Inaugural class of Learning Community mentors named

Robert Carlin Photography

Twenty faculty mentors, who will form the backbone of the new School of Medicine Learning Communities, met as a group for the first time in July to discuss their roles in the Learner-centered Integrated Curriculum (LInC), which will begin with the entering class this month. The mentors represent a range of academic departments and professional concentrations, and will work with students as teachers, career advisors and role models.

Learning Community mentors will be assigned to groups of medical students for continuity relationships that will serve as the foundation for the students’ educational experience at UMMS. Cohorts of four mentors each will work with approximately 25 students from each medical school class in one of five houses, named by the students in recognition of local Worcester communities: Blackstone, Burncoat, Tatnuck, Kelley and Quinsigamond.

“Our mentors bring with them distinguished accomplishments and credentials in education, including curricular innovation, course leadership, medical education research and, above all, exceptional reviews from their students,” said Michele Pugnaire, MD, senior associate dean for educational affairs and professor of family medicine & community health. “Most importantly, each has been recognized for outstanding patient care and as physician and educator role models.”

The mentors were selected through a competitive application and interview process. In addition to career coaching and academic mentoring, the faculty will teach new LInC courses such as Doctoring & Clinical Skills and Physical Diagnosis, as well as clinical, longitudinal and transitional curricula.

Learning Community Mentors

Angela L. Beeler, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics
Nancy E. Bennet, MD, clinical associate professor of medicine
Diane R. Blake-Johnson, MD, associate professor of pediatrics
Jennifer Bram, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics
Lori DiLorenzo, MD, instructor in family medicine & community health
William A. Durbin, MD, professor of pediatrics and medicine
Michael Ennis, MD, associate professor of family medicine & community health
Pang-Yen Fan, MD, clinical associate professor of medicine
Phillip O. Fournier, MD, clinical associate professor of family medicine & community health
Timothy E. Gibson, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics

Lisa S. Gussak, MD, assistant professor of family medicine & community health
Thomas F. Halpin, MD, professor of obstetrics & gynecology
David S. Hatem, MD, clinical associate professor of medicine
Glenn R. Kershaw, MD, clinical professor of medicine
Sarah McGee, MD, MPH, clinical associate professor of medicine
W. Peter Metz, MD, clinical professor of psychiatry and pediatrics
Richard S. Pieters, MD, clinical associate professor of radiation oncology and pediatrics
Paul Plasky, MD, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry
Joyce S. Rosenfeld, MD, assistant professor of emergency medicine
Rebecca (Becky) Spanagel, MD, assistant professor of medicine

For more information, visit the LInC website at: http://inside.umassmed.edu/epc/index.aspx.