this year, NHI has provided footcare to 49 clients. For Hannah, this experience has been very rewarding. “NHI has been by far my favorite part of medical school. I love spending time with my peers outside of the classroom and staying connected to my Bozeman community.”
The students are well supported by their faculty advisor, Dr. Gerald Groggel. Rachel said, “He is so receptive to our ideas and has been a wonderful source of support. It’s also very helpful that he has a ton of community connections!”
Rachel and Hannah are currently working through the paperwork to incorporate glucometry and other point-of-care testing into their program. They are also planning to set up monthly visits to the shelter in the summertime.
Pictured at right: Bozeman students collaborating with MSU Health Partners at a COVID Vaccination Event, and working at the Warming Center shelter.
|
|
|
|
Mardi Bras
The Mardi Bras fundraiser that took place this spring was the brainchild of Montana WWAMI E20 student, Courtney Liston, who was looking for a way to make a difference in the midst of the gloom of the pandemic. For Courtney, “I am at my happiest when I can contribute to the community through service. I like to identify a problem and fix it. I had done some research about women and homelessness that I found very disturbing.” This research demonstrated that the basic supplies that are so important for maintaining human dignity such as bras, menstrual products, and underwear are often in short supply at shelters due to high costs and the stigma associated with these items. Courtney avoids the terms “feminine” as this leaves out gender diverse persons and “hygiene” because this contributes to the implication that periods are dirty.
In January, Courtney began to formulate a plan. She started by connecting with the Neighborhood Health Initiative team and a local women’s center to see if they were low on these products. Both locations responded enthusiastically.
|
|
|
|
|
Her next step was to reach out to local graphic designer, Ellis Osen of Slanted Creative Co., who worked with her to develop her idea of a bra in the style of a Mardi Gras mask. This catchy image sparked community interest and helped her to publicize the campaign. The fundraiser took place in the first half of March and they were able to collect 300 bras and over 4,000 tampons and pads. They also raised $325 in cash donations for the purchase of underwear and a lot of community awareness of this issue.
Since Mardi Bras, Courtney has been contacted by people across the state to inquire when the fundraiser will run again and if a similar program could be implemented in their area. The campaign also received support from local physician Dr. Claire Putnam who contributed greatly to the project in the form of cash donations, products, and the offer of a discounted co-pay for patients who donated to Mardis Bras.
|
|
|
|
UW Mobile Health & Outreach Van Will Serve Community and Student Experience
A new UW Mobile Health & Outreach Van was presented to the public at a ribbon-cutting event on April 30, 2021 in Seattle. The Health & Outreach Van will enable students and their faculty advisors to provide care where it is needed most. Their objective is to fill in gaps in healthcare by working with a range of communities: from those living on streets or in Tiny Villages to uninsured clients at local health fairs. The students involved come from the UW health sciences fields of medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, social work and public health.
“The new UW Health Sciences and School of Medicine Outreach vehicle has been years in the making and we are tremendously excited about it. Having a van with a clinical space will greatly enhance our street medicine and community health outreach services in the University District and beyond. Our new vehicle has an exam table, warm water, good lighting and many of the amenities that will allow us to serve our clients better,” said Dr. Genevieve Pagalilauan, an associate professor of medicine at the School of Medicine and an original organizer of the van project.
|
|
|
|
New Spokane Faculty Member: Dr. Corliss Newman
Dr. Corliss Newman has recently joined the UWSOM Spokane faculty as a Foundations Guide. Dr. Newman will co-lead the Blood and Cancer Block and support small group teaching. Dr. Newman is a graduate of UWSOM and a Hematologist and Oncologist at MultiCare in Spokane.
Welcome Dr. Newman!
|
|
|
|
Dr. Tim Chestnut Retirement
Dr. Tim Chestnut recently retired from teaching at UWSOM in Spokane. Student comments express his impact and how he will greatly be missed:
- "Dr. Chestnut is amazing! Goes above and beyond to support students and explains concepts clearly."
- "Amazing range and depth of knowledge, I strive to be like Dr. Chestnut one day."
- "Dr. Chestnut always delivers on both fun facts and important clinical pearls. He has always been one of my favorite faculty members and has been high impact in my learning."
- "Dr. Chestnut is the best! I am always so blown away by his willingness to stay late to answer questions."
