Andrew B. Symons MD, MS
Andrew B. Symons
MD, MS
Clinical Professor and Vice Chair for Medical Student Education
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Specialty/Research Focus
Cancer Screening; Family Medicine; Health Services Research; Health Services Research; Medical Education Research; Program Evaluation; Workforce Development
Contact Information
Patient Care
Patient Care
This faculty member is affiliated with UBMD, practicing physicians who are also professors in the Jacobs School.
View this physician on UBMDProfessional Summary:
I am a family physician at UBMD Family Medicine where I provide comprehensive care for children and adults. Health maintenance is a cornerstone of my practice, i.e., assuring that patients receive preventive services such as immunizations, Pap smears, mammograms and colonoscopy screening for colorectal cancer. I manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, emphysema, depression and addiction, and I treat acute conditions such as musculoskeletal pain, respiratory infections and skin conditions. I perform office procedures, including skin biopsies and therapeutic joint injections. I also provide prenatal care and deliver babies. At Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, together with a team of resident physicians, I care for adult patients who require hospitalization. I maintain excellent relationships with subspecialists and can coordinate consultation with them when my patients need specialized care.
My research is focused on medical education, particularly as it relates to determinants of student choice to pursue careers in primary care.
I serve as the vice chair for medical student education in the Department of Family Medicine and have a special interest in teaching students about the central role of family medicine in providing high quality, cost-effective health care. I direct the first-year clinical skills course in the medical school and routinely lecture in that course on the fundamentals of performing a patient interview and physical exam.
I am also the family medicine clerkship director. As such, I lead small group discussions on preventive screening, the patient-centered medical home and continuity of care in the primary care setting. I developed an innovative program using standardized patients to simulate a six-month continuity relationship with students rotating through the family medicine clerkship. During simulated visits, students address their patients’ chronic medical concerns (e.g., diabetes, hypertension), acute concerns (e.g., knee injury, chest pain) and lifestyle issues (e.g., smoking cessation, diet, exercise). The simulation allows students to experience the challenges and rewards of developing a continuity relationship with patients. I also developed and implemented a curriculum to teach students to care for patients with disabilities. In addition, medical students participating in their family medicine clerkship and clinical skills course accompany me as I see patients, in order to deepen their understanding of patient care.
I also supervise residents at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital. Teaching students and residents keeps me sharp: it informs my practice of medicine, while my practice of medicine assures that I remain relevant as a teacher.
Education and Training:
- Residency, Family Resident, University at Buffalo, Department of Family Medicine (2005)
- MD, University at Buffalo, Cum Laude (2002)
- Biology, City University of New York (1998)
- MS, Environmental Studies, Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus (1994)
- BA, Political Science, Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1987)
Employment:
- Associate Professor, Family Medicine, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2013-present)
- Family Physician, Family Medicine, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2006-present)
- Assistant Professor, Family Medicine, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2006–2013)
- Family Physician, Orchard Park Family Practice (2005–2006)
- Academic Chief Resident, Family Medicine, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2004–2005)
- Resident, Family Medicine, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2002–2005)
- Adjunct Faculty, Biology, Touro College (1994–1998)
- Teacher of General Biology and Marine Biology, High School for Environmental Studies (1994–1998)
Awards and Honors:
- NYS Academy of Family Physicians Family Doctor of The Year (2013)
- UB Salute to Authors (2012)
- Business First Buffalo Healthcare 50 (2009)
- University of Buffalo Dept. of Family Med Chairman's Award for Research (2005)
- Alpha Omega Alpha (2002)
- American Academy of Family Physicians President's Award (2002)
- Thesis Honors (2002)
- Sigma Xi (1994)
Research Expertise:
- Cancer Screening
- Disabilities
- Health Services Research
- Medical Education
- Medical Student Education
- Program Evaluation
- Residency/Fellowship Education
- Workforce Development
Grants and Sponsored Research:
- July 2016–June 2021
HRSA T0BHP30017 Primary Care Training and Enhancement Program
The Buffalo Inter-professional Advanced Primary Care Training Program
Role: Co-Investigator
$577,971 - June 2016–June 2021
Primary care training and enhancement : “The Buffalo Interprofessional Advanced Primary Care Training Program”
Health Resources and Services Administration
Role: Principal Investigator - September 2011–September 2016
Pre-Doctoral Training in Primary Care
Health Resources and Services Administration
Role: Principal Investigator
$940,252 - October 2011–October 2012
Graduate Medical Education Quality Improvement Award
Office of Graduate Medical Education
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
$3,000 - July 2008–June 2011
PREDOCTORAL TRAINING PROGRAM IN DISABILITIES: A MODEL FOR PROFESSIONALISM
HRSA
Role: Principal Investigator
$707,400 - October 2008–March 2010
colorectal cancer professional education
American Cancer Society
Role: Co-Investigator
$142,989 - July 2003–July 2004
Performance Improvement Award
Office of Graduate Medical Education, UB
Role: Principal Investigator
$2,000
Journal Articles:
- Fusco NM, Elze DE, Antonson DE, Jacobsen LJ, Lyons AG, Symons AB, Ohtake PJ. (2020) Creating a Film to Teach Health Professions Students the Importance of Interprofessional Collaboration. Am J Pharm Educ (Apr), 84(4): 7638-7638.
