The Association of American Medical College’s Central Group on Educational
Affairs recently awarded Fred McCurdy, M.D., Ph.D., associate chair for
pediatric education in the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s department
of pediatrics, with its 2002 Medical Education Laureate. The award recognizes
individuals who have made long-standing, substantive contributions to medical
education and contributed significantly to the growth and development of
the organization.
“The award affirms the work that I’ve had a passion for for 20 years,
which is education and developing other people as faculty,” Dr. McCurdy
said. “My success is not predicated on what I do, but on the legacy I leave.
If everyone around me is successful in their career, I’ve done exactly
what I’ve set out to do.”
A native of Hastings, Dr. McCurdy graduated from Hastings College in
1967 and earned his medical and doctorate degrees, with distinction, from
UNMC in 1976. A general pediatrician and pediatric nephrologist, Dr. McCurdy
joined the UNMC faculty in 1993, after retiring from a 25-year career in
the U.S. Air Force. His last duty assignment was as the Director of Undergraduate
Education for the Department of Pediatrics at the Uniformed Services University
of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md. Last year, Dr. McCurdy earned an
MBA from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. At UNMC, he also serves as
associate compliance officer for University Medical Associates, the physician
practice group at UNMC.
“Faculty development is traditionally believed to only encompass teaching
people how to be better teachers,” Dr. McCurdy said. “I’ve tried to change
that conversation. I believe faculty development is development of faculty
skills in all areas that they are held accountable — teaching, scholarship,
service and administration.”
As a result, Dr. McCurdy formed CGEA’s Educational Leadership and Management
Certificate Program three years ago. The three-year program develops the
administrative and leadership skills of CGEA leaders.
“The idea is to link together in people’s minds the connection between
being an effective leader and being a scholar,” Dr. McCurdy said. “That
linkage had never been made before in the CGEA.”
From 1998 to 2001, Dr. McCurdy served as a member-at-large on the executive
committee of the CGEA. He currently serves as convener (chair) of the CGEA
Faculty Development Special Interest Group and recently finished a four-year
term on the national Research In Medical Education Planning Committee of
the AAMC.
Along with former UNMC faculty members Jeff Susman, M.D., and Dave Steele,
Ph.D., Dr. McCurdy is co-editor of “A Student Guide to Primary Care: Making
the Most of Your Clinical Experience.” The textbook for first and second-year
medical students will be released in July.