Teaching Academy Snow Season Retreat Celebrates Medical Education Excellence

February 9, 2022 by Jennifer Nachbur

University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine faculty, leaders, and colleagues gathered virtually for the Teaching Academy’s 2022 Snow Season Education Retreat January 20-21. Highlights of the two-day event included a plenary session by representatives of the Kern National Network for Caring and Character in Medicine, the Induction and Award Ceremony, and an in-person poster session.

Snow Season Educational Retreat attendees gather around Teaching Academy Director Kathryn Huggett, Ph.D. (top center, in red jacket) at the poster session in the Larner College of Medicine's Hoehl Gallery.

University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine faculty, leaders, and colleagues gathered virtually for the Teaching Academy’s 2022 Snow Season Education Retreat January 20-21. Highlights of the two-day event included a plenary session by representatives of the Kern National Network for Caring and Character in Medicine, the Induction and Award Ceremony, and an in-person poster session held in the Hoehl Gallery in the Health Science Research Facility.

According to Kathryn Huggett, Ph.D., director of the Teaching Academy, assistant dean for medical education, and Larner Professor in Medical Education, attendees also heard two oral platform presentations and participated in a choice of nine workshops during the educational retreat.

“The retreat planning committee felt it was important to try to hold an in-person poster session since conferences have been cancelled or virtual for the past 2 years,” explained Huggett, who added that this component is especially important for early career faculty, residents, and medical students who gain critically important experience through the process of creating and sharing posters.

Huggett provided opening remarks and Larner Dean Richard L. Page, M.D., delivered a welcome at the opening of the Teaching Academy Award and Induction Ceremony. Associate Dean Christopher Berger, Ph.D., presented on the state of graduate education, following which Huggett gave a 2021 Teaching Academy Year in Review, which covered the past year’s courses, workshops, and Grand Rounds, as well as the Medical Education Fellowship recipients and awards. Then, a virtual induction ceremony of the newest Teaching Academy members took place, followed by the presentation of the 2022 Teaching and Excellence in Education Awards and the UVM Health Network Medical Group Education Awards.

2022 Teaching and Excellence in Education Awards

The Innovation in Curriculum Development or Pedagogy Award, which recognizes an individual or team who developed an approach to teaching and learning that is innovative, intellectually rigorous, and engaging, was presented to: The Anatomy Team, including Department of Neurological Sciences faculty members Nicholas D’Alberto, Ph.D., Abigail Hielscher, Ph.D., Nathan Jebbett, Ph.D., Sharon Henry, P.T., Ph.D., A.T.C., Derek Strong, Ph.D., Victor May, Ph.D., and Gary Mawe, Ph.D.; and Allen Repp, M.D., professor and vice chair of medicine. The Outstanding Contribution Award, which recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution to medical education either for a specific, short-term initiative, or sustained contribution, was presented to Halle Sobel, M.D., associate professor and associate program director in the Department of Medicine. The Frederick C. Morin III, M.D., Educational Leadership Award, which recognizes an individual who has demonstrated an exemplary and sustained record of service in educational leadership, committee service, and/or administration, was presented to Lewis First, M.D., M.Sc., professor and chair of pediatrics.

UVM Health Network Medical Group Education Awards

The Continuing Medical and Interprofessional Education Educator of the Year Award was presented to Amanda Kennedy, Pharm.D., professor of medicine. The Graduate Medical Education Educator of the Year Award was presented to K. Elliott Higgins, M.D., assistant professor of anesthesiology

New Teaching Academy inductees

Distinguished Educator

  • Elise Everett, M.D., Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences
  • Bridget Marroquin, M.D., Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
  • Jesse Moore, M.D., Associate Professor of Surgery

Master Educator

  • Kevin Abnet, M.D., Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
  • Katherine Dolbec, M.D., Assistant Professor of Surgery, Division of Emergency Medicine
  • John Klick, M.D., Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
  • Thomas Lahiri, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics
  • Emily Stebbins, M.D., Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology
  • Emmett Whitaker, M.D., Associate Professor of Anesthesiology

Member

  • LeeAnna Burgess, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine
  • Joanna Conant, M.D., Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
  • Delphine Quénet, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biochemistry
  • Rebecca Evans, M.D., Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology
  • Abigail Hielscher, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Neurological Sciences
  • K. Elliott Higgins, M.D., Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology
  • Breena Holmes, M.D., Associate Professor of Pediatrics
  • Sherrie Khadanga, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine
  • John Miller, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine
  • Elly Riser, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine
  • Ramanathan Seshadri, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgical Oncology (Danbury, Ct. Campus)
  • Fatemeh Sobhani, M.D., Assistant Professor of Neurological Sciences
  • Katie Wells, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor of Surgery, Division of Emergency Medicine

Medical Education Fellowship Program – 2021-2022 Participants

  • Shea Lambirth, M.D., Department of Medicine
  • Corey Sheahan, M.D., Department of Anesthesiology
  • Holly Whitcomb, D.N.P., F.N.P.. Department of Nursing
  • Nicholas D’Alberto, Ph.D., Department of Neurological Sciences (until 12/21)

2021 Teaching Academy Awards

  • Curriculum Development and Scholarship Awards (2) – Nathalie Feldman, M.D., Assistant Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciencesand collaborator Emi Eakin, Class of 2022 medical student; and Vicki Hart, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine
  • Teaching Academy Travel Award – Bridget Marroquin, M.D., Associate Professor of Anesthesiology

2021 Frymoyer Scholars

  • “Improved management of pediatric difficult airways through creation of a collaborative, interprofessional workgroup” – Heather Herrington, M.D.; Keith Robinson, M.D.; Katie Dezotelle, R.N. ; Mark Bisanzo, M.D. ; Kevin Abnet, M.D. ; Liz Denton, R.R.T.; Mike King, R.N.; Liz Ulano, M.D.; Kate Soons, R.N.
  • “What’s in the Secret Sauce? Investigating and Designing IPE Best Practices for Serious Illness Communication Training” – Naomi Hodde, M.D.; Kacey Boyle, R.N.; Jennifer Hauptman, M.S.W.; Stephen Berns, M.D.

To date, the Teaching Academy has nearly 200 members, including 10 Protégés, 113 Members, 53 Master Teachers, and 24 Distinguished Educators.

Learn more about the Teaching Academy.