- Vest BM, Lynch A, McGuigan D, Servoss T, Zinnerstrom K, Symons AB. (2016) Using standardized patient encounters to teach longitudinal continuity of care in a family medicine clerkship. BMC Med Educ (Aug), 16(1): 208-208.
- Symons AB, Morley CP, McGuigan D, Akl EA. (2014) A curriculum on care for people with disabilities: Effects on medical student self-reported attitudes and comfort level. Disabil Health J (Jan), 7(1): 88-95.
- Karl R, McGuigan D, Withiam-Leitch ML, Akl EA, Symons AB. (2013) Reflective impressions of a precepted clinical experience caring for people with disabilities. Intellect Dev Disabil (Aug), 51(4): 237-245.
- Symons AB, Fish RM, McGuigan D, Fox J, Akl EA. (2012) Development of an instrument to measure medical students’ attitudes toward people with disability. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (Jun), 30(3): 251-260.
- Satchidanand N, Gunukula SK, Lam WY, McGuigan D, New I, Symons AB, Withiam-Leitch M, Akl EA. (2012) Attitudes of healthcare students and professionals toward patients with physical disability: a systematic review. Am J Phys Med Rehabil (Jun), 91(6): 533-545.
- Akl EA, Gaddam S, Mustafa R, Wilson MC, Symons A, Grifasi A, McGuigan D, Schünemann HJ. (2011) The effects of tracking responses and the day of mailing on physician survey response rate: three randomized trials. PLoS One (Feb), 6(2): 16942-16942.
- Lam WY, Gunukula SK, McGuigan D, Isaiah N, Symons AB, Akl EA. (2010) Validated instruments used to measure attitudes of healthcare students and professionals towards patients with physical disability: a systematic review. J Neuroeng Rehabil (Nov), 7: 1-7.
- Akl EA, Gunukula S, Mustafa R, Wilson MC, Symons A, Moheet A, Schunemann HJ. (2010) Support for and aspects of use of educational games in family medicine and internal medicine residency programs in the US: a survey. BMC Med Educ (Mar), 10(1): 26-26.
- Symons AB, McGuigan D, Akl EA. (2009) A curriculum to teach medical students to care for people with disabilities: development and initial implementation. BMC Med Educ (Dec), 9: 78-78.
- Symons AB, Swanson A, McGuigan D, Orrange S, Akl EA. (2009) A tool for self-assessment of communication skills and professionalism in residents. BMC Med Educ (Jan), 9: 1-1.
- Lawvere S, Mahoney MC, Symons AB, Englert JJ, Klein SB, Mirand AL. (2004) Approaches to breast cancer screening among nurse practitioners. J Am Acad Nurse Pract (Jan), 16(1): 38-43.
- Mahoney MC, Symons AB, Kimmel SR. (2003) Smallpox: clinical highlights and considerations for vaccination. J Postgrad Med (Apr), 49(2): 141-147.
- Santora LM, Mahoney MC, Lawvere S, Englert JJ, Symons AB, Mirand AL. (2003) Breast cancer screening beliefs by practice location. BMC Public Health (Feb), 3(1): 9-9.
- Symons AB, Mahoney MC, Englert J, Mirand AL. (2002) Variations in approaches to breast cancer screening among primary care physicians. J Cancer Educ (Jan), 17(4): 205-210.
Books and Book Chapters:
- Seller RH, Symons AB. (2012) Differential Diagnosis of Common Complaints. Elsevier.
- Symons AB, Mahoney MC. (2011) Current Diagnosis and Treatment: Family Medicine. In: Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia. McGraw Hill, 20-27.
