Associate Professor of Surgery Steven Hunt, MD, is the recipient of the 2021 Jeffrey F. Moley Mentorship Award. The award was presented this June at the 2020-2021 General Surgery Chief Residents Graduation Celebration at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
The Moley Mentorship Award is given to the faculty member whose mentorship, leadership, character and surgical judgement has been held as an exemplary model by the General Surgery Chief Residents. The award honors the legacy of the late Jeffrey Moley, MD.
Moley was a highly regarded professor of surgery and past chief of surgical oncology at the medical school who pioneered research and treatment of Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN), rare inherited syndromes that often cause an aggressive form of thyroid cancer and other endocrine diseases. Moley was known for both his precise surgical technique and his commitment to training future generations of surgeons in the operating room.
“Dr. Moley was a mentor of mine since I met him as a medical student in 2013,” said graduating chief resident Linda Schulte, MD, in her presentation of the award. “It is a blessing to be reminded of Dr. Moley’s legacy through the patients and people who are still at this institution. That is why it is so special to present this award to Dr. Hunt.”
Schulte earned her medical degree at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. As a resident, Schulte completed two years of research in the Hawkins Lab and was accepted as a fellow in cardiothoracic surgery. She continues her fellowship training in cardiothoracic surgery at the School of Medicine following graduation this year.
“It means so much to me to receive this award honoring Dr. Moley,” says Hunt. “Not only was Jeff an incredible mentor to me during my training, he was a great friend of mine. Jeff taught me to treat everyone with respect and kindness. He had such great joy, passion and energy in everything that he did. If I can be half the person that Jeff Moley was, I will have accomplished something great.”
Hunt, who is Program Director of the Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship at the School of Medicine, has served as a strong mentor for numerous trainees in both the fellowship and residency programs.
“I know that Dr. Hunt embodies the teaching philosophy of Dr. Moley,” Schulte said. “Despite being an amazing surgeon in his own right, he has no pretensions in the operating room, he is easy going and he is kind to everyone. As a sub-intern on his service in 2014, I learned how to do an ileostomy takedown from start to finish because he wasn’t above operating with a medical student. Dr. Hunt, thank you for everything that you do to teach us, especially from this graduating chief.”