Issue 85, May 2025

As we transition into May and Commencement, I find myself reflecting on the transformative journeys that we have shared with our learners. The end of April was a particularly poignant reminder of the enduring impact of mentors and teachers, as we celebrated our annual Alumni Weekend and the Distinguished Service Teaching Awards. | Full Excerpt

Submission Deadline: May 11, 2025
The call for nominations is now open for the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award, Exemplary Educator Award and Rising Star Award recognizing outstanding contributions by our faculty in health and basic sciences education. Awards will be presented at the Academy of Educators' Education Day on October 14, 2025. Additional information | Questions

Submission Deadline: May 21, 2005
The Education Day committee invites faculty and learners throughout WashU Medicine to submit an abstract for a poster or oral presentation at Education Day on October 14, 2025. We welcome a wide variety of abstracts representing both education research and innovative approaches to education across the health professions and across learner stages from students through post-graduate (including continuing education). Works in progress and submissions from students, residents, and fellows are welcome. Additional information | Submit your abstract

Application Deadline: Sunday, May 30, 2025, 11:59PM
Learn More & Apply Here
Intended for health professions faculty who wish to obtain scholarly expertise in curriculum development, design, and evaluation, the program provides enhancement of knowledge and skills, with a focus on core components of educational scholarship and curriculum development. The program consists of twice-monthly seminars during the 2025-2026 academic year, a curriculum development, design, or evaluation education scholarship project completed under faculty mentorship/guidance, and a capstone presentation event.

WashU Internal Application Deadline: Monday, June 2, 2025
Macy Foundation Information | WashU Internal Information
The Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation seeks early-career faculty with 3 to 8 years of experience and the potential to be leaders in medical or nursing education and offers salary support, funds to support a scholarly project in education, and participation in national faculty development activities with a community of health professions education scholars. They are seeking applicants with projects related to the learning environment. Each medical school may nominate one applicant each year. Questions? Contact Dr. Doug Larsen or Dr. Eve Colson, both Macy Faculty Scholars committee members.

Application Deadline: Sunday, June 22, 2025, 11:59PM
Learn More & Apply Here
The Academy of Educators is now accepting applications for membership for 2025. We are an institutional collaboration of educators who together foster a culture of educational excellence and an institutionally valued community of leaders in health science education. The Academy is service-based, and those elected are expected to actively participate in Academy events, including attendance and participation in scheduled Academy meetings.

Date/Time: Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 5:00PM-6:00PM
Location: FLTC - 2nd Floor, Room 205 | Register here
In this workshop, participants will learn the purpose of written narrative assessments, the components of high-quality written narrative assessments, and how to write high-quality narrative comments on assessment forms. The Office of Medical Student Education expects any clinician who works with a learner to attend the workshop. Questions? Contact the Academy. An OMSE collaboration.

Date/Time: Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 5:00PM-6:30PM
Location: Shared upon registration | Register here
Join CIPE for our end of year celebration and Master Interprofessional Education induction for the AY 2024-2025 year and reception. The Center will be reviewing the evolution of the Quadruple Aim and host a Well-Being Resource showcase which will review wellbeing activities happening both within the WashU and greater St. Louis Communities.

Date/Time: Tuesday, May 27, 2025, 8:30AM-10:00AM
Location: EPNEC - Seminar Room B | Register here
The Institute for Informatics, Data Science and Biostatistics (I2DB) presents Grand Rounds with Genevieve Melton-Meaux, MD, PhD “Learning Health System Capacity Building: A Minnesota Case Study.” Melton-Meaux is a Senior Associate Dean for Health Informatics and Data Science and professor of surgery at the University of Minnesota, a core faculty member of their Institute of Health Informatics, and a practicing colorectal surgeon.

Date/Time: Saturday, June 7 & Monday, July 21, 2025, 9:00AM-3:00PM
Location: Shared upon registration | Register here
In 101, participants will learn about IPE competencies and emerging CIPE longitudinal curriculum through simulation, role-play, and videos. In 201, participants will explore conflict management styles and role-play various interprofessional team scenarios, debriefing to discuss challenges faced and how they were addressed.

Pride Poster Making Session & T-Shirt Pick Up
Date/Time: Tuesday, June 24, 2025, 4:00PM-6:00PM | RSVP
Location: Farrell Learning and Teaching Center, Room 301
Come make Pride Posters and meet new friends! Dinner provided.

