Başak Çoruh, MD
It is our pleasure to announce that Dr. Başak Çoruh (Program Director, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship) is the winner of the 2022 Bruce C. Gilliland Award.
The Bruce C. Gilliland, M.D. Excellence in Graduate Medical Education Teaching Award was created in 2007 as a tribute to rheumatologist and academic leader Dr. Bruce Gilliland. Dr. Gilliland was a resident in Internal Medicine and a fellow in the Division of Rheumatology University of Washington, followed by a thriving faculty career at UW Medicine that spanned 45 years. Dr. Gilliland, who died in 2007 after a lengthy battle with cancer, will long be remembered for his dedication to the UW School of Medicine (UW SoM) as a mentor and as a physician.
The Gilliland Award is given annually to a faculty member actively engaged in clinical and didactic training or in the implementation of a graduate medical education curriculum. The winner must have shown evidence of excellence over time and must have served at least 3 years within the UW SoM as a teacher of residents and/or fellows. Dr. Çoruh has been teaching at the UW SoM for 12 years and is the program director of the Pulmonary & Critical Care fellowship which led the way during our heroic efforts to safeguard the public against the COVID-19 pandemic.
To laud Dr. Çoruh as both innovator and inspiration would be an understatement. She has won nearly every teaching award in her field, including the UW Medicine Cares Team Award (2016); the Distinguished Clinical Teacher Award for UW SoM; the Darlene Buczak Award for Educational Excellence by the Association of Pulmonary and Critical Care Program Directors; the David J. Pierson Award for Excellence in Education and Mentoring in the UW SoM Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine; the American Thoracic Society Innovation in Fellowship Educator Award; and finally the Distinguished CHEST Educator Award, American College of Chest Physicians. She is well known for her intellectual rigor and clinical judgement and for her ability to synthesize the literature with her own experience when rendering care or teaching a room of learners.
I have had the good fortune to know and work alongside Dr. Çoruh for many years and took this opportunity to ask her a few questions about education, career, and life.
Can you describe a favorite learning moment?
BC: Critical care is a team-based sport and I always enjoy my first day on service with a new team. I love learning about trainees’ life stories (in and especially outside of medicine), identities, and goals. This discussion builds trust and sets the stage for all the other great learning moments – the “aha” moments when a tricky concept becomes clear, the times when trainees recognize their growth, and seeing trainees supporting one another and celebrating each other’s contributions.
What is your advice for educators looking to build a sustainable and joy-filled career?
BC: First, figure out what gives you joy as an educator and ensure that your work is aligned with your interests, skills, and values. Next, keep growing, whether it is getting feedback on your teaching, learning new skills, or taking on new challenges. And finally, find a community. This includes mentors, mentees, collaborators, and people who can provide support on the tough days and celebrate with you on the good days.
What do you see coming in graduate medical education that excites you?
BC: It has been encouraging even to see the changes in GME since my time as a trainee, including competency-based medical education, interprofessional care, the use of technology, a culture of feedback, and coaching, to name just a few. I’m happy to see learners having a voice in their education and inspired by their advocacy.
From all of us here in UW GME, congratulations Dr. Çoruh! We celebrate you and your tremendous contributions to our UW GME community!
Jennifer Best, MD Associate Dean, Accreditation and Education