Inova Campus Celebrates Teaching

By Kathleen Kreutzer
School of Medicine

The Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine’s Inova Campus held its fifth annual Faculty Development Summit and Teaching Awards Luncheon on May 5. The twofold event gave students the opportunity to recognize outstanding faculty and practice hands-on learning.

Ellen Brock, M.D., medical director of the school’s Center for Human Simulation and Safety, delivered the opening presentation on “The Evidence for Simulation in Medical Education.” Kathleen Donnelly and other faculty then spoke of Inova’s use of simulation, giving attendees the opportunity to test their skills on 10 simulators ranging from childbirth management to laparoscopy.

Special guest Aneesh P. Chopra, chief technology officer and associate director for technology for the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy, gave a presentation on the Obama Administration’s Directions in Information Technology in health care. He described the potential for technology to enhance patient care, safety and cost-effectiveness through a variety of programs, including free text messages that provide basic prenatal health education and remind women to see their doctors. Chopra also described the potential for using hospital billing-record information to identify opportunities for cost savings, in much the same way as corporations use barcode information from consumer purchases.