Medical education leader Ronald Harden received the Cura Personalis Award at the Sixth Annual Georgetown University Medical Center Convocation on Tuesday afternoon.
Harden, who is professor emeritus of medical education at the University of Dundee and professor of medical education at Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, developed new approaches to curriculum planning, assessment, teaching and learning. In particular, he is best known for developing the Objective Structured Clinical Examination, which has now become a universal standard to assess clinical competence.
“[Harden] has made significant and innovative contributions to the academy, deepening excellence in medical education and enhancing their teaching and learning,” University President John J. DeGioia said.
The Cura Personalis Award, GUMC’s highest honor, awards a health professional whose contributions to the health care field are guided by compassion and service.
“Certainly it will be, among my awards, one of the ones which I will cherish the most,” Harden said.
Harden’s keynote presentation focused on the need for a transformation in medical education.
“Professional education has not kept pace with the challenges … in health care provision, largely because of a fermented, outdated and static curricula that produces ill-equipped graduates,” Harden said.
To combat this, Harden stressed the importance of personalized learning, increased collaboration and a continuation of education and professionalism.
Additionally, 11 faculty members and five students were honored during the convocation for achievements in research, service and education.
Interim GUMC Associate Vice President Anatoly Dritschilo, who has been at the medical center for 34 years, was recognized for his lifetime contribution. Dritschilo was the founding chair of the Department of Radiation, where his laboratory research focused on radiation biology, overcoming treatment resistance and prostate cancer.
“The fact that Dr. Dritschilo has spent nearly his entire career at Georgetown demonstrates his long-term commitment to his research goals and his devotion to this institution,” GUMC Executive Vice President for Health Sciences Howard Federoff, the event’s moderator, said.
Jenny Van Kirk (MED ’14) was honored for her achievements in the Georgetown University School of Medicine. Van Kirk, who holds a leadership position at the Hoya Clinic, will graduate as a Health Justice Scholar this May and pursue training in internal medicine. Van Kirk’s work has focused on community outreach and care and referral of hundreds of homeless families in Washington, D.C.
“This event is a really good symbol of the mission of the medical center in general,” Van Kirk said. “To be honored at a ceremony like this is really humbling.”
Alexander Adams (NHS ’14) was also honored for outstanding student achievement. Adams, a human science major, is the lead tutor in human biology, an EMT and a research assistant under the supervision of pharmacology and physiology associate professor Gerard Ahern and human science assistant professor Maureen Basha.
“It means a lot coming during the fall of my senior year, in the middle of medical school applications,” Adams said. “Getting this award now from the medical center is really an honor.”
In addition, 18 members of the clinical faculty were recognized for 20 years of service to patients and students.
“This gathering is an important moment for our medical center to both celebrate our work and achievements and to provide for us a moment of pause – a moment to reflect and recommit ourselves to our shared mission,” DeGioia said.