Caring for children is both a critical mission and a gift.
Those of us privileged to work at OHSU-Doernbecher Children’s Hospital are
stewards of systems of care that are vital to the health of our children and the
sustainability of our communities. Part of that vitality and sustainability are
the training of the next generation of practitioners.
Doernbecher partners with the Schools of Medicine and
Nursing at OHSU to train the doctors who will care for our children and their
children in the future, long after our own work is done. The presence of
trainees in the hospital enriches us. We think of new and improved ways to deliver
care. There are additional doctors present in the hospital at night who can
respond to a sudden change more quickly than in typical care settings. There
are more people available to educate families and patients about their illness
and their care.
This week, I was honored for my work as the Director of the
neurosurgical residency training program that is housed at both Doernbecher
Children’s and OHSU Hospitals. The Palmer J. Parker Courage to Teach Award is
given to 10 residency or fellowship program directors in the United States each
year to recognize the value and importance of medical and surgical training and
of educators. Mentorship, promotion of excellent patient care and safety, and
educational innovation are core attributes for the award.
Although the honor is in my name, it is clearly a reflection
of the quality and expertise of the faculty and residents at Doernbecher and
OHSU with whom I work, their commitment to the highest quality education, to
innovation, and to world class patient care.
I am proud of the young neurosurgeons training at
OHSU-Doernbecher. Mentoring them is one of the most fulfilling aspects of my
job. They contribute directly to the safety and wonderful outcomes of patients
we care for. I am honored and humbled that the ACGME has recognized the work we
do together.
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| The team at work in the operating room |
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| Simulation based training |
