Byron Joyner, MD, MPA
In the October DIO Blog, we highlighted members of the UWSOM community who volunteer for ACGME Review Committees. This month, we celebrate the many members of our community who have won ACGME awards for excellence.
As academicians, one of the most incredible aspects or our work is teaching others about our specialties – and about being a better clinician. None of us expect awards for something we are called to do. But, when we are recognized, it is particularly satisfying.
I am proud of our winners and encourage us all to teach each other and continue to learn everyday. It’s the only way a true academic environment can exist.
Byron Joyner, MD, MPA
Vice Dean for GME and DIO
The ACGME, which accredits 122 of our 200+ training programs, recognizes notable designated institutional officials, program directors, coordinators, and residents and fellows for their outstanding work and contributions to graduate medical education through its Awards Program.
We’re so pleased to share that Dr. Richard Ellenbogen, Program Director for the Neurosurgery Residency program and Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery, was recently named a 2023 recipient of the Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach Award. This award honors program directors who find innovative ways to teach residents and to provide quality health care while remaining connected to the initial impulse to care for others in this environment. Dr. Ellenbogen has been program director since July 2002. His nomination for the Parker Palmer award included heartfelt and passionate letters from his colleagues, current and former trainees. One letter included the following high praise:
“Dr. Ellenbogen’s most cherished quality is his ability to share the most valuable asset of all: his time. Residents attend Friday evening meetings, complete with a home-cooked meal at his residence for two-way straight talk and airing concerns. He is omnipresent – he finds time to attend the manifold didactic sessions throughout our four-hospital system. He is constantly checking in with the residents and aware of the details of their personal lives because he truly cares.”
The University of Washington School of Medicine (UWSOM) has won more ACGME awards than any of the other 871 ACGME sponsoring institutions. Over the last 20 years, UWSOM has had 13 program directors win the coveted Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach Award. This particular award is granted to only 10 program directors around the country per year. It represents an impressive legacy of UWSOM program directors who embody the ACGME definition of the award as leaders “who have fostered innovation and improvement in their residency programs and served as exemplary role models for residents.”
Dr. Richard Shugerman, Pediatric Emergency Medicine Professor, Vice Chair of Faculty Development, Director of Pediatric WWAMI and Regional Education, and 2008 Parker Palmer winner, facilitates annual retreats for ACGME award winners. “It is such an amazing tribute to UWSOM that collectively our residents, our coordinators, our program directors and our administrative leaders have received more of these awards than any other institution in the country. There are almost 900 accredited GME programs across the country and just 15-20 ACGME awards given in total each year. It’s incredible to think that the people behind our UW programs have brought home on average one of these awards every year! The faces of each one of the awardees below brings to mind their remarkable dedication to supporting the humanity of each one of the residents and fellows in their programs. We are so fortunate to have such committed teachers and leaders in our community.”
| Name | Award | Year | UW Program | |
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Richard Ellenbogen, MD | Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach | 2023 | Neurosurgery |
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Pediatrics Residency Program | Barbara Ross-Lee, DO, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 2022 | Pediatrics |
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Fiona Gallahue, MD | Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach | 2020 | Emergency Medicine |
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Daniel E. Leifer, MD | David C. Leach | 2020 | Dermatology |
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Kelli Corning | Debra L. Dooley GME Program Coordinator Excellence | 2019 | Internal Medicine |
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Eileen Klein MD, MPH | Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach | 2016 | Pediatric Emergency Medicine |
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Angelisa Paladin, MD | Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach | 2014 | Diagnostic Radiology |
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Sid Gospe Jr, MD, PhD | Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach | 2013 | Child Neurology |
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Lisa Anderson | Debra L. Dooley GME Program Coordinator Excellence | 2013 | Hematology/Oncology |
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Byron Joyner, MD, MPA | Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach | 2011 | Urology |
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Karen Souter MB BS | Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach | 2011 | Anesthesiology |
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Michelle Rickard | Debra L. Dooley GME Program Coordinator Excellence | 2011 | Pathology |
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Ron Maier, MD | Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach | 2010 | Surgical Critical Care |
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Omar Bhutta, MD | David C. Leach | 2010 | Pediatrics |
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Richard Shugerman, MD | Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach | 2008 | Pediatrics |
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Karen Horvath, MD | Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach | 2008 | General Surgery |
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Deb Cowley, MD | Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach | 2006 | Psychiatry |
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Terry Massagli, MD | Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach | 2005 | PM&R |
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Harold Johnston, MD | Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach | 2003 | Family Medicine |
See photo at end**Did we inadvertently leave you off this list? Please contact Amanda Easton (amande@uw.edu) and we’ll update!
Pediatric Residency Diversity Committee