Feinberg has named two new associate deans: Kathryn Hufmeyer, ’11 MD, ’14 GME, currently clinical assistant professor at the University of Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, has been named associate dean for curriculum, effective July 1, and Linda Suleiman, MD, ’17 GME, currently assistant dean of Medical Education and assistant professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and of Medical Education, has been promoted to associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion, effective February 1.
Adapting Medical Education to Today’s Challenges
Kathryn Hufmeyer, MD, ’11, ’14 GME, who previously served on the faculty at Feinberg, will rejoin the medical school as associate dean for curriculum and associate professor of Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine, effective July 1. Hufmeyer received her medical degree from Feinberg and completed her residency at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University.
“I’m excited to return to Northwestern,” Hufmeyer said. “There’s a reason I chose Northwestern for medical school and my residency. It’s an honor to join the senior educational leadership team and to be part of the innovative, cutting-edge medical education happening at Feinberg.”
Hufmeyer said she hopes to help adapt Feinberg education to meet the modern challenges of medical education, including a focus on interprofessional education, creative models of clinical education and incorporating artificial intelligence.
While at Feinberg previously, Hufmeyer received the Augusta Webster Faculty Fellowship in Educational Research and Innovation, the John X Thomas, Jr. Best Teachers of Feinberg Award and the Excellence in Teaching Award. She was also recognized for her teaching while serving as the internal medicine clerkship director at the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and was recently selected as a Harvard Macy Scholar and inducted to the Richard T. Sarkin, MD, Emeritus Faculty Chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society.
“I am delighted that Katie is returning to Feinberg to serve as the associate dean for curriculum,” said Marianne Green, MD, the Raymond H. Curry, MD, Professor of Medical Education and vice dean for education. “Katie is a creative, strategic and thoughtful educator who has a deep understanding of the challenges facing medical education today. Her passion for innovation and her commitment to student success makes her an ideal choice for this role.”
Patricia Garcia, MD, MPH, the current associate dean for curriculum, will return to the faculty. Garcia earned her medical degree and master’s degree in public health from the University of Illinois, Chicago, and has served on Feinberg’s faculty since 1997. Prior to her associate dean role, Garcia was the director of Phases I and II of Feinberg’s curriculum, and served as chair of the Curriculum Renewal Steering Committee, where she led the development and implementation of Feinberg’s new curriculum, launched in 2012.
Cultivating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
“I look forward to accelerating our ascent toward Feinberg’s mission of ensuring the recruitment, retention and success of faculty members who are underrepresented in medicine,” said Suleiman, who is currently assistant dean of Medical Education and assistant professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and of Medical Education. “I believe enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion requires a collaborative, strategic and data-driven approach. This starts with faculty. I have a deep commitment and unique skill set obtained through my experiences in graduate medical education to strengthen our institution and empower our faculty to achieve their academic goals.”
Suleiman earned her medical degree from Howard University, and completed her residency at McGaw, where she was chief administrative resident in the Department of Orthopaedics, and her fellowship in adult hip and knee reconstruction and replacement was completed at Rush University Medical Center. In 2018, she returned to Northwestern as an assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery and director of diversity and inclusion for McGaw — a role she continues to hold. Under her leadership, the percent of trainees belonging to groups historically underrepresented in medicine grew from 14 percent to 23 percent.
In addition to implementing bias training and recalibrating the application review process to be more holistic, Suleiman founded the Minority Faculty Association and established Health Equity Week, which welcomed more than 700 registrants last year.
Suleiman said her first priority in her new role is to launch a longitudinal program focused on academic coaching, peer co-learning and career development for faculty who are underrepresented in medicine. The program will focus on leadership, reaching clinical excellence, navigating an academic medical center, mentorship and providing one-on-one executive coaching support in the critical early years of academic career development, Suleiman said.
“Dr. Suleiman is a rare talent: gifted surgeon, impactful educator, emerging clinical investigator and passionate health equity advocate,” said Clyde Yancy, MD, MSc, vice dean for Diversity and Inclusion and chief and the Magerstadt professor of Cardiology in the Department of Medicine. “As we survey the near and long-term future of medicine, our leaders must hold expertise in multiple domains and demonstrate adroit facility navigating still uncertain paths forward. In Dr. Suleiman, we recognize a sterling leader with a distinctive skill set who will enhance our opportunities to exceed goals and expand our mission. Dr. Suleiman’s leadership will ensure our increasingly diverse faculty leverages diversity of ideation and works collectively towards a greater excellence – particularly as inclusion holds space for belonging, affirmation and advancement. This is how Feinberg becomes even better.”
