Rapid and constant advancements in medicine, technology, and patient care demand that healthcare professionals continuously update their knowledge and skills. This essential commitment to lifelong learning not only ensures the highest quality patient care but also paves the way for healthcare innovation and transformation. 

Lifelong learning goes beyond attending conferences and reading research articles; it requires a multifaceted approach that includes self-directed learning, peer collaboration, and access to the most up-to-date educational resources. Medical educators must recognize the importance of instilling a passion for learning in their students and trainees, inspiring them to embark on an intellectual journey that will be essential for success throughout their careers.

TEACH (Teaching Excellence Academy for Collaborative Healthcare) is dedicated to enhancing the education and professional development of healthcare providers, ensuring they remain lifelong learners.

TEACH employs several strategies to support long-term learning in medical education:

1. Innovative Educational Approaches: TEACH encourages the use of innovative teaching techniques and technology to engage students and promote a passion for learning. The emphasis on active and collaborative learning methods creates an educational environment that aims to prepare students to be self-directed learners.

2. Professional Development: TEACH offers a multitude of professional development opportunities for educators and healthcare professionals. By providing access to resources and workshops that focus on pedagogical best practices, TEACH enables medical professionals to excel as educators and mentors.

3. Interprofessional Education: TEACH fosters a culture of interprofessional education, emphasizing collaboration among various healthcare disciplines. This collaborative approach not only mirrors real-world healthcare but also promotes the exchange of knowledge and expertise among professionals.

TEACH understands the importance of lifelong learning and is committed to supporting healthcare professionals in their educational journey. By promoting innovative teaching approaches, providing professional development opportunities, and fostering a culture of collaboration, VTCSOM, Carilion Clinic, Radford University Carilion, and TEACH are leading the way in nurturing learners and driving excellence in medical education. Together, they are helping to shape the future of healthcare, where learning throughout one’s career is not just a choice but a necessity.

Our annual TEACH Education Day represents an opportunity to contribute to continuous learning by offering a range of opportunities and resources. Education Day provides a platform for educators to enhance their teaching skills and stay up-to-date with the latest pedagogical advancements. Additionally, it fosters a culture of innovation in education, promotes collaboration, and fosters networking among educators. This not only enriches the teaching profession but also encourages a commitment to learning, as educators become inspired to continually expand their knowledge and expertise.  

This year, we were fortunate to have welcomed Dr. Ron Harden, OBE, MD, FRCP (Glas), FRCS (Ed), FRCPC as our Annual Richard C. Vari, PhD Endowed Lecture keynote speaker for Education Day. Hopefully, Dr. Harden’s visit and presentation on The Changing Roles of Teachers & Students of the Future inspired many to embrace a lifelong commitment to learning and teaching, recognizing that it is through this journey that we can make a lasting impact on the field of medicine and, most importantly, on the lives of the patients we serve. 

Shari Whicker

Assistant Dean, Faculty Development

Director, TEACH

 

Upcoming Events

News Around Campus

International expert predicts collaborative future for medical education

Medical students establish the principles that will guide them at white coat ceremony

Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine faculty member honored with national award for humanism

Medical school names Sharon Barrett assistant dean for finance and administration

Lacks Day celebrated in downtown Roanoke, VTC, and Carilion 

Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine earns national award for commitment to diversity 

Curious Conversations' podcast: Sarah Hendrickson Parker talks about the potential for artificial intelligence in heath care 

First TEACH Mentoring Advancement Program participants recognized

Mini Medical School explores the evolving role of AI in health care

 

Social Media

Publishing

  • “Studying moral distress (MD) and moral injury (MI) among inpatient and outpatient healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic” was recently published in the International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine. The researchers were: Phyllis Whitehead, assistant professor, Internal Medicine; Maria Hankey, biostatistician, Carilion Clinic; Brock Mutcheson, assistant professor, Health Systems & Implementation Science; Sarah Dewitt, assistant professor, Internal Medicine; Christi Stewart, associate professor, Internal Medicine; Jonathan Stewart, associate professor, Family & Community Medicine; Jennifer Bath, clinical nurse specialist, Carilion Clinic; Sherry Boone, nurse practitioner, Carilion Clinic; Ilona Jileaeva, M3 student; Emily Faulks, associate professor, Surgery; David Musick, professor, Internal Medicine; and Carl Haisch, professor, Surgery, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University. 

Posters and Presentations

  • Fourth-year medical student Caroline Hyun Sue Kim, mentored by Sharon Fekrat of Duke Eye Center, presented at the North Carolina Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons Annual Meeting about the management of exposed scleral buckles.
  • Vice dean Rebecca Pauly recently presented “Personal Branding: Knowing and Promoting You” at Annual Academic Sessions of the Ceylon College of Physicians in collaboration with the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in Sri Lanka.
  • Shari Whicker, assistant dean, Faculty Development; senior director, Office of Continuing Professional Development (OCPD) and TEACH; and associate professor, Department of Pediatrics, VTCSOM and Carilion Clinic; Mariah Rudd, director, OCPD and TEACH; and instructor, Department of OB/GYN, VTCSOM and Carilion Clinic, and an external collaborator will lead a table topic, entitled "Exploring the Nuances of Continuing Professional Development, Continuing Medical Education, and Faculty Development," during the 2023 AAMC Annual Meeting.
  • Also during the AAMC meeting, Whicker, Rudd, Vice Dean Pauly, Paul Skolnik, and Sarah Harendt, education & faculty development manager, OCPD, will present the poster, "Mentorship Matters, A Virtual Team-based Program: One-year Outcomes.”
  • And finally, Rudd, Whicker, and an external collaborator will present the poster, “Empowering Women in Medicine and Science through Leadership and Community of Practice” at the same meeting.

Recognitions

Congratulations to Tracy Jones who has been promoted to Senior Director of Enrollment Management & Assistant Registrar.

Welcome to New Staff

Sharon Barrett
Kayla Dean. Photo Credit: Ryan Anderson

A warm welcome Kayla Dean, business operations manager!

Welcome to New Faculty

Welcome to all the new faculty who joined us recently.

Internal Medicine: Ariful Alam, Robert Carpenter, Jerry John, Nitya Karki, Suud Kiradoh, Jordan Scharping, Anil Yallapragada

Neurosurgery: Wynn Legon

Obstetrics & Gynecology: Maria (Tina) Johnson

Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine: Jaime Bamford, Huaiyang Zhong

Surgery: Matthew Cross, Ankit Shah, Zara Zahid, Ian Zheng

Diversity and Inclusion

November is:
National Native American Heritage Month
National Family Caregivers Month

1:  All Saints’ Day
1-2: Dia de los Muertos
2:  All Souls’ Day
11:  Veterans Day
12:  Diwali
13–19: Transgender Awareness Week
19:  International Men’s Day
20:  Transgender Day of Remembrance
23:  Thanksgiving Day
24:  Native American Heritage Day
26:  Feast of Christ the King
28–January 6:  Nativity Fast
30:  St. Andrew’s Day

Community Corner

Four individuals stand behind the VTCSOM table at the Henry Street Festival.
Image Credit: Stock image by Adobe

VTCSOM invites you to a free Mini Medical School program this month. During two evening sessions on November 14 and 21, audience members will learn about emerging trends in technology and artificial intelligence (AI) and how they will influence the future of health care.

WHAT: Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine’s Mini Medical School

TOPIC: Evolving Tech and AI in Health Care – What Does it Mean for You?

WHEN: 5:30-7:30 p.m., Nov. 14 and 21, 2023

WHERE: Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, 2 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, VA 24016

MORE INFO: For more information and to register, visit https://medicine.vtc.vt.edu/events/20231018.html

Alumni Notes

Photo credits: Ryan Anderson

Two students smile a the VTCSOM tailgate in 2021.

We had a fantastic turnout for Homecoming last month. It was great to both mingle with old friends and make new ones. Even the weather cooperated! Thanks to everyone who came out. We hope to see you at our next event!

 

Spotlight on Giving

The Threads that Connect Us: This year’s Virginia Tech socks campaign is underway until November 17! You can step up to support the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine by donating a minimum of $10 to this university-wide fundraising campaign, and get a sweet pair of Hokie socks that were designed by undergraduate fashion merchandising and design students. To make an online gift through the university’s secure portal.

Please note that you can designate the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine for your gift.

Humanism Notes

“Time, misremembered” is a moving story written by third-year student Lili Ladner that was recently published in The Oslerian. It is touching and poignant, and it beautifully juxtaposes her dual identity as a physician-in-training and a granddaughter grateful for the memories her grandfather once shared with her and longing for more...  

Take Note

Past issues of Progress Notes may be found here

The Last Note

Collage of photos from the fall art show.
Photo credits Elvir Berbic

This year’s Halloween festivities were Spooktacular! Here are some pictures from the Costume Contest!

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