History of the Haile T. Debas Academy of Medical Educators

Over the 1990's, the School of Medicine at UCSF faced several challenges that adversely impacted medical student education. By the late 1990's, clinician-educators found themselves expected to generate their total income through their clinical efforts while volunteering for the teaching of medical students and house officers, if it could be made to fit.

In 1997, David Irby, Ph.D., newly recruited vice-dean for Education, was expressly charged with reinvigorating the undergraduate medical curriculum at UCSF. Dean Irby appointed two committees to generate contrasting visions for a new UCSF curriculum. One committee was charged to design a curriculum for the 21st century building on current strengths and addressing areas of weakness. The second committee, chaired by Daniel Lowenstein, M.D, came to be known as "Blue Skies". This committee was instructed to re-envision medical education at UCSF. This committee recommended the establishment of a cadre of dedicated teachers and outstanding medical educators, at least some of whom would receive salary support for their teaching. Through the efforts of this corps, the Academy of Medical Educators, junior teachers would be inspired and supported and a program of medical education befitting the 21st century would be brought into being.

In March 1999, then dean Haile Debas announced that he would provide support for the Academy of Medical Educators through its formative stages. In addition, the Dean announced his intention to commit funds to establish a matched endowed chair program for outstanding teachers and educators, jointly funded by the Dean's office and the host department.

In August 2000, Molly Cooke, M.D. was appointed the Academy's first director. In the summer of 2001 the first group of Academy members was selected through a rigorous process. The newly chosen members were inducted in September 2001. A new "class" of members has been inducted in each succeeding September.

In 2002, with the generous support of faculty members, the Academy was named in honor of Haile T. Debas, who was, and still is, a strong supporter of the Academy and of medical student education.

Molly Cooke continues as director of the Academy. Harry Hollander, M.D., became associate director in 2004.

Academy programs that deserve special mention include the matched endowed chair program, the innovations funding program, and the blossoming TIP/TOP program which supports all teachers, members and non-members, of medical students at UCSF.