The Veteran Educator

Dr. Gerry Cox discusses the significance of collaborating with a team of professionals, the courage to pursue new opportunities, strategies for balancing professional and personal responsibilities, and the advantages of working at the VA.  Dr. Gerry Cox is the Associate Deputy Under Secretary for Health in the Office of Quality & Patient Safety at the Veterans Health Administration.

Dr. Erik Alexander emphasizes the significance of pursuing activities that one is passionate about, establishing a solid foundation for one's career as a clinician, and making time for reflection and contemplation about one's career and professional endeavors. Dr. Erik Alexander is a Professor of Medicine and the Associate Dean for Medical Education (BWH) at Harvard Medical School, and the Vice President of Education at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, MA. 

Dean Karen Antman emphasizes the significance of curiosity, the importance of not procrastinating, and the value of reinventing oneself over the course of a career. Dean Karen Antman is the Provost of the Boston University Medical Campus and the Dean of the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Dr. Mel Anderson identifies key aspects of professional development including making yourself indispensable, collaborating with others, having self-forgiveness and patience, and being courageous to engage in tasks that are difficult. 

Dr. Wendy Ward talks about finding one's joy in work, the importance of self-assessment, and being aware of own's own blinders when considering professional opportunities. Dr. Wendy Ward is the Associate Provost for Faculty and the Director of Interprofessional Faculty Development at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.     

Dr. Douglas Rett speaks about his leadership role in Optometry, how teaching keeps him curious and humble, and how he has chosen the “harder path” at various times in his career. Dr. Douglas Rett is the Chief of Optometry at VA Boston Healthcare System.  

Dr. Theresa Liao describes her approach to personal and professional life changes, the importance of self-compassion, and how she developed a national leadership role in Whole Health education. Dr. Theresa Liao is the National Lead for Whole Health field based education and a National Clinical Champion in the VHA Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation.  Dr. Liao is also an Associate Professor of Medicine at  Oregon Health & Science University. 

Dr. Adam Rodman discusses his role in digital education and how to develop one's “academic mission statement.” Dr. Adam Rodman is an internal medicine physician and co-director of the Innovations in Media and Education Delivery (iMED) Initiative at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, MA.

Kat White speaks about the benefits to Veteran healthcare of strong partnerships between VA and schools of nursing as well as strategies she uses as an educational leader. Kathleen White is the VA Boston Associate Chief Nurse for RN Residency Programs & Clinical Placements.

Dr. Chizoba Nwosu talks about her role in nursing education leadership, the role of coaching and mentoring in career development, and her thoughts on “creating a small legacy” as an educator. Dr. Chizoba Nwosu is the VA Boston Associate Chief Nurse of Academic Affiliations, Operations, and NP Residencies.

Dr. Eddie Phillips discusses his role as a national leader in Whole Health educator and his strategies to pursue new initiatives in education. Dr. Eddie Phillips is the VA Boston Whole Health Medical Director and the National VA Whole Health Education Champion for Health Professions Trainees.

Dr. Sadie Elisseou describes how she has built a career teaching others about trauma informed care, helpful time management strategies she uses, and ways to stay motivated and excited as an educator. Dr. Sadie Elisseou is a primary care physician at VA Boston, an Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and a subject matter expert in trauma informed care.

Dr. Joe Chiovaro discusses his role with rural health professions education, the power of connections, and the role of serendipity in this career. Dr. Joe Chiovaro is a hospitalist at the Portland VA Medical Center, Curriculum Director of the VA Rural Interprofessional Faculty Development Initiative and an Associate Professor at Oregon Health & Science University.

Dr. Laura Caputo describes her current education and faculty development projects, ways to forge one's own path as an educator, and how to “make the VA fun for learners.” Dr. Laura Caputo is a Hospitalist at the Durham VA Medical Center and an Assistant Professor at Duke University School of Medicine.

Dr. Maricarmen Cruz-Jimenez is the Associate Chief of Staff for Education at the VA Caribbean Healthcare System. Dr. Maricarmen Cruz-Jimenez describes her own path to being an educator, identifies strategies she uses in her teaching, and highlights the positive impact trainees have on Veteran healthcare.

Dr. Lisa Howley describes national efforts to develop and implement a competency based model of teaching across health professions education and the importance of connecting with others to develop one's career as an educator. Dr. Lisa Howley is the Senior Director to Transform Medical Education at the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Dr. Carolyn Clancy shares what inspires her about working at the VA, the importance of “knowing your why” in your career, and the benefits of a VA training experience. Dr. Carolyn Clancy is the VA Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Discovery, Education and Affiliate Networks.

Dr. Colleen Sloan discusses best practices to train clinicians to provide care to marginalized communities, including the LGBTQ+ community, and the career opportunities that are available to educators at the VA. Dr. Colleen Sloan is the Training Director of the VA Boston Clinical Psychology Internship Program and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine.Listeners are encouraged to visit the VA Boston Education homepage for faculty development programming and other tools to develop as educators. https://www.va.gov/boston-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/faculty-development/

Dr. Julia Caton discusses educational survey design and the importance of having a growth mindset as an educator. Dr. Julia Caton is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Stanford Medical School. Listeners are encouraged to visit the VA Boston Education homepage for faculty development programming and other tools to develop as educators. https://www.va.gov/boston-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/faculty-development/