Best of luck on your new adventures Dr. Chestnut!
|
|
|
|
UW-Gonzaga Health Partnership Celebrates “Topping Off”
A construction milestone was reached earlier this month when the final structural beam was placed, “topping off” the building that will become the new home for the University of Washington School of Medicine-Gonzaga University Health Partnership’s medical and health education, research and innovation center.
The new four-story, 90,000 square-foot building will feature classrooms, an anatomy suite, research labs and administrative offices. These will be utilized by 120 first- and second-year UW medical students, faculty, staff and more than 500 undergraduate students from Gonzaga’s health sciences programs. Construction is on schedule for the building’s completion in July 2022.
Read the full story and watch the celebration video here.
|
|
|
|
Spokane Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Training
Spokane faculty and staff members recently completed an 8-hour Diversity, Equity and Inclusion training, created and delivered by the Spokane Spectrum Center. The two four-hour sessions included topics related to establishing common language, the social structures of oppression within society, the concept of social identities and how to include them in dialogues, and discussion. 100% of the UWSOM Spokane faculty and staff participated.
|
|
|
|
Promoting Intellectual Engagement Award
Dr. John Willford was selected to receive the 2020/2021 Promoting Intellectual Engagement in the First Year (PIE) award. The PIE award recognizes faculty who inspire students intellectually in first-year courses and is sponsored by several programs within both academic and student affairs: the Ellbogen CTL, Advising, Career & Exploratory Studies, Residence Life and Dining, and the LeaRN Programs. Nominees are chosen by freshmen and sophomore students in an online survey, and a committee selects recipients based on number of nominations and student comments regarding the faculty member’s success in (1) engaging students meaningfully in course materials, (2) promoting successful transition to college expectations, and (3) fostering investment in learning. This year, the committee reviewed 200 individual nominations from students and selected 38 award recipients.
|
|
|
|
Wyoming WWAMI Student Awards
Three E19 students were recognized for receiving awards at the 2021 Clinical Transition Ceremony in March 2021: the Pheneger Community Health Award and the Howard Willson, MD Excellence in Primary Care Award.
- Lauren McVeigh (below, left) - Pheneger Community Health Award
- Annie Smidt (below, middle) - Pheneger Community Health Award
- Chae Sutherland (below, right) - Howard Willson, MD Excellence in Primary Care Award
|
|
|
|
Advocacy a Way of Life for UW Medical Student
Wyoming WWAMI E-20 student, Bret Andrew, spoke out about health care equity, and testified throughout the months of February and March in support of Wyoming House Bill 111. The bill, which was signed into law by Gov. Mark Gordon in early April, prohibits insurance companies and health care services from discriminating against individuals based on disability for organ transplants and related procedures.
Read more about Andrew's story here.
|
|
|
|
Montana Excellence in Teaching Award
Nicole Meissner, M.D., Ph.D., was chosen as the recipient of the Montana Excellence in Teaching Award. Dr. Meissner is the Invaders & Defenders Block Director, Blood & Cancer Block Director, and Pathology & Histology Director.
E-19 student, Jessica Gagen, explains, "Excellence in teaching is the definition of Dr. Meissner. Her persistent enthusiasm, encouragement, and unparalleled gift for teaching are evident in every lecture she presents. Dr. Meissner’s dedication to the success of her students is reflected by her extended office hours, content review sessions, phenomenal lectures, and constant willingness to meet with students to discuss particularly difficult topics. It is obvious that Dr. Meissner takes our success both inside and outside of the classroom personally. The E19 class is exceptionally grateful to Dr. Meissner for her constant belief in us, and her integral role on our path to becoming physicians."
Congratulations Dr. Meissner!
|
|
|
|
Dr. David Mark Receives Dr. George Saari Award in Humanitarianism
Dr. David Mark is the recipient of the 2021 Dr. George Saari Award in Humanitarianism. This award is presented annually to a Montana WWAMI graduate or Montana physician who best exemplifies the humanitarian and professionalism characteristics exhibited by the late Dr. George Saari.
Dr. Mark has shown an exceptional commitment to underserved communities in his work with the Indian Health Service and in establishing the Bighorn Valley CHC in Hardin, Montana. Dr. Mark is an excellent role model for the type of physicians we hope our WWAMI students will aspire to become.
Congratulations Dr. Mark!
|
|
|
|
|