Professional Memberships:
- Alliance for Disability in Health Care Education
- American Academy of Family Physicians
- Professional Association of Diving Instructors
- Society of Teachers of Family Medicine
Presentations:
- "Tips for Effective and Efficient Office Precepting" Scientific Assembly; NYS Academy of Family Physicians (2013)
- "Evaluation of a Curriculum to Teach Medical Students to Care for Patients with Disabilities" Society of Teachers of Family Medicine National Conference on Medical Student Education; Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (2012)
- "Evaluation of a Faculty Development Fellowship" Society of Teachers of Family Medicine National Conference on Medical Student Education (2012)
- "Global Health Educaton: Does it help with FM recrutiment?" STFM Medical Student Educatoin Conference; STFM (2012)
- "Preventive Medicine and Colonoscopy Presentation: Impact on Students’ Knowledge of Screening Guidelines for Colorectal Cancer" Society of Teachers of Family Medicine National Conference of Medical Student Education (2012)
- "Evaluation of a Curriculum on Care for Patients With Disabilities: Effects on Medical Student Attitudes and Comfort Levels" North American Primary Care Research Group (2011)
- "Spirituality in Medicine" Exploring the Dimensions of Health Care in a Religiously Diverse Community; ; Kaleida Health Bereavment Committee (2011)
- "Spirituality in Medicine" Grand Rounds; Pinnacle Health System (2011)
- "Development and Implementation of a Disability-related OSCE" Society of Teachers of Family Medicine National Conference of Medical Student Education (2011)
- "Physician Health and Well-Being" UB Medical School; ; 3rd year Medical Students (2010)
- "Effective Strategies for Precepting Students in the Office Setting" Western New York Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) (2010)
- "Development and validation of a tool for assessing medical students’ attitudes towards people with disabilities" Society of Teachers of Family Medicine National Conference on Medical Student Education (2010)
- "Improving Family Medicine's Coolness Factor" STFM Conference (2010)
- "Curriculum to Teach Medical Students to Care for Patients with Disabilities" New York State Cerebral Palsy Assosiation (2009)
- "Curriculum to Teach Medical Students to Care for Patients with Disabilities" AAMC Annual Meeting (2009)
- "A Post-Baccalaureate Program for Educationally and Economically Disadvantaged Applicants to Medical School" Society of Teachers of Family Medicine National Conference of Medical Student Education (2008)
- "Consumption of toxic fish from the Great Lakes by patients of a family medicine center in Buffalo, NY" Scholarly Exchange Day, University at Buffalo (2004)
- "Collaboration between a family medicine summer research internship" Society of Teachers of Family Medicine NAtional Conference of Medical Student Education (2002)
- "Variation in approaches to breast cancer screening among primary care physicians" NYS Academy of Family Physicians Research Forum (2002)
Service Activities:
- Interprofessional education task force; Member (2012–present)
- Independent Health sub-committe on Primary Care recruitment recruitment and retaintion of primary care physicians in Western New York.; Committee Member (2011–present)
- OME Service Learning Student Reflection Committee Helped plan the seminars and continue to serve as a small group leader.; Contributor (2011–present)
- Curriculum Task Force; Member (2010–present)
- Medical Director, UB Family Medicine Sheridan Served as interim medical director. Achieved Level III certification as NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home (2010–2011)
- LCME Acrcreditation Task Force At the Dean's invitation, I participate in the medical school committee which prepared for the accreditation process with the Liason Comittee for Medical Education of the Association of American Medical Colleges.; Committee Member (2010–present)
- Simulation Center Development Task Force; Contributor (2010–present)
- Search Committee for Chief Administrator, Department of Family Medicine; Chair (2009–2010)
- Erie County NYS Academy of Family Physicians; President (2008–2012)
- Graduate Medical Education Committee on Professionalism I helped to draft a code of professionalism for residents.; Advisory Committee (2008–present)
- Curriculum Committee; Member (2007–present)
- Curriculum Committee; Committee Member (2007–present)
- Phase One Committee This is the committee which coordinates the curriculum in the first 2 years of medical school; Committee Member (2006–present)
- Department of Family Medicine; Executive Board (2006–present)
- Medical Student Education I oversee the educational activities of the Department of Family Medicine in the medical school pre-doctoral curriculum.; Vice-Chair (2006–present)
- Phase I; Member (2006–present)
- Music Teacher I teach music at several area synagogues on Sunday mornings, my schedule permitting. (1998–present)