Four faculty and two staff members from the departments of Anesthesiology, Neurology, Radiology and Surgery, and the Office of Graduate Medical Education (GME), are recipients of GME Awards for 2024. They are:

Program Director Excellence Award

David T. Hughes, M.D., the James Lynds, M.D., Research Professor, a clinical associate professor and residency program director of General Surgery, is recipient of the Program Director Excellence Award, which recognizes a residency or fellowship program director who has had a significant impact by optimizing the quality of education in a training program, enhancing the residency/fellowship experience for trainees, helping individuals to reach their greatest potential, and/or enhancing graduate medical education at institutional levels (Michigan Medicine inpatient and outpatient experiences and/or VA Hospital system).

His nominators wrote: “Dr. Hughes is an exemplary role model for both residents as well as faculty. He is a skilled clinician, a master operator, a superb teacher, and over all exceptional human being. He is a doer; he approaches all he does with utmost integrity and is a person of words, thought, and action. Residents have a deep respect for him as a surgeon and as a person. He always sets the best possible example. He is calm, unflappable, professional, incredibly capable, and personally devoted to his patients. He is an outstanding intraoperative teacher who intentionally develops and promotes autonomy. Dr. Hughes is universally available and responsive. He thoughtfully and practically incorporates the feedback from residents to institute improvement and change in the program. Residents feel Dr. Hughes really cares about their wellbeing, and he goes above and beyond to facilitate ways to improve their wellness. As well as, Dr. Hughes remains a favorite attending for resident and medical students alike for his kindness, incredible ability as a teacher and educator, and responsiveness to various problems (big or small) that have come up in his role as Program Director. He is always receptive to feedback and actively seeks to understand any resident issues.”

Program Administrator Excellence Award

Amy Spencer, a GME program administrator for the Radiology and Interventional Radiology residency programs, is recipient of the Program Administrator Excellence Award, which recognizes the outstanding skills of program administrators who possess and utilize an in-depth knowledge of graduate medical education, excel in the day-to-day management of a residency or fellowship program, demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills and/or those who have implemented innovative projects to improve graduate medical education, streamline processes or assist in training other GME professionals.

Her nominators wrote: “She is viewed as the driving force behind these programs. She is extremely intelligent, knowledgeable, and organized, and she goes out of her way to help plan ahead. Nearly every day, Amy is presented with questions about policies and how-to’s for the program, and she will either know the answer or find it quickly. She is endlessly patient and gracious, even in the worst times of stress. It is believed that the residency program operates smoothly because she is one of its leaders. To state it plainly, Amy is phenomenal.”

GME Staff Award Recipient

Terri Schork, a GME accreditation specialist in the GME Office, is recipient of the GME Staff Award, which recognizes the outstanding skills of a GME staff member who possesses a commitment to advancing GME, and/or has implemented innovative processes to improve residency education, streamline processes, or assist programs. 

Her nominators wrote: “Terri is an invaluable asset to the UM GME Office, as well as to the GME community due to her experience, knowledge, skill set and ability and willingness to share and collaborate. Terri’s desire to support the successful continuous accreditation of our programs and the institution are unwavering and present in all she does. Terri’s loyalty to her GME roles and to the people with whom she works clearly demonstrates her value to the activities and lives that are affected by her work. Her passion for promoting an environment of cooperativity, collaboration, and quality adds to her value as a member of the GME Office's staff.”

Mentor/Teacher of the Year Award

Ronald Gavidia, M.D., a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Neurology, is recipient of the Mentor/Teacher of the Year Award, which recognizes a faculty member who has served as an outstanding mentor or teacher for a resident or fellow trainee through dedication, leadership, teamwork, advocacy, role modeling, instruction in research, clinical care and education.

His nominators wrote: “Dr. Gavidia consistently demonstrates a deep commitment to fostering the growth and success of his mentees, with a dedication that goes beyond the call of duty, exemplifying the qualities that make an outstanding mentor. His ability to successfully facilitate collaboration among fellows and faculty has significantly enriched the scholarship component of the program’s curriculum. Dr. Gavidia’s open communication style and approachability make mentees feel comfortable seeking guidance, leading to a trusting and effective mentorship relationship. He has helped his mentees set and achieve meaningful goals, navigate career transitions, and develop the skills necessary for success in their respective fields.”

Faculty Equity and Inclusion Award

Rebecca Nause-Osthoff, M.D., director of medical student education and a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, is recipient of the Faculty Equity and Inclusion Award, which recognizes faculty who have fostered an environment of equity and inclusion within their training program in efforts to improve disparities.

Her nominators wrote: “Dr. Nause-Osthoff has been a staunch and effective advocate for learners and team members with differential ability. She recognized an increase in learners with self-reported disabilities with accommodations interested in rotating on Anesthesiology specific rotations. Her response has been transformative. Dr. Nause-Osthoff tirelessly collaborated with disability services to ensure an inclusive, educational, and adaptable clinical learning environment. Her growing work with learners with disabilities has positively impacted the Anesthesiology residency and faculty development in teaching and learning. Dr. Nause-Osthoff has developed and widely communicated best practices that highlight disability as diversity and the value this brings to perioperative practice. Dr. Nause-Osthoff is the only faculty member in their field who is critically rethinking the workflows and practice patterns in Anesthesiology and perioperative care, with the goal of broad accessibility for learners and other team members. What sets Dr. Nause-Osthoff apart is not only her profound commitment to inclusivity within the Anesthesiology residency program but also her impactful contributions at the national level.”

Faculty Innovation Award

Kara J. Wyant, M.D., the associate program director for the Neurology residency program and a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Neurology, is recipient of the Faculty Innovation Award, which recognizes faculty who have made outstanding and innovative contributions to graduate medical education through areas in evaluation, education, quality, patient safety, leadership skills development, global outreach, and wellness.

Her nominators wrote: “Dr. Wyant’s leadership in curriculum development and implementation sets a benchmark in GME, offering a scalable and adaptable model for other institutions. Specifically, the "Junior Boot Camp," a unique 4-week rotation for incoming neurology residents…has proven outcomes in improving resident medical knowledge, attitudes, and patient care…and has been imitated by neurology residency programs all over the country. She has been an advocate and champion of resident education…ensuring departmental leadership support for this endeavor, going above-and-beyond to meet with different stakeholders.”

The recipients will be honored during a virtual reception on May 2.