VA recognizes VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System attending physician for excellence in healthcare education

The Worthen Award, named for the former VHA head of Academic Affiliations, the late David M. Worthen, MD, recognizes exceptional VHA champions for their contributions in enhancing health professions trainee education.

The award is bestowed in three categories: the Rising Star Award, which recognizes an early career champion of health professions education; the Innovator Award, which recognizes an individual who created and is sustaining or expanding a significant educational innovation; and the Career Achievement Award, which recognizes an outstanding health professions education champion whose lifetime contributions have profoundly advanced and impacted the education mission of VHA.

Tyler Larsen, MD, an attending physician at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System , received the Worthen Rising Star Award for excellence in various facets of health professions education, to include showcasing expertise in assessment, curriculum development, administration, and educational research. Inspired by his grandfather's experience as a Korean War era Veteran, Larsen centered his educational efforts around the Veteran experience. Larsen’s impact on education and patient care at the West Los Angeles VA, coupled with his global reach and leadership, exemplifies his dedication to advancing healthcare education.

“This year’s awardees have made significant contributions to training the next generation of health care professionals,” said Marjorie A. Bowman, MD, MPA, VA Chief of Academic Affiliations. “Each of these recipients embody the characteristics of excellence that make VA a national leader in health professions education, and we congratulate them for their achievements.”

VHA is the nation’s largest education and training program for health professionals in the U.S., working in partnership with 96% of the country’s medical schools and more than 1,500 universities and colleges including associated health professions schools. Each year, 120,000 trainees in more than 60 clinical health professions education programs complete training in a VA facility. 

The David M. Worthen Awards for Excellence in Health Professions Education are sponsored by the VHA Office of Academic Affiliations. Learn more about VHA’s mission of training health care professionals at VA Office of Academic Affiliations.