School of Medicine Launches Recognition Program
06/28/2019
The Office of Professional Oversight (OPO) in the School of Medicine has launched a new initiative to recognize members of medical school community who have made a positive impact within the school鈥檚 learning environment.
The program, 鈥淭he Excellence in Professionalism Award,鈥 honors one student, staff member, faculty member or administrator monthly via nominations from the School of Medicine community.
The program seeks nominations for those who model five key professional traits.
Core Professionalism Principles
- Investment and engagement in learner education
- Practices civility and an understanding of respect in modeled
- Recognizes and honors the vast diversity within our learning environment
- Displays patience, empathy and care
- Is trustworthy and committed to the practice of medicine
First Honorees
David Wathen, DO, was the award鈥檚 first winner for the month of April. Wathen, assistant professor of pediatrics and SLUCare physician, practices as a pediatric hospitalist at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children鈥檚 Hospital and serves as the medical director of the General Inpatient Units and as current medical staff president. He was nominated for the award by fellow faculty member, Matt Broom, M.D., who lauded Wathen鈥檚 patience, ability to thrive in challenging clinical and patient situations, and his commitment to trainees and Glennon families.
鈥淗e models a calm and coaching demeanor when interacting with challenging patients or clinical situations,鈥 Broom said. 鈥淗e makes me proud to practice as a physician on the medical staff at Cardinal Glennon. He is the type of leader and individual that SLU should highlight to trainees and other faculty as an example of high-quality, empathetic patient care.鈥
May鈥檚 honoree, Bruce Kraemer, M.D., was nominated by resident Kashyup Tadisnia, M.D. Kraemer is currently program director, SLUCare professor and chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery in the School of Medicine. Under his watch, SLU鈥檚 plastic surgery residents have risen to achieve the top scores on the Board Certification Written Examination and the graduating residents have matched at the most competitive, prestigious fellowships in the country.
Tadisnia praised Kraemer鈥檚 ability to impact those training under him personally and professionally.
鈥淒r. Kraemer leads by example when it comes to all aspects of our residency, whether it is staffing a weekend clinic, staying late to take on add on cases, take extra time to talk to certain patients who need more care, taking the time to meet with residents to improve our program, and constantly seeking to improve and expand our division,鈥 Tadisnia said. 鈥淎s a resident, I feel inspired to push myself to work harder, be more efficient, and think at a higher level just by being on his service.鈥
Future award winners will be listed monthly in Newslink鈥檚 Professional Notes feature.
Nominations are reviewed by the OPO and are shared with those who are nominated. All nominees are recognized on OPO鈥檚 Web page.
Nomination Process
- Nominations are accepted on a rolling basis and awards will be given out monthly.
- For more information, visit the OPO, or contact Lisa Israel, the office鈥檚 director.