Education has always been the primary mission of medical schools. Over the last century, biomedical research and the provision of advanced clinical care by medical school faculty has grown enormously, creating the tripartite mission – education, research and clinical care — that we recognize today.
Outcomes of outstanding clinical care and research are perhaps more easily recognized than the results of exceptional teaching. There is a metric for success that has a relatively quick return on the investment of time – patient lives lost/suffering relieved and publications/grants, respectively. The outcome of an exceptional medical education is more nuanced (or buried in confidential course evaluations). Thus, some of our faculty who excel in preparing medical students for future success as physicians may not be as well recognized as our exceptional researchers and clinicians.
Each year, UNMC recognizes some of these unsung heroes though its Impact in Education Awards, which will be bestowed this year on March 6. This issue of InterCOM highlights Abbey Fingeret, MD, PhD, for her selection for the institution’s preeminent award in education, the Varner Educator Laureate. My congratulations to Dr. Fingeret, whom I know well in her role as chair of the college’s curriculum committee. Congratulations as well to two other college faculty who are being recognized at the event: Cory Rolfsen, MD (Innovative Practices in Education), and Al Fisher, MD, PhD, (Interprofessional Education Scholar).
I am also pleased to report that, as part of an effort to respond to faculty feedback that the college could do more to recognize exceptional teachers you will soon be hearing about new teaching recognition awards that have been created. Nada Fadul, MD, and Suzanne Haney, MD, associate and assistant deans for faculty affairs, respectively, will lead this effort. Look for an announcement soon from Dr. Fadul regarding these new awards and the nomination process.
Speaking of teaching, progress continues on schedule for the opening of the regional campus in Kearney this fall. The new building opened for use last month and looks fantastic. New faculty and staff continue to be identified and hired to meet growing needs as they arise. Over the next few weeks, the admissions committee will have offered acceptance to this fall’s entering class, and those offered admission will be providing us with their preferences as to starting their medical education on the Omaha or Kearney campus.
As noted in a different article in InterCOM, the philanthropic committee has stepped up enormously to support new scholarship support for Kearney, which will allow us to provide scholarships covering 50% of in-state tuition for each Kearney-based student in the inaugural class for their full four years of attendance. We continue to seek support to be able to sustain support for future Kearney medical school classes.
As I close, members of the fourth-year class have or will soon finalize their rank lists for the upcoming residency match. We wish them success and look forward to celebrating Match Day with them on March 20 at the Omaha Design Center. There will be a streaming option for those who wish to watch the festivities. More to come on Match Day in next month’s InterCOM.