Pride Festival & Parade
Festival Date/Time: Saturday, June 28 & Sunday, June 29, 2025
Parade Date/Time: Sunday, June 29, 2005, 10:00AM-2:00PM
Pride has always been both a celebration and a protest - a recognition of how far we’ve come, and a call to action for the work that remains. Pride is a moment to affirm our commitment to compassion, dignity, and healthcare for every member in our society. Your presence sends a powerful message to the community: you belong here. You, your families, and colleagues are invited to march at the upcoming Pride Parade and support preparation for this important event. Parade Sign-up, T-shirt orders, and volunteer information can be found here. 

The Office of Education and SAFE Committee has wrapped up its fourth year of the Supporting a Fair Environment (SAFE) initiative. In support of this initiative, over 13,000 participants have completed the SAFE Learning Modules since 2021. In addition, this year, over 2,800 returning Students, Residents, Fellows, and Postdocs completed a “Refresher” on mistreatment policies and reporting. Based on our success this year in the new Workday Learning system, we plan to update and move GME Onboarding, which includes the SAFE modules and is required for all incoming Residents and Fellows, to Workday Learning for its June 2025 launch. Thank you again for your support! To view the latest SAFE Outcomes, please visit the SAFE Reporting website.

The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) has granted the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) at WashU Medicine a Status of Accreditation for 10 years. This re-accreditation status is a testimony to the outstanding quality of our educational program and the commitment of our faculty, clinicians and staff to supporting our students. Congratulations to all who were involved in this process. | More about MSOT

The annual Donor Remembrance Ceremony was recently held April 24th. Over 200 second year MD and PT students created a program of music and poetry performances as well as heartfelt speeches expressing their gratitude for the donors’ tremendous gifts to their anatomical studies. Music performances included a cellist, pianist, and multiple vocalists. The event, held in EPNEC, began in 2018. “Each student realizes how much they have learned from their donor and are humbled that one person can impact their own lives so profoundly,” said Amy Bauernfeind, PhD, Director of Education for the Body Donor Program. Body Donor Program | Watch Ceremony Here

The Program in Occupational Therapy students presented their research and projects at the 17th Annual OT Scholarship Day at the Eric P. Newman Education Center on April 25. We could not be prouder of the incredible energy, knowledge, and scholarship reflected in the students’ work. This foundational experience will serve them as they enter practice and contribute to the broader health-care community mission. Kerri Morgan, PhD, OTR/L, ATP, was our keynote speaker and presented her research on improving health outcomes of persons with disabilities through physical activity. Congratulations to our 2025 Alumni Lifetime Achievement Awardee, Cynthia Ballentine, MSOT, OTR/L; 2025 Outstanding Alumni Awardees, Joni Kamiya, MSOT, OTR/L, and Jenica Lee, OTD, OTR/L; and our 2024 Fieldwork Coordinator of the Year, Randi Shuff, OTR/L.

Janice Hanson, PhD, Eds, MH, Professor of Medicine & Director of Education Scholarship Development in the Division of General Medicine & Geriatrics, was awarded the COMSEP Achievement Award from the Council on Medical Student Education in Pediatrics. This award is given to a current or former COMSEP member whose substantial contribution to the organization, in several realms, has resulted in the ongoing success, recognition, and growth of COMSEP. "Due to Jan's extensive mentoring, she has done with many of us, the rigor and elegance of educational scholarship has truly been elevated due to her guidance and involvement. It was so nice to see her get the award," said COMSEP President, Gary Beck Dallaghan.

Hanson was also honored as the 2025 CGEA Laureate at a recent AAMC joint meeting. CGEA Laureates are honored for their contributions to medical education through development of other medical educators, contributions to the CGEA annual program, leadership, and ongoing scholarly contributions. Congratulations Dr. Hanson!

WashU Medicine has been awarded a 2025 Direct Effect 2nd Cycle Quality of Life grant from The Dana and Christopher Reeve Foundation to support the project entitled, Training the Next Generation of Physicians Using Accessible Equipment. Under the leadership of Kristina Petersen, Assistant Dean of Student Success and Access, and Nichole Zehnder, Associate Dean of Educational Strategy, many members of the Office of Education team and faculty from across the medical school will contribute to enhancing our disability curriculum, including training students about clinical accommodations to ensure full access for patients with physical disabilities.

