Education Day 2026, the event hosted by the Academy of Educators at WashU Medicine, is a special event celebrating education-focused award recipients and new inductees to the Academy of Educators. The all-day event highlights all aspects of the mission of the Academy of Educators in recognizing the educators that make a difference in the lives of learners, mentees, and colleagues across WashU Medicine.
On Thursday, October 8, Kathryn Rowland, MD, MPHS, Hubert Swana, MD, and Zachary Wanken, MD, MS, were recognized by the academy. The event took place in the main auditorium of the Eric P. Newman Education Center (EPNEC), celebrating educators for their efforts in educational service and scholarship.
The program this year centered on the theme “Teaching in Times of Uncertainty: Opportunities, Challenges, and Emerging Ideas.” The keynote address was delivered by Graham McMahon, MD, MMSc, president and CEO of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), which accredits more than 1,500 continuing medical education providers nationwide and internationally. The day also featured oral research presentations, interactive workshops on educational leadership and teaching practices, and a poster session.
Rowland, an associate professor of surgery in the Division of Pediatric Surgery and the director of CHESS was selected to receive the Exemplary Educator Award from the WashU Medicine Academy of Educators. Mariam Malik, MD, chair of awards and Michael DeVita, MD, vice chair of awards, presented the award. The award, established in 2022, recognizes a faculty member who is actively building a legacy as an educator through contributions in two or more domains of educational service, leadership, or scholarship.
Swana, a professor of surgery in the Division of Urology who is the director of the pediatric urology program at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and the program director for the urologic surgery residency, and Wanken, an assistant professor of surgery in the Division of Vascular Surgery and program director of the Integrated Vascular Surgery Residency. They were introduced for their induction into the 2026 class of the Academy of Educators by Anup Shetty, MD, the chair of membership and Brian Edelson, MD, PhD, the vice chair of membership of the Academy of Educators.
Congratulations to all the honorees and new inductees to the Academy of Educators at WashU Medicine.