Faculty Voice: Education
When Dr. Helen Loeser, professor of clinical pediatrics and associate dean
for curricular affairs, joined the Dean's Office in 1998, she immediately
began overseeing a major redesign of the medical school curriculum.
Today, the case-based, interdisciplinary curriculum she helped to develop
serves as a national model of innovation in medical education. Highlights
of the new curriculum include the digital curriculum iRocket, which offers
students access to teaching and learning materials "anytime, anywhere,"
and the Curriculum Ambassador Program, which allows students to play a
direct role in shaping their education by working closely with their classmates
and faculty to develop innovative new courses.
Dr. Loeser's enthusiasm for new and original approaches did not come
as a surprise to her colleagues, one of whom commented, "She is passionate
about medical education and this passion is contagious."
After earning her B.A. in Visual Studies from Radcliffe College, Dr.
Loeser punctuated her formal education with a two-year stint in Senegal
as a Peace Corps volunteer and two years as an Escort Interpreter for
Crossroads Africa on contract to the State Department. She then resumed
her formal education and received her MD from the University of Vermont,
and M.Sc. in epidemiology from McGill University. Dr. Loeser completed
her pediatric residency at Montreal Children's Hospital.
She is the recipient of numerous honors and awards including membership
in A.O.A., the Residents' Teaching Award at Mount Zion (the "Golden
Bagel" Award) and the Clinical Faculty Teaching Award.
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