In August 2014, the University of Vermont College of Medicine’s Class of 2018 began both their medical school careers and the 17-month-long Foundations Level of the Vermont Integrated Curriculum (VIC). On Thursday, January 28, 2016, the class celebrated not only their successful completion of this portion of their training, but also the teachers who helped them reach this milestone at the Foundations Celebration event in the Hoehl Gallery in the College’s Health Science Research Facility.
Courses in the Foundations Level of the VIC include “Foundations in Medicine,” “Human Structure & Function,” “Attacks & Defenses,” “Nutrition, Metabolism & Gastrointestinal System,” “Neural Science,” “Connections,” “Cardiovascular, Respiratory & Renal Systems,” “Generations” and “Convergence.” In addition, students have been receiving training in clinical skills, professionalism, leadership, communication, and community engagement through the “Professionalism, Communication & Reflection,” “Doctoring Skills,” and “Public Health Projects” courses.
Foundations Director Paula Tracy, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry, hosted the event. In her opening remarks, she mentioned that the class had engaged in 610 hours of lectures, 50 team-based learning (TBL) sessions, and participated in 37 histology or pathology labs, among many other educational activities. Christa Zehle, M.D., associate dean for student affairs, summarized the perspectives of the students vs. the educators in word graphics in the shape of a coffee mug and apple respectively. The coffee mug featured words like “study,” “step,” “lab,” “medicine,” “TBL” and “exams,” while the apple was filled with such words as “group,” “learning,” “communication,” “professionalism,” and “public.”
“As you reflect on your experiences in Foundations, try to keep these words in mind,” Zehle said.
Class of 2018 Student Council representative Stephanie Brooks delivered remarks before the awards portion of the program.
“All this information we’ve been cramming into our heads wil be revitalized when we work with patients,” she said.
Students presenting Foundations awards included UVM American Medical Women’s Association leaders Shannon Brady ’18, Catherine Hayes ’18, Samantha Siskind ’18, Brianna Spencer ’18, and Soraiya Thura ’18; Andre Robinson ’18; Paul Baresel ’18; Taylor Wolfgang ’18; and Stephanie Brooks ’18.
The following awards and recipients were announced at the Class of 2018 Foundations Celebration event:
AMWA Gender Equity Award:
Diane Jaworski, Ph.D., Professor of Neurological Sciences This award honors a male or female faculty member who promotes a gender-fair environment for the education and training of physicians and gender diversity in the field.
The Dean Warshaw Integration Award:
William Raszka, M.D. This award recognizes the faculty member whose teaching best captured the spirit of the VIC.
The Silver Stethoscope Award:
Kevin Abnet, M.D., Associate Professor of Anesthesiology This award recognizes the faculty member who had few lecture hours, but made a substantial contribution to students’ education.
Above and Beyond Award:
Ellen Black, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Neurological Sciences This award recognizes the faculty member who went above and beyond the call of duty to help the students in their learning objectives.
Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award:
Jessica Faraci, M.D.’15; Daniel Gorlen, M.D.’15; and Adam Paine, M.D.’15
Best Support Staff (Non-teaching):
Kiersten Hallquist, Student Affairs, Office of Medical Student Education This award recognizes the staff member who best supported students in areas besides teaching.
Standardized Patient Award:
Edward Stone
Outstanding Foundations Course Award:
Cardiovascular, Respiratory and Renal Systems (CRR)
Foundations Course Director Award:
Laurie Leclair, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Cardiovascular, Respiratory and Renal Systems
Foundations Teaching Award:
Ellen Black, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Neurological Sciences The recipient of this award will be hooding the Class of 2018 at their graduation and will be recognized with other Teachers of the Year from the past.
In addition, several more awards were announced at the event, including:
Wellness Award (presented by Wellness Committee members Brett Powers and Astia Roper-Batker):
Eric Schmidt ’18 This award recognizes a student who went above and beyond to help class members.
Summer Research Fellowship Merit Award (presented by Michael Toth, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Medicine):
Elizabeth Carson ’18; Xiaoyu “Christina” Lu ’18; Patrick Cruden ’18
Awarded by the Department of Pharmacology:
Durwood Smith Award (presented by George Wellman, Ph.D., Professor of Pharmacology):
For excellence in Pharmacology
Peter Evans ’18
Awarded by the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine:
Dr. Ephraim Woll Award (presented by Rebecca Wilcox, M.D., Associate Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine):
For excellence in General Pathology
Peter Evans ’18; Peter Hyson ’18
Awarded by the Standardized Patient Program:
(Inaugural) Exemplary Clinical Skills Exam Award (presented by Shirley McAdam and Bob Bolyard):
Andrea Blood ’18; Emily Forbes-Mobus ’18; Melissa Rafferty ’18; Autumn Reilly ’18; Apoorva Trivedi ’18
Awarded by the Office of Medical Student Education and the Department of Neurological Sciences:
B. Albert Ring Award (presented by Paula Tracy, Ph.D., Director of Foundations):
For best exemplifying compassion, humor, humility, devotion to family and friends and intellectual curiosity
Elizabeth Carson ’18; Astia Roper-Batker ’18
Awarded by the Office of Medical Student Education:
Helen and Phyllis Wasserman Phorplus Prize
For excellence in the Basic Sciences
Peter Evans ’18; Peter Hyson ’18; Allicia Imada ’18; Alex Jacobson ’18; Nicole Mendelson ’18; and Apoorva Trivedi ’18
In February, members of the Class of 2018 will take the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 Exam – the first of the three-step examination required for medical licensure in the United States, which is administered by the National Board of Medical Examiners. They will move on to the Clerkship level of the VIC on March 21 with a bridge week course. Next, depending on their flight groups, students will begin their clinical education at one of the College’s five training sites, including The University of Vermont Medical Center, Danbury Hospital in Connecticut, Norwalk Hospital in Connecticut, St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, and Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.
View the photo gallery from the event here.