Meridith Marks: Influencing professors and students

Natalie Dunleavy

Meridith Marks

It is easy to see the influence a teacher can have on students, but what we don�t see is who influences the teacher.

Dr. Meridith Marks is an example of someone who has a great deal of influence on both professors and students at the Faculty of Medicine. A physician with a clinical practice in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PMR), she is assistant dean, faculty affairs, and an associate professor.

�I�m a behind-the-scenes person,� says Dr. Marks. Part of her job is to organize sessions for teachers to help them get skills they need to teach.

Dr. Marks� influence is not limited to the Faculty. She is nationally recognized as an expert in faculty and professional development. Dr. Marks contributes to national and international medical education forums on a regular basis as a presenter and organizer. She also provides numerous continuing education workshops for practicing physicians

In 2003-2004, Dr. Marks was the only Canadian selected to participate in the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM), a competitive program for women offered in the United States. She was selected for her expertise in medical education, continuing professional development and potential as a future leader in academic medicine.

Her job isn�t always easy. Dr. Marks says it can be difficult convincing other professors that there are things to learn about teaching. �Many people assume if you�re an expert in a subject, you know all there is to know to teach.� She says that it�s also hard to make sure physicians see the benefits in going to workshops.

As a clinical professor, Dr. Marks gets to interact directly with residents (young physicians completing specialty training). She provides clinical supervision for residents and students on the amputee rehabilitation service, her area of specialization. Her excellence as a clinical teacher was commended when she received the 2002 PARIO Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching.

Residents in physical medicine and rehabilitation and junior faculty members pursuing academic careers in medical education also recognize Dr. Marks as a role model and mentor.

Nancy Dudek, a colleague who has been supervised by Dr. Marks, praises her for her ability to explain complex concepts in an understandable manner.

�Never satisfied with her existing ability, she continually searches for innovative methods of teaching various topics,� Dudek said.

She recalled an example of this when Dr. Marks changed their Academic Half Day program on quality assurance from a series of lectures to a group quality assurance project. She said as a result, the group left feeling more confident in their abilities to independently complete future projects.

Although Dr. Marks has received many awards, her greatest sense of accomplishment is being chosen by residents to be their mentor, or when colleagues indicate that she has influenced their approach to education. Dr. Marks loves seeing new faculty get excited about teaching. However, seeing students and residents develop into skilled physicians is the ultimate reward of her work in education.