Teaching

My background in medicine includes the continum of care, from pre-hospital to the emergency room, to the inpatient medicine service, to speciality services, to rehabilitation, to long term care (including palliative care), to primary care and home care with a focus on interdisciplinary team care.

Teaching Philosophy

Serving as an educator is a privilege that should be appreciated and not abused. Without learners, there would be no need for educators.  Therefore, I believe that learning should always be student-centered. I have found that when evaluating curriculum, planning assessments, and evaluating outcomes, the key to success is to strive to make the choice that is best for the students while considering the cognitive load required of the educator.


As part of my goal to be student-centered, I work to establish a trusting relationship with each student early on in our relationship.  Knowing my audience allows me to tailor my teaching to the needs of the group and to recognize those students that have different needs and interests.  I have identified the need for metacognitive training in the PA classroom and I am working to provide those skills to my students and to fellow educators. Learning how to learn is becoming a lost art which is essential for success as a medical practitioner and lifelong learner.


There is no single educational philosophy that works for every student, so flexibility is one of the keys to learner success.  No two groups of students are the same, so I embrace the ability to utilize different teaching techniques. I find that the idea of learning styles is likely fiction and overutilized so that it can easily become a crutch or an excuse which obstructs learning. Each student likely has a learning preference, but that should not be an obstacle to learning. I strive to present educational material in multiple formats for each learning outcome. For instance, I may provide a lecture, supported by a video, followed by a psychomotor activity in class and follow those activities with an article shared in the learning management system.


I enjoy utilizing various forms of educational technology and exploring how they fit in my own educational practice. The classroom is where I thrive, but I enjoy the preparatory portion just as much. I was an early adopter of online teaching, achieving certifications in  online teaching and instructional design through the Online Learning Consortium which have continued to shape my educational practice. 


I am grateful for the varied experiences I have had throughout my career as a PA.  Having practiced in a variety of settings and a variety of disciplines, including the business of medicine, allows me to bring real-life cases and practical examples to the classroom.  This allows me to fully meet the needs of my students in the well-known educational domains (cognitive, affective, and psychomotor), but also the lesser-known domains including the metacognitive and interpersonal domains.  I strive to remain competent in clinical practice because I strongly believe that it adds to my validity in the classroom because it also allows me to remain up to date and engaged in current medical practice, which is vital when the standards of care in medicine change at a rapid pace.


My goal as an educator is to be the “guide on the side” rather than the “sage on the stage” as my students grow into entry-level medical practitioners and later, preceptors and educators themselves.  Working side-by-side with former students and seeing them shine in clinical practice is very rewarding, but watching them teach and mentor others is the most enjoyable experience for me.

Mental Health First Aid  Instruction

Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based, early-intervention course that teaches participants about mental health and substance use challenges.


ECSI  provises CPR and First Aid training solutions that work for you and your workplace.   

Please see the attached CV for many customized presentation options.  

I am happy to design a presentation to meet your specific needs.