WashU Medicine has also been awarded an American Academy of Developmental Medicine & Dentistry (AADMD) National Inclusive Curriculum for Health Education (NICHE-Med) grant to further enhance our curriculum on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). We will be partnering with the St. Louis Arc and other community partners to provide additional opportunities to learn about clinical accommodations that may be needed for patients with IDD.

This work builds on the efforts of many faculty at WashU Medicine and the generous support provided by WashU alumnae Dr. Pamela Gallin Yablon and Dr. Hilary Gallin.

The third year Program in Physical Therapy students held the second annual Combined Hats Meeting (CHM). Modeled after the national Combined Sections Meeting (CSM), this event speaks to one of the critical missions in academic physical therapy - the development of physical therapists who wear hats of: Clinician, Scholar, and Educator. During this week-long event, learners present educational sessions and platforms that contribute to important questions in the field, debate and advocate for policies designed to help patients optimize movement, and compete for the top entrepreneurial projects designed to address health system issues or expand access to physical therapist services. “As a faculty member and someone who has the privilege of reviewing our learners' progress, it is a special time to reflect on how hard they have worked, how much they have learned, and how much our faculty and staff have supported them,” said Steve Ambler, Division Director of Education for the Program in Physical Therapy.

The Program in Occupational Therapy has many accolades to celebrate.
Tyler Hood, OTD/S ’25 received the American Occupational Foundation Association’s 2025 Outstanding Student Advocate Award. Full Story
Catherine Hoyt, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA  received the American Occupational Foundation Association’s 2025 Certificate of Appreciation Full Story
Kerri Morgan, PhD, OTR/L, ATP received the 2025 Dean’s Impact Award Full Story
Grayson Owens, OTD, OTR/L received the 2025 Sylvia Rivera & Marsha P. Johnston Activism Award at the recent Spectrum Awards ceremony. This award recognizes an individual who acts in the face of injustice and stands up for their ideals. The award seeks to honor the trailblazing work from which future positive change may be made. More about the Spectrum Awards
Keegan Rhea, OTD/S ‘26 received the Audre Lorde Academic Exploration Award at the recent Spectrum Awards ceremony. The award recognizes an individual committed to using their academic work for the empowerment of LGBTQIA+ communities and individuals. More about the Spectrum Awards

The Roy and Diana Vagelos Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences and the WashU Medicine Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion co-hosted a three-day training on Restorative Practices in Biosciences and Academic Medicine. AAMC Restorative Practices facilitators, Jay Behel, PhD and Sonoo Thadaney Israni, MBA led the training. Thirty participants from across WashU Medicine completed the interactive, on-site training. Program graduates will now participate in a community of practice for support and continued engagement throughout the implementation period.

The Academy of Educators recently hosted Ready, Set, Mentor 2025, an event dedicated to mentoring and networking. This dynamic forum offered a unique platform for AoE peer mentors to provide invaluable support to faculty members at various stages of their careers helping them reflect on current challenges, celebrate successes, and plan future goals. This Academic Medicine article highlights the critical role of events aimed at fostering and expanding one's professional network. | Explore other AoE Events

What Inspires Us is a space for students, residents, fellows, faculty, and staff to share what inspires them, gives them hope, offers courage, and provides meaning to their lives. | Submit your inspiration here. 

My grounding comes from the dirt - I have a garden at home, a plot in my community garden and a garden at my friend’s bison farm (Klondike Bison & Bee) where I am the weekend farmhand and master gardener. The last is my true therapy. I feel my stress slipping away during the drive there and always return exhausted yet energized from a hard day’s work on the farm. Volunteer | Ask me more! ~ Heather Hageman, CIPE & WashU Medicine Community Engagement Hub Director 

For non-US citizens, criminal history, protest participation, and country of origin could all affect your ability to re-enter the United States after an international trip. This Washington Post article, by Sofia Andrade, discusses what you might need to know if you plan to travel outside of the US. Full Article (Requires free account.)

This The Atlantic article by Arthur C. Brooks discusses the growing unhappiness of young people everywhere and provides strategies to thwart this growing trend. Tip #1: Put close relationships with family and friends before everything else and avoid virtual interactions when possible. Read via The Atlantic | Read via the Internet Archive

Want to stay healthier and fulfilled later in life? Try volunteering. Cal J. Halvorsen, WashU Associate Professor of Social Work, and Seoyoun Kim, Associate adjunct of Sociology at the University of Michigan share research findings related to the benefits of volunteerism while aging.  Full Story

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