Kimberly Lomis, M.D.
Lomis lands teaching award
Kimberly Lomis, M.D., assistant professor of Surgery, has won the 2008 Outstanding Teacher Award from the Association of Surgical Education (ASE), to be awarded April 18 at the ASE's national convention.
The award is given annually to up to four individuals who are involved in surgical education and who are considered by their chairs, peers and students to be exceptional teachers.
“I nominated Dr. Lomis because she abundantly possesses the qualities of an outstanding teacher,” said Naji Abumrad, M.D., chair of the Department of Surgery. “Those qualities include commitment to teaching, expert knowledge, innovation, enthusiasm and being an excellent role model to Vanderbilt medical students and residents.”
Lomis is a founding member of the Vanderbilt School of Medicine Academy for Teaching Excellence and is a VUSM Master Clinical Teacher. She and three other surgical professors across the country were selected for the award by a national committee of educators.
Lomis credits the environment at VUSM with supporting her development as an educator.
“We have smart, dedicated students and residents, a good physical plant and thoughtful leadership,” she said. “The School of Medicine and my department have provided salary support to allow time for teaching and curricular design. In addition, the Master Clinical Teacher designation and the Academy for Excellence in Teaching made me competitive for this award.”
Lomis believes in creating an environment of honesty, energy and humor to help students learn.
“As surgeons we have an active learning process to engage students,” she said. “The pace of work, though, can be overwhelming. In the classroom, I try to slow the thought process and allow students to tackle clinical decisions. In real time in the operating room or clinic, I try to translate and direct the learner's attention.”
Lomis currently directs the third-year surgical clerkship and the third-year intersessions course for the School of Medicine. She leads a small group for the first-year Patient, Professor and Society course, and works with residents and students on the surgical services wards.