ICRE News

February 23, 2021

Medical Education Alumni and Faculty Earn UPSOM Medical Education Awards

The annual University of Pittsburgh Curriculum Colloquium Awards Ceremony recognizing outstanding faculty contributions to medical education through several prestigious awards was held virtually on February 11, 2021. Honorees are selected by the Award Review Committee and the Dean, based on nominations by students and faculty. The Award Review Committee is comprised of members of the Academy of Master Educators and the Curriculum Committee Executive Subcommittee. Here are the award winners and nominees who are affiliated with the Institute for Clinical Research Education’s Medical Education degree programs.

Winners:

• Melissa A. McNeil, MD, MPH - Distinguished Service in Medical Education Award and Clinical Educator of the Year Award
  Dr. Missy McNeil is a long-time instructor of courses in the ICRE’s Medical Education Program. She is a Professor of Medicine and Associate Chief in the Division of General Internal Medicine. Dr. McNeil was given the Distinguished Service in Medical Education Award for her outstanding service to the Medical School. This award is the highest honor in medical education given by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and is bestowed on special occasions as warranted. Dr. McNeil was also given the Clinical Educator of the Year Award, which recognizes faculty who consistently provide outstanding clinical education in the elective course setting.
• Eloho Ufomata, MD, MS, and colleagues - Award for Outstanding Mini-Elective
  Dr. Eloho Ufomata graduated from the Medical Education Master of Science Program in 2017 and is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine. The Outstanding Mini-Elective Award, established in 2014, recognizes faculty who volunteer their time and expertise to run a mini-elective for first and second year students. These electives provide students the opportunity to pursue areas of interest and personal growth in areas outside of the traditional core curriculum.
• Alfred Shoukry, MD, and Lauren Trembley, MD, MS - Clerkship Preceptors of the Year
  Dr. Alfred Shoukry graduated from the Medical Education Program with a Certificate in 2020 and is a Clinical Instructor of Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine. Dr. Lauren Trembley completed her Master of Science in Medical Education in 2019 and is a Clinical Educator in the Department of Emergency Medicine. The Clerkship Preceptor of the Year Award recognizes faculty clinical preceptors who consistently provide outstanding clinical instruction in the clerkship setting for Pitt medical students.
• John Szymusiak, MD, MS - Early Career Educator Award
  Dr. John Szymusiak graduated from the Medical Education Master of Science Program in 2017 and is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics. The Early Career Educator Award honors junior faculty who have demonstrated excellence and promise as educators in the UPSOM curriculum.
• Allison Serra, MD, MPH - Donald S. Fraley Award for Medical Student Mentoring
  Dr. Allison Serra is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and a former Certificate student in the Medical Education Program. The Donald S. Fraley Award for Medical Student Mentoring recognizes individuals for their outstanding contribution to medical education through their service as mentors to Pitt medical students.
• Brianna Rossiter, MD, MS - William I. Cohen Award for Excellence in Clinical Skills Instruction
  Dr. Brianna Rossiter, a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine, graduated from the Medical Education Master of Science Program in 2019. The William I. Cohen Award for Excellence in Clinical Skills Instruction recognizes faculty who consistently provide outstanding instruction on clinical skills, including patient-physician communications, for first and second year Pitt medical students. This award is named in honor of our late colleague, Dr. Bill Cohen. As an educator, Bill's focus was on helping medical students become highly effective and compassionate physicians with excellent communications skills.
• Amar Kohli, MD - Sheldon Adler Award for Innovation in Medical Education
  Dr. Amar Kohli graduated from the Medical Education Master of Science Program in 2016 and is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine. The Sheldon Adler Award for Innovation in Medical Education recognizes individual achievement in innovation in medical education at UPSOM. This award is named for former senior associate dean of the School of Medicine Dr. Adler, who is highly regarded as a leader in medical education and particularly in innovative approaches to the medical school curriculum. Dr. Adler was instrumental in developing and implementing the integrated UPSOM curriculum in 1992 and championed the cause of overcoming barriers to change.

In addition, the first- and second-year medical students have their own awards, the Excellence in Education Awards, for which several Medical Education graduates were nominated.

• Best MS-1 Small Group Facilitator: Allie Dakroub, MD, MS (nominee)
• Best MS-2 Course Director: Alfred Shoukry, MD (nominee), Stephanie Maximous, MD, MS (nominee), Jared Chiarchiaro, MD, MS (nominee)
• Best MS-2 Small Group Facilitator: Helbert Rondon, MD, MS (nominee)