MCG volunteer faculty recognized for teaching efforts

Volunteer clinical faculty at the state’s public medical school were honored for their teaching efforts at the medical school’s annual Statewide Faculty Development Conference this month in Jekyll Island.

The Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University has nearly 2,500 volunteer faculty who share their time, knowledge and skills with our students – 94 percent of whom practice in Georgia.

Winners of the 2018 Excellence in Clinical Education Awards were chosen by each of MCG’s five campuses. Each nominee teaches a core clinical clerkship/rotation, which students complete throughout their third and fourth clinically intensive years of medical school. Students at each campus voted to determine a winner.

Winners of the 2018 Excellence in Clinical Education Awards and the core clerkships they teach are:

Main campus: Dr. Sean Lynch, Family Medicine, Southern Family Medical Center, Augusta. “He has been a member of the family medicine teaching network for more than 12 years and has consistently hosted at least one student every rotation,” his nominators wrote. “Dr. Lynch is dedicated to patient care in south Augusta and is very well regarded, not only by his students, but also by the entire community.” Lynch is a graduate of Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

AU/UGA Medical Partnership: Dr. Brandon Harden, Pediatrics, Sibley Heart Center Cardiology, Athens. “As a pediatric subspecialist in Athens, Dr. Harden has greatly enriched the learning opportunities for our students at the Medical Partnership,” his nominators wrote. “He has eagerly worked with most of our third-year clerkship students, reviewing key concepts in the clinical setting… He also teaches a greatly enjoyed fourth-year elective, hosting many students each year.” Harden received his medical degree from Mercer University.

Northwest Campus (Rome): Dr. Jeffrey Glass, Neurology, Harbin Clinic, Rome. “He is a patient teacher, and cheerfully offers his mentoring in the midst of a very busy schedule,” his nomination reads. “Dr. Glass cares for his community where he lives and works, which is why he chooses to invest his time teaching the next generation of physicians.” Glass is a graduate of the University Of Tennessee Health Science Center College Of Medicine.

Southeast Campus (Savannah/Brunswick): Dr. Andrew Cichelli, Internal Medicine, East Georgia Pulmonary & Sleep, Statesboro. “Dr. Cichelli, a pulmonologist and critical care medicine specialist, came to us after 15 years of teaching at Drexel University,” his nomination reads. “He has never slowed down and has proven to be one of our very best teachers.” Cichelli earned his medical degree at Hahnemann Medical College (now Drexel University College of Medicine).

Southwest Campus (Albany): Dr. Clifford Dunn III, Family Medicine, Phoebe Family Care Center, Albany. “Naturally encouraging, he works with students to help each find and grow their strengths and assets,” his nominators wrote. “He challenges students to be their best and to take responsibility for their patients.” Dunn is a graduate of Ross University School of Medicine.