Dean of Health Sciences Wins International Medical Education Prize

Published on: 2010/09/07 - in News

Dean of Health Sciences at Queen’s University, Richard Reznick, has been recognized with the 2010 Karolinska Institutet Prize for Research in Medical Education for his work in surgical education.

Queen’s Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) Bob Silverman said the award was like the Nobel Prize for medical education. “It is a huge international recognition of Dr. Reznick and his work. The Queen’s community congratulates him on this significant achievement.”

The award honours high-quality research in the field, and fosters long-term improvements for medical training educational practices.

Dr. Reznick said it was an enormous honour to be recognised for the prize, particularly due to its significance “as an affirmation that surgical education can be a bona fide academic pathway.”

The primary research into surgical education that Professor Reznick carried out has focused on performance-based assessment, technical skill acquisition and simulation, all with the aim of improving practice. The development of a checklist to reduce surgical complications he participated in is now being used around the world.

His work in surgical assessment and simulation also led to the creation of a unique competency-based curriculum that is currently being tested as a potential new way to train surgeons. Dr. Reznick, who began his term at Queen’s University in July, is a fellow of both the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the American College of Surgeons.

Professor Reznick and a co-winner will receive their awards and shared €50,000 prize at a special ceremony, and lecture at the institute in Stockholm this November.

Dr Reznick also writes regular posts to his “Dean on Campus” blog at Queen’s University. This week’s entry: “Meeting many faculty members