Moeller, Brewster, and Thanas Win the 2023 Rosemarie L. Fisher, MD, Excellence in Graduate Medical Education Award

Two Yale School of Medicine (YSM) faculty and one staff member have won the 2023 Rosemarie L. Fisher, MD, Excellence in Graduate Medical Education (GME) Award: Jeremy Moeller, MD, residency program director for the Neurology program; Ursula Brewster, MD, fellowship program director for the Internal Medicine Nephrology Fellowship Program; and MarySarah Thanas, MPH, program coordinator for the Combined Internal Medicine/Pediatrics Residency Program.

Established in 2018 and granted annually, the award recognizes program directors and coordinators of residency and fellowship programs of YSM and Yale New Haven Hospital who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to providing a positive, world-class training environment, as well as outstanding mentorship and career advancement opportunities for residents and fellows.

The award is named in honor of Rosemarie L. Fisher, MD, a distinguished leader in GME at Yale. Fisher served as the first program director of the Internal Medicine Residency Training Program (1987 - 1998), as well as the first Associate Dean/Director of GME (1998 - 2016). Her exemplary career has impacted the lives of countless trainees and served as a model for GME leaders at Yale and beyond.

YSM department chairs, program directors, program coordinators, residents, and fellows submitted their award nominations to the GME office and to Fisher for consideration. After a selective review, the winners were announced at the September GMEC meeting that all stakeholders in the nomination process were invited to attend.

Although he wears many hats–recruiter, teacher, mentor, wellness champion, administrator, assessor, planner for the future–joy has always driven Moeller in his role as Neurology’s residency program director.

“My path as a [program director] started with a love for teaching, and honestly that hasn’t changed a bit. Sure, I enjoy some of the administrative and logistical challenges of the job, but I am happiest when I [am] teaching and learning with residents, fellows, or students,” he said.

An innovative leader dedicated to cultivating a rigorous and nurturing training environment that serves as the catalyst for career success, Moeller is interested in gaining insights from the entire career path of residents and fellows, which could inform best practices in the training program.

“We do a good job of quality control when residents and fellows are in the midst of training, but we could do better at tracking the trajectory of our trainees after they move on. Do they stay in the field? Are they functioning at the highest levels, and do they have the tools to stay well and avoid burnout? Can they handle the rigors of the ‘real world’ and remain compassionate and conscientious at the same time? I would love to see more support to track these outcomes and use them to make our training programs even better.”

Fisher was impressed with Moeller’s outstanding leadership and commitment to improving the trainee experience.

“[Dr. Moeller] has moved the Neurology residency forward with his innovative ideas about curriculum, resident wellness, and resilience. He has become leader in education, both locally and nationally. I was extremely proud of his leadership not only his residency, but also in various institutional GME issues. It gives me great pleasure to see him recognized for his efforts.”

Since 2014, Ursula C. Brewster, MD, has served as program director for the nephrology fellowship in Internal Medicine. Brewster went to medical school at the Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine and obtained both residency and fellowship training at Yale, where she has remained ever since.

Her leadership extends beyond the institution. She previously served as vice chair for the American Society of Nephrology Workforce and Training Committee, and in 2021 received the American Society of Nephrology Distinguished Educator Award. Trainees under Brewster share that she is “deeply thoughtful, respectful, and caring while honest and direct.”

Brewster has had a long and impactful journey in GME, and winning the award holds deep personal significance for her as she recalls her early days at Yale when Fisher served as the program director.

"I came to Yale a long time ago as an intern, and Dr. Fisher was a lot of the reason I fell in love with the place,” Brewster reflected. “At every turn in my career I have landed in her office for advice, and she is always just so right. To be receiving an award in the name of someone I admire so much is particularly special to me."

Fisher has indeed had the unique opportunity to have watched Brewster’s career flourish, from her earliest days as a trainee to her current role as an outstanding GME leader.

“[Dr. Brewster] was in the last group of internal medicine residents that I recruited during my tenure as [internal medicine] program director and she has shown me in her achievements in GME, both locally and nationally, that I could not have been more correct in predicting her abilities to succeed. She has made education a real focus of her career and her trainees have benefitted by her leadership and innovation. I am proud of her!” she exclaimed.

For more than two decades, MarySarah Thanas, MPH, has coordinated the Combined Medicine and Pediatrics residency program. Several residents have praised her ability to support them and help them navigate the challenges associated with the unique residency program. Many nominations pointed to Thanas’s bright and welcoming nature.

One resident said that “MarySarah creates a home away from home for residents and makes sure that we have fun and take care of ourselves, as well. Yale would not be the same without her.”

Thanas’ enthusiasm for her role in GME is palpable. Upon reflecting on her time at Yale, she highlights the people she works with, including her colleagues and the residents under her guidance.

"My co-workers, supervisors, and program directors are amazing and so supportive," Thanas said. "My residents are the smartest and best people who want and are changing the world constantly. There are so many areas that you can grow and learn. The resident panel changes every year. It keeps me in a growth mindset professionally,” Thanas remarks. “My role is so rewarding on multiple levels. My husband always says that if they made this job voluntary, I would still show up.”

“Ms. Thanas has been the rock on which the Med-Peds program and now also the Pediatrics Residency Program have stood. The support that she has given to the Program Directors and the trainees in the programs, have enabled them to move forward in being the fantastic programs that they are!” according to Fisher.

With such a wealth of talented and innovative GME leaders, unwavering in their myriad responsibilities and admired by trainees and Fisher alike, Yale is poised to remain a premier research, teaching, and training destination.