Orlando VA physician receives the Karen M. Sanders Designated Education Officer of the Year Award

Named for longtime VA Deputy Chief Academic Affiliations Officer Karen M. Sanders, MD, who retired in 2023, following a 42-year VA career, the annual award recognizes a VA medical facility DEO with an outstanding track record in health professions education in such areas as educational administration, curriculum, and affiliate relationships.

Thompson received the award for being an exceptional champion for health professions education and master educator within and outside of VA.

“Dr. Thompson has my highest level of support,” said OVAHCS Chief of Staff, Dr. Lisa Zacher. “She is a master educator and has demonstrated an outstanding academic presence at the newest and fastest growing VA in the nation. This award is well deserved!”

Thompson, a 20-year Veteran and retired Army colonel, expanded a level-two facility with a few training programs to a network of almost 200 affiliations, seven of which are graduate medical education institutions.

As an avid supporter of interprofessional training and learning partnerships, Thompson facilitated collaboration on multiple sub-specialty fellowship training programs, promoted the establishment and accreditation of the Orlando VA Healthcare System Podiatry residency program, and the establishment of the Orlando VA Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery fellowship training program as an official Advanced Fellowship of the Office of Academic Affiliations.

This past year, Thompson facilitated the expansion of the Licensed Mental Health Counseling internship and established new Marriage and Family Therapy and Dietetic internships. Thompson also developed a novel certificate program in Clinical Teaching and Program Administration course for newly minted academic leaders.

Thompson’s influence in advocating for health professions education extends into her membership on the National Academic Affiliations Council Diversity of Healthcare Workforce Subcommittee, which advises VHA leadership on matters affecting relationships between VA and the health professions community.

“We are truly honored to present the Karen M. Sanders, MD, Designated Education Officer of the Year Award to Dr. Thompson, an outstanding clinician educator who challenges us all to be the best teachers for the health professions trainees who train in VA every year,” said VA’s Chief Academic Affiliations Officer Marjorie A. Bowman, MD, MPA. “Her tireless and innovative efforts are a shining example of the cutting-edge training VA provides to the country’s next generation of health care professionals.”

The Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA) oversees the Karen M. Sanders DEO of the Year Award program as well as the nation’s largest education and training program for health professionals in the U.S. Working in partnership with more than 1,500 academic affiliates, VA trains more than 120,000 health professions trainees in over 60 clinical disciplines each year as they care for Veterans.

Learn more about VHA’s mission of training health care professionals at VA Office of Academic Affiliations.

To learn more about the facilities and services offered by the OVAHCS, please visit: VA Orlando Health Care | Veterans Affairs, subscribe to receive email updates by clicking here, like us on Facebook at: Orlando VA Healthcare System | Facebook, follow us on Instagram at: Orlando VA Healthcare System (@ovahcs) • Instagram photos and videos or on Twitter at: @OVAHCS / Twitter

Melanie Thomas, Public Affairs Officer

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