The American College of Physicians has elected Dave O’Dell, M.D., of Omaha, as a recipient of its highest awards – the Mastership and the Dr. Jane F. Desforges Distinguished Teaching Award.
Dr. O’Dell, professor in the Department of Internal Medicine Division of General Internal at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, will receive the awards at the ACP’s 2020 meeting next April in Los Angeles.
The Mastership recognizes an outstanding and extraordinary career — the organization's highest award. It is bestowed for “integrity, positions of honor, eminence in practice or in medical research, or other attainments in science or in the art of medicine." Criteria include highly accomplished persons demonstrating eminence in practice, leadership, or in medical research and must be distinguished by the excellence and significance of his or her contributions to the field of medicine.
The Dr. Jane F. Desforges Distinguished Teaching Award is bestowed for the ennobling qualities of a great teacher as judged by the acclaim and accomplishments of former students who have been inspired and have achieved positions of leadership in the field of medical education, primarily as teachers.
Dr. O’Dell said he was extremely surprised, and humbled when he heard he’d received the award.
“Medical education is a long process and truly a team endeavor,” Dr. O’Dell said. “I have the privilege of getting to work with students in the clinical years after our foundational science faculty have given the students a solid base of medical knowledge.
“I was blessed to be Dr. LeeRoy Meyer’s student, resident, and colleague and greatly benefited from his mentoring. I also have served under many tremendous physicians who allowed me to indulge my passion for medical education. UNMC has always had a culture that values medical education and I am delighted to accept this award as a representative of that culture and its commitment to our students,” he said.
Tom Tape, M.D., professor and chief of the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine Division of General Internal Medicine said Dr. O’Dell’s teaching encompasses a broad scope including the classroom, small group settings, the clinic exam room, and the inpatient bedside.
“Patients serve as the focal point for his teaching,” Dr. Tape said. “Combine these attributes with an enormous investment of face-to-face teaching and mentoring time and one can begin to understand why Dr. O’Dell is widely considered one of the truly legendary teachers.
“He has mentored countless students and residents over his 30-year faculty career. Many have become outstanding clinician-educators in their own right; many others have become better practitioners of medicine because of the approach to clinical reasoning that Dave developed and taught,” he said.
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SIDEBAR quotes from former students now UNMC faculty
“Dr. O’Dell makes learning medicine not only interesting, but extremely fun, and instilled a passion into my medical knowledge to always seek to answer the question, “but why?!” He doesn’t give us the answer. Rather, he poses the question in a respectful Socratic method, and awaits for the students to explain their clinical reasoning so that they not only are teaching themselves, but are also teaching their own peers at the same time. I am but one of many students who Dr. O’Dell has inspired during his long tenure at UNMC. I am lucky enough now to work in the same role that he had for so many years, and his dedication to education has inspired me to continue this tradition forward. I’m fortunate to continue to benefit from his mentoring, and am happy to not only call him a colleague, but a friend.”
Nathan Anderson, M.D., assistant professor of internal medicine
“I always wanted to be either a teacher or a doctor. I have witnessed medical education evolve over the years from passive lectures to more active learning. Dr. O’Dell was at the forefront of the active learning method. He teaches by asking questions and expects answers. I found this teaching method to be very effective. I have subsequently adopted this style for my own teaching. I became an academic physician because of Dr. O’Dell. He has been a supportive mentor for me personally and countless others. His guidance and encouragement was instrumental to the advancement of my career. I am honored to call him my mentor, my colleague, and my friend.”
J. Scott Neumeister, M.D., associate professor of internal medicine
Dave O’Dell, M.D. to receive two major national awards
