In 2015 we selected five Macy Faculty Scholars who undertook innovative projects at their home institutions to better prepare health professions students for practice in our changing health care system.
As their tenure ends, the 2015 class reflects on what the program has meant to each of them and how it has impacted their careers.
“Being a Macy Faculty Scholar has been the highlight of my career. It has enabled me to have a network outside of my institution to make me think differently, to push me, and to help encourage me to innovate. It has positioned me to be a leader from day one, not just locally but also nationally. The Macy Faculty Scholars Program has exceeded my expectations and has allowed me to do things I never would have been able to do.”
—Lauren Collins, MD, Thomas Jefferson University
“The Macy Faculty Scholars Program has made a tremendous difference for my career and has inspired me to continue developing as a leader to address social determinants of health and issues related to underserved populations—areas that have been long-standing priorities for Macy. Attending the Harvard Macy Institute, and building my network, have made a great impression on me. These things have helped me better understand the science of learning and innovation in education.”
—Cheryl Woods Giscombé, PhD, MSN, RN, PMHNP, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing
“Participating in the Macy Faculty Scholars Program has been a real gift. It has protected my time to delve into work I am deeply passionate about and allowed me to be part of a community of like-minded people who share a vision that health care should be both effective and equitable. The Scholar network has pushed me to higher levels and has provided me with the confidence to pursue new leadership opportunities.”
—Deepthiman Gowda, MD, MPH, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
“The Macy Faculty Scholars Program has had a tremendous impact on my career. The opportunities and exposure provided by the program have enabled me to pursue my passion of improving the lives of persons living with life limiting illnesses. The network of scholars and experts has provided me with access to innovative collaborators that have taken my project and career to levels that I would not have envisioned two short years ago.”
—Lisa Kitko, PhD, RN, Penn State University College of Nursing
“The Macy Faculty Scholars Program has connected me with a whole network of people who are similarly committed to advancing education and being scholarly in their approach to education. It has provided me with multiple training opportunities that have advanced my program of research and professional goals. The program has also given me more visibility not only at my own institution, but in the broader field of health professions education.”
—Bridget O’Brien, PhD, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine