From the Dean’s Desk | Kudos to Our Faculty

At the Lerner College of Medicine, we are fortunate to have a large number of outstanding faculty who are involved directly in educating our students. These curriculum leaders, longitudinal preceptors and problem-based learning facilitators not only provide students with clinical and research experience but also sustain their curiosity about science and medicine.

Teaching students to become physicians is just one aspect of a medical school education. We also have an entire team of faculty who serve our students in non-curricular matters. These faculty members include:

• Stacey Jolly, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of Career Advising
• Paul Bryson, MD, Associate Professor of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery and Assistant Director of Career Advising
• Cory Chevalier, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Physician Advisor and Director of Wellness
• Anjali Kala, LISW, Chair of the Student Behavior Committee
• Robert Wilson, DO, Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurology and Chair of Physician Advisors
• Monica Yepes-Rios, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of Diversity and Inclusion
• Jazmine Sutton, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Associate Director of Diversity and Inclusion

In their roles as career counselors, Drs. Jolly and Bryson work with every student, from matriculation to graduation, guiding them toward a satisfying career in medicine and research. I invite you to read more about the important function this team plays.

Because medical students experience unique pressures, we greatly emphasize wellness and self-care. Dr. Chevalier and Anjali Kala help ensure that our students not only are advocates for their own well-being, but also are comfortable reaching out for help if they need it. I invite you to read more about Dr. Chevalier (internal link) in this interview about his work as an educator.

Similarly, students often find themselves in need of guidance for navigating medical school. Dr. Wilson oversees trained physician advisors, who are paired with students from the time they arrive on campus and essentially serve as a coach throughout the five years of the program. Our physician advisors help the students develop learning plans, guide them through the curriculum, ensure the students are making proper academic progress, and more.

Finally, a crucial aspect of education is ensuring a safe and welcoming learning environment for all students. Drs. Yepes-Rios and Sutton oversee our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts including the work of a number of committees that comprise both faculty and students. The results have been nothing short of phenomenal, and I look forward to regularly sharing their progress. In the meantime, I invite you to read about and see photos from the recent Student National Medical Association (SNMA) Region V Medical Education Conference at the Health Education Campus. We were delighted to help support the SNMA, whose goal is to advocate for underrepresented minority medical students.

Just as it takes a village to raise a child, so does it take teams of dedicated professionals to ensure that our medical students receive both an exceptional medical education and exceptional medical school experience. Their hard work and dedication are seen, and I hope my words convey the depth of gratitude and appreciation I feel for the work they do every day on behalf of our students.

Bud Isaacson, MD
Executive Dean