Dr. Daniel Spogen, professor and chair for the department of family medicine, has been selected as a distinguished finalist for the 2006 Association of American Medical Colleges Humanism in Medicine Award. Spogen is one of just 52 honorees from across the nation to be nominated by the AAMC Organization of Student Representatives.
The finalists are selected based upon five defining characteristics of humanism in medical education: positive mentoring skills, active in community service, compassion and sensitivity, collaboration, and observance of professional ethics. The annual award, which is sponsored by the AAMC through the support of the Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiative, is a true honor for medical educators who must be student nominated in order to be considered for the honor.
"The students who nominated Dr. Spogen recognize his dedication and passion to providing quality care to patients," notes Dr. John McDonald, vice president of health sciences and medical school dean.
"Dr. Spogen's nomination for this special award is a tribute to his commitment to training and mentoring young physicians. Our students benefit from his example of how to practice compassion and understanding in medicine."
Each month first and second year medical students offer care to Washoe County's medically underserved by providing free medical clinics that are supervised by a licensed member of the faculty. Spogen regularly provides supervision at the monthly clinics and serves on the Student Outreach Clinic board.
"Dr. Spogen is a physician that students look to for guidance in all aspects of their development," says John Sutherland, a first year medical student. "We appreciate the time he gives to us at the Student Outreach Clinic and hope to achieve the same quality of care and compassion he provides to his patients."
The AAMC Organization of Student Representatives and representatives from the Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiatives echo McDonald and Sutherland's sentiments. "Like healing, learning happens best when expertise is joined with caring and partnership," says Dr. Mike Magee, director of the Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiative. "Dr. Spogen is recognized among an elite group of educators who are dedicated to teaching compassionate care for the next generation of physicians."
In celebration of Spogen's selection as an AAMC Humanism in Medicine national finalist, the School of Medicine hosted a reception Feb. 13 in the Pennington Medical Education Building at the School of Medicine campus in Reno.