Pediatrics In the News
Message from the Dean
It is my pleasure to announce that Patricia S. Beach, MD, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, was presented the Edith J. Levit Distinguished Service Award by the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) during its annual meeting in March. Dr. Beach serves as Director of the Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Chair of the School of Medicine Curriculum Committee and Chair of the Course Committee for the Year 4 Ambulatory Community Selective.
Dr. Beach is a model clinical educator who has attained a national reputation in medical education. For the past 17 years, she has served the NBME and Federation of State Medical Boards on numerous committees related to Step 3 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). These include the Step 3 Committee (oversight and policy making for Step 3 of the USMLE),ad hoc Standard-Setting Committee, Multimedia Task Force, and the NBME Nominating Committee. Leadership roles include Chair of the Test Material Development Committee for Ambulatory Care and Chair of several Item Review Committees,
Dr. Beach has served on numerous committees at UTMB, most notably as Chair of the SOM Curriculum Committee. Under Dr. Beach’s leadership, the committee has undertaken major projects, which include implementation of changes to years 3 and 4 of the curriculum, participation in successful LCME reaccreditation, and planning and implementation of longitudinal curriculum themes through all four years of the curriculum. Dr. Beach was heavily involved in the SACS reaffirmation process as a member of the Institutional Educational Effectiveness Committee, and also as a member of the Quality Enhancement Plan Committee.
Dr. Beach has been honored for her teaching excellence with the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Resident Education, the Department of Pediatrics Outstanding Junior Faculty Award for Education, and the Pediatric Educator Award for Excellence in Medical Student Education. In 2007, Dr. Beach was named an Osler Scholar to serve in the John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine. The Osler Scholars are a group of practicing faculty physicians who are selected for their devotion to the art of compassionate care and for excelling as role models for students and other physicians.
Dr. Beach maintains a busy clinical practice in addition to her teaching activities. A well-respected physician, Dr. Beach was honored in 2007 by Texas Monthly magazine as one of the Texas Super-Docs, an award given to selected physicians across the state based upon peer and patient recommendations.
Dr. Beach earned her MD degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans. She completed her residency in Pediatrics at UTMB, serving as Chief Resident during her final year of residency. After three years in private practice in Sanford, North Carolina, Dr. Beach joined the UTMB faculty in the Department of Pediatrics from 1986-1994. Thereafter, she entered private practice in Bismarck, North Dakota. In 1998, she rejoined the Department of Pediatrics at UTMB.
Dr. Beach has served admirably in many local and national leadership roles in the fields of pediatrics and medical education Please join me in congratulating her on this well-deserved honor.
Sincerely,
Garland D. Anderson, MD
Executive Vice President and Provost
Dean, School of Medicine
Thomas N. and Gleaves T. James Distinguished Chair
Garland D. Anderson, MD
Patricia S. Beach, MD