Deborah D. Proctor, MD, AGAF, professor of medicine (digestive diseases) and medical director, Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program and Fred S. Gorelick, MD, Henry J. and Joan W. Binder Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases) and of Cell Biology and deputy director, Yale MD-PhD Program won 2019 American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Recognition Awards, given in honor of outstanding contributions and achievements in gastroenterology.
Proctor won the Distinguished Educator Award, which recognizes an individual who has made outstanding contributions throughout their career as an educator in gastroenterology on the local and national level.
Proctor is humbled by the award win.
“I am honored and delighted to be the recipient of the AGA Distinguished Educator Award,” said Proctor. “As I think of all of the education giants who have received this award before me, I am reminded of the African proverb, ‘If I stand tall, I am standing on the shoulders of those who have gone before us.’ I have devoted my career to education and to be recognized by my peers is extraordinarily high praise. Working with the AGA staff and my colleagues has allowed me to help advance education for our trainees not only at Yale, but on a national level and I am very grateful for all of the advice and support I received over the years.”
Proctor came to Yale School of Medicine (YSM) in 1998. Along with her work in digestive diseases, she serves as site director for the Yale/Stanford J&J Global Health Scholars Program site in Cali, Colombia. In addition, she serves as the AGA Institute Education & Training Councillor.
Gorelick was honored with the Distinguished Mentor Award, which recognizes someone who has made a lifelong effort dedicated to the mentoring of trainees in the field of gastroenterology and for achievements as outstanding mentors throughout their careers.
Both Drs. Proctor and Gorelick are incredibly deserving of these awards. Dr. Proctor has a long career of advancing education both at Yale and nationally, in addition to her selfless involvement in global health initiatives. Dr. Gorelick, an outstanding researcher and educator, has devoted much of his professional life to mentoring countless individuals at all levels of training and his students in the Yale MD-PhD program.
Dr. Loren Laine
“It is a wonderful personal and professional moment when students and colleagues recognize one’s achievements as a teacher,” said Gorelick. “Receipt of the AGA’s Distinguished Mentor Award provides such a reward. Communicating knowledge and inspiring others to question and to learn are among our greatest professional responsibilities. I have been singularly privileged to interact with motivated, talented and appreciative individuals. As I helped shape their lives, they have shaped mine and have given me the greatest of academic rewards - the recognition that I have been a good teacher.”
After completing medical school and internal medicine training, Gorelick studied gastroenterology at YSM. He joined the faculty in 1979. Currently, Gorelick serves as deputy director for the Yale Physician Scientist Program and directs a year-long course for the group that links basic science to clinical disease. Additionally, he is the director of the Yale Program in Investigative Gastroenterology.
“The Yale Digestive Diseases Section is extremely proud that the AGA chose to recognize two members of our faculty for their outstanding contributions to the field of gastroenterology with the Distinguished Educator and the Distinguished Mentor Awards,” said Loren Laine, MD, interim chief, section of digestive diseases. “We are especially proud that Yale faculty members accounted for two of the seven AGA recognition awards this year. Both Drs. Proctor and Gorelick are incredibly deserving of these awards. Dr. Proctor has a long career of advancing education both at Yale and nationally, in addition to her selfless involvement in global health initiatives. Dr. Gorelick, an outstanding researcher and educator, has devoted much of his professional life to mentoring countless individuals at all levels of training and his students in the Yale MD-PhD program.”
Yale’s Section of Digestive Diseases is part of the Department of Internal Medicine. To learn more about the section, visit Digestive Diseases.
The AGA Recognition Awards will be presented during Digestive Disease Week 2019 in May in San Diego.