Dr. Kyler Godwin describes her role leading 2 VA Advanced Fellowship Training Programs and how she infuses fun (and marshmallows) in her educational work. Dr. Kyler Godwin is Director of both the VA Quality Scholars and the VA Health Professions Education, Evaluation, and Research (HPEER) Fellowship Programs and Associate Professor at Baylor College of Medicine.Listeners are encouraged to visit the VA Boston Education homepage for faculty development programming and other tools to develop as educators. https://www.va.gov/boston-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/faculty-development/

Erika Bailey provides concrete strategies educators can use to better communicate their ideas to others when teaching and presenting. Erika Bailey is a professional dialect coach, Head of Voice and Speech at American Repertory Theater, and Lecturer on Theater, Dance & Media at Harvard University.Listeners are encouraged to visit the VA Boston Education homepage for faculty development programming and other tools to develop as educators.https://www.va.gov/boston-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/faculty-development/

Dr. Chandlee Dickey describes her educational leadership roles, including Director of the VA Boston Harvard South Shore Psychiatry Residency Training Program and Chair/Chief of the Department of Psychiatry at Western University's Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, and shares pearls of wisdom for aspiring leaders in education. Dr. Chandlee Dickey is the Chair/Chief of the Department of Psychiatry at Western University's Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry.Listeners are encouraged to visit the VA Boston Education homepage for faculty development programming and other tools to develop as educators.https://www.va.gov/boston-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/faculty-development/

Dr. Holly Gooding discusses how she maintains curiosity in her teaching and emphasizes teaching techniques that have empirical evidence. Dr. Holly Gooding is Section Head for Adolescent Medicine and Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.Listeners are encouraged to visit the VA Boston Education homepage for faculty development programming and other tools to develop as educators.https://www.va.gov/boston-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/faculty-development/

Dr. Anderson Chen identifies the benefits of training at the VA, including the impact on his development as a psychiatrist. Dr. Anderson Chen is a 4th year psychiatry resident in the VA Boston-Harvard Medical School South Shore Psychiatry Training Program. Listeners are encouraged to visit the VA Boston Education homepage for faculty development programming and other tools to develop as educators.https://www.va.gov/boston-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/faculty-development/

Dr. Dustin Tingley discusses innovative uses of active learning exercises in his teaching at Harvard University and how these principles can be applied in health profession education. Dr. Dustin Tingley is a Professor of Government in the Government Department at Harvard University and Deputy Vice Provost for Advances in Learning. Listeners are encouraged to visit the VA Boston Education homepage for faculty development programming and other tools to develop as educators.https://www.va.gov/boston-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/faculty-development/

Dr. Tony Breu describes how social media can augment health profession education and shares his path to becoming an expert in the use of social media. Dr. Tony Breu is the Director of Resident Education at VA Boston Healthcare System and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.Listeners are encouraged to visit the VA Boston Education homepage for faculty development programming and other tools to develop as educators.https://www.va.gov/boston-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/faculty-development/

Dr. Morgan Soffler describes the latest work using simulation to improve health professions education, including reviewing theory and its application to practice. Dr. Morgan Soffler is a medical intensivist and pulmonologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.Listeners are encouraged to visit the VA Boston Education homepage for faculty development programming and other tools to develop as educators.https://www.va.gov/boston-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/faculty-development/

Dr. Michael Charness identifies the benefits for health professions educators working at the VA and the overall importance of education in the VA mission. Dr. Michael Charness is the VA Boston Chief of Staff and Professor of Neurology at both Harvard Medical School and Boston University School of Medicine.Listeners are encouraged to visit the VA Boston Education homepage for faculty development programming and other tools to develop as educators.https://www.va.gov/boston-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/faculty-development/

Dr. Stuart Gilman shares the history of how the education mission developed at the VA and future directions. Dr. Stuart Gilman recently retired as Director of Advanced Fellowships with the VA Office of Academic Affiliations.Listeners are encouraged to visit the VA Boston Education homepage for faculty development programming and other tools to develop as educators.https://www.va.gov/boston-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/faculty-development/

Dr. Marjorie Bowman talks about her lifelong passion for learning and reading and provides advice for aspiring health professions education leaders. Dr. Marjorie Bowman is the VA Chief Academic Affiliations Officer, where she oversees the largest health professions education program in the United States, including nearly 120,000 trainees annually in more than 40 different health professions.

Dr. Susan Nathan describes a teaching tool for learners to help them appreciate the life stories of the Veterans they are providing care for. Dr. Susan Nathan is an attending Physician in the Section of Geriatrics and Palliative Care at VA Boston Healthcare System, the Program Director of the VA Boston My Life My Story Program, and Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School.https://www.va.gov/WHOLEHEALTH/mylifemystory/index.asp

Dr. Andrea Schwartz talks about her passion and methods for training clinicians to provide age-friendly care to Veterans. Dr. Andrea Schwartz is a geriatrician at VA Boston Healthcare System, Associate Director for Clinical Innovation in the VA New England Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Associate Program Director for the Harvard Multicampus Geriatrics Fellowship, and Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Andrew Budson shares strategies and examples he uses to get trainees excited to learn about memory loss and dementia. Dr. Andrew Budson is the Chief of Cognitive Behavioral Neurology and Associate Chief of Staff for Education at VA Boston Healthcare System, and Professor of Neurology at Boston University School of Medicine.

Dr. David Topor discusses strategies to decrease burnout and increase wellness among faculty and trainees in the health professions. Dr. David Topor is the Deputy Associate Chief of Staff for Education and a Clinical Psychologist at VA Boston Healthcare System, and Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.