General surgery resident Julie Clanahan, MD, MHPE, received the Outstanding Resident Teacher Award from the Association for Surgical Education (ASE) on May 9 at the association’s annual meeting.
Clanahan is a PGY-4 general surgery resident who earned her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine before joining the Department of Surgery at WashU Medicine as a general surgery resident. Her passion for and involvement in surgical education emerged during medical school and has continued to grow throughout her time as a surgical resident.
For her professional development time, Clanahan chose to primarily devote her efforts in the surgical education space. From 2021 to 2023, she served as the Washington University Institute for Surgical Education (WISE) ACS-AEI simulation and education fellow and co-chair of the general surgery Curriculum Committee. She also became the first surgical resident here to simultaneously complete her master’s degree in health Professions Education during this time through a collaboration with the University of Missouri Kansas. As a fellow, she helped to design and execute the simulation and skills lab curriculum for resident education. She conducted several simulation and curricular research studies resulting in publications in the Journal of Surgical Education and Global Surgical Education.
She participated in the Washington University Teaching Physicians Pathway and has worked with the Academy for Surgical Coaching non-profit to advance her abilities in feedback delivery, learner goal-setting, and action planning. One of her learners said that “one of her greatest strengths is her keen ability to recognize and adapt to the unique learning styles of her junior residents… In the operating room, she advocates for her juniors to take on aspects of each case appropriate for their skill level and provides constructive feedback, words of encouragement, and actionable recommendations for skill advancement.”
The ASE’s Outstanding Resident Teacher Award honors a surgical resident committed to excellence in teaching. It is presented to up to three residents annually. Nominees are evaluated based on their dedication, innovation and effectiveness in educating fellow residents and medical students. This award recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional teaching skills, foster a supportive learning environment, and contribute significantly to the educational mission. The accolade celebrates those who not only excel clinically but also equally prioritize the training and development of others in the field of surgery.
Clanahan was nominated by Kerri Ohman, MD, assistant professor of surgery in the Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery.
“Dr. Clanahan is one of those rare residents who makes everyone around her better,” said Ohman. “At WashU Medicine, she has consistently gone above and beyond to create an engaging learning environment where students and trainees feel both supported and inspired. She brings such energy, heart and thoughtfulness to surgical education—always approachable, always passionate. The ASE Outstanding Resident Teacher Award is a perfect reflection of the lasting impact she has had.”
“I am so excited and thankful to have been recognized by the ASE with this award,” said Clanahan. “WashU has such a rich history in surgical education with faculty members who have encouraged me to purse education and teaching as a primary academic niche, even when this is a less common pathway among surgeons. Receiving this award is such an honor and validates all that I have done and will continue to do to prioritize excellence in our surgical teaching and learning environments.”
The award was presented to Clanahan on May 9 at the Association for Surgical Education’s annual meeting, which was held at the Metropolitan Ballroom at the Sheraton Grand Seattle in Seattle, Washington.