Excellence in Teaching with Humanism Award
In keeping with the ongoing efforts of the David Geffen School of Medicine to improve the culture of medicine and celebrate a respectful environment for medical students, the Medical Student Council created an "Excellence in Teaching with Humanism Residents and Fellows Award" in 2013. This award created and presented by the DGSOM medical student body recognizes residents and fellows who model exemplary behavior toward medical students and other members of the health care team. For DGSOM medical students to become compassionate and effective future physicians, they must first have resident and fellow role models and mentors demonstrating such attributes.
Excellence in Teaching with Humanism Residents and Fellows Award winners serve as exceptional mentors and are recognized for their ongoing contributions to the clinical training of DGSOM medical students. Nominations were collected for residents and fellows who embody qualities and attributes as outlined below:
- Mentors DGSOM medical students
- Empowers student doctors on the wards
- Fosters a safe learning environment
- Committed to medical student education
- Invested interest in medical student learning
- Concerned about medical student wellbeing
- Respectful to health care teams and patients
- Current resident (PGY1+) working with DGSOM medical students
- Not a previous "Excellence in Teaching with Humanism Residents Award" recipient
2019-20 Awardees
Achilles Aiken, MD
Internal Medicine
PGY-2
Cedars-Sinai
Elizabeth Canales, MD
Internal Medicine
PGY-3
UCLA
Kristen Echanique, MD
Head & Neck Surgery
PGY-2
UCLA
Efe Chantal Ghanney Simons, MD
Urology
PGY-3
UCLA
Erin C. Howell, MD
Surgery
PGY-6
Harbor-UCLA
Minerva Pineda
OB/GYN
PGY-2
Kern
Ram Rao, MD
Pediatrics
PGY-2
UCLA
Trevor Shaddox, MD
Psychiatry
PGY-2
UCLA
Michelle Song MD
Pediatrics
PGY-1
UCLA
Megan Trieu, MD
Internal Medicine
PGY-2
UCLA
Adam Truong, MD
General Surgery
PGY-3
Cedars-Sinai
2019-20 Vignettes Describing Awardees:
Achilles Aiken, MD
“Achilles is the epitome of a patient, kind, and welcoming physician mentor who truly and dedicatedly looks after the wellbeing of those in his care, whether medical students, residents, or patients.”
“Elizabeth always approached every interaction with patients and their families with patience, dedication, compassion, and understanding… She is the kind of resident and physician I hope to become.”
Kristen Echanique, MD
“Dr. Echanique embodies all the attributes any teaching institution would want in their residents. She is truly dedicated to student learning… and is the model resident/teacher/mentor I strive to become someday.”
Efe Chantal Ghanney Simons, MD
“Dr. Ghanney is an incredible resident who makes it a point to actually teach medical students working with her… I'm so grateful for her teaching and mentorship, and I hope to be a resident like her in the future.”
Erin C. Howell, MD
“Erin is an amazing chief resident who… models great care and humanism for each patient she interacts with… Having her as a teacher reminded me of why I wanted to be in medicine in the first place.”
Minerva Pineda, MD
“Dr. Pineda demonstrates excellent patient-centered, compassionate care. She made me feel pride in my school because she embodies the kind of physician I want to be… All of her patients absolutely adore her.”
Ram Rao, MD
“Dr. Rao consistently went out of his way to make sure my fellow medical students and I were well supported… He always had a reassuring and positive attitude…. and is clearly committed to teaching and mentorship.”
Trevor Shaddox, MD
“Trevor is one of the kindest, most caring, and helpful residents… He fostered a very warm learning environment and, above all else, he encouraged us to continue caring deeply about our patients.”
Michelle Song, MD
“Michelle is an exemplary human being and physician who embodies all the qualities in a physician that students like me look up to. She exudes kindness, graciousness, and compassion.”
Megan Trieu, MD
“Megan consistently encourages all members of her team… She embodies the values of compassionate patient care, education, and humanistic medicine… I hope I can be even half the resident she is some day!”
Adam Truong MD
“Adam is a role model. He cares about his patients and is passionate about providing surgical care for them… He radiates positive energy every day and always makes people around him feel great to be there.”
