Three faculty members in the Department of Pathology and Immunology at Washington University School of Medicine were recently honored by the Academy of Educators, an institutional collaboration of educators who foster a culture of educational excellence and an institutionally valued community of leaders in health science education at the School of Medicine. Ian Hagemann, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pathology and Immunology and Obstetrics and Gynecology, won an Exemplary Educator Award; Suzanne Thibodeaux, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Pathology and Immunology, won a Rising Star Award; and Neil Anderson, MD, D(ABMM), Associate Professor of Pathology and Immunology, was selected as a new member of the Academy of Educators. The faculty members were recognized at the Academy of Educators’ annual meeting, “Education Day,” on October 10, 2023.
Dr. Hagemenn’s Exemplary Educator Award was established by the Academy in 2022 to recognize outstanding contributions to health and basic science education by faculty members who have at least six years in an academic setting and who are “actively building a legacy” as an educator through contributions in one or more areas of education and mentorship, the Academy said.
Dr. Hagemann has worked extensively during his tenure in the Department of Pathology and Immunology to enrich educational activities. For the past five to six years, he has helped build the Gateway Curriculum for medical students, first as a pathology content expert and later as the lead for the Genetics and Genomics Thread. Additionally, Dr. Hagemann launched the department’s successful Gynecologic and Breast Pathology fellowship program.
“Dr. Hagemann has always been recognized within our department as an exemplary educator. He has the distinct ability to distill complex topics to essential, understandable parts and he does this with his characteristic sense of humor,” said Joseph Gaut, MD, PhD, Ladenson Professor of Pathology and Immunology and Division Chief of Anatomic and Molecular Pathology.
Dr. Thibodeaux was one of three faculty at the School of Medicine selected for a Rising Star Award, which was established in 2021 to highlight outstanding contributions to health and basic science education by faculty members who are within six years of completing their final training program. Additionally, faculty members honored with a Rising Star Award demonstrate “exceptional promise as an educator through contributions in one or more domains of educational service, leadership or scholarship.” Dr. Thibodeaux heavily contributes to education in the Department of Pathology and Immunology in her roles as associate director of the Clinical Pathology Residency Program and a leader in Gateway Curriculum development, where she has served as director of Advanced Clinical Rotation and thread leader of Laboratory Medicine.
“It is wonderful that the Academy of Educators have bestowed Dr. Thibodeaux with the Rising Star Award. This demonstrates that the Academy recognizes her outstanding contributions to education at this early stage in her career. Dr. Thibodeaux has been dedicated to improving medical education and should be very proud of this well-deserved achievement,” said Ann Gronowski, PhD, Oree M. Carroll and Lillian B. Ladenson Professor in Clinical Chemistry, Pathology and Immunology and Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Division Co-Chief of Laboratory and Genomic Medicine.
Dr. Anderson’s admission to the Academy recognizes his “significant contributions to education and… valuable place as a central contributor to the education mission of the School of Medicine,” the Academy said. Dr. Anderson has positively impacted education in the Department of Pathology and Immunology as director of the department’s residency program.
“Dr. Anderson is a tremendous asset to our pathology residency program. He has been instrumental in leading program-wide initiatives regarding recruiting, mentorship, trainee wellness and quality improvement in the trainee and faculty evaluation processes. Under Dr. Anderson’s leadership, our residency training program has demonstrated sustained improvements in ACGME survey performance and recruitment. This ultimately reflects the overall positive and productive learning environment that he promotes. Membership in the Academy of Educators will be an excellent mechanism by which Dr. Anderson can deepen his involvement in medical education,” Dr. Gronowski said.