UB Resident Receives National ACGME Award

The award honors a select number of residents nationwide who have contributed to graduate medical education.

Nugent was recognized for “demonstrating excellence in advancing humanism in the patient care environment and among caregivers.” In particular, she was honored for planning and implementing Kenneth B. Schwartz Center Rounds at Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo (WCHOB) and developing a Humanism in Residency curriculum for the pediatric residency program.

Schwartz Rounds are a forum for caretakers to communicate about the social and emotional aspects of caring. They have been shown to foster teamwork, communication and interdisciplinary collaboration. The rounds established by Nugent, Kathleen Grimm, MD, and the multidisciplinary planning committee have provided a forum for more than 100 caretakers.

Topics at WCHOB have included: “When Fear Has Us Hostage (H1N1),” “A Hard Gift to Give (Organ Donation),” “The Many Faces of Trauma,” and “Why We Do What We Do . . . the Joy and Privilege of Working in Medicine.”

One faculty member who nominated Nugent for the award stated: “It has been extraordinary to see the number of attendees each month who communicate openly about their joys, fears, anger, sadness and hopefulness. We as a community of caretakers have laughed together and cried together. The rounds have filled a void in a busy institution and have improved the quality of patient care due to the avenues of communication that have been opened. Residents have also been able to learn of the many disciplines that support the work that is done in caring for patients, and importantly, the support that exists to care for each other.”

Another faculty member stated: “Colleen has promoted an environment where humanism and compassion have become an integral part of patient care at Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo.”

Nugent collaborated with Fred Archer, MD, Lorna Fitzpatrick, MD, and Daniel Sheehan, MD, in pediatrics and Kim Griswold, MD, in family medicine, to develop, plan and host three Humanism in Residency sessions for the pediatric residents. She is currently developing six additional sessions to span the three years of residency. The goal is for both the Schwartz Rounds and the Humanism in Residency curriculum to be adopted in Buffalo area hospitals and throughout UB’s residency programs.

Nugent will be presented the award in March at the 2011 ACGME Annual Educational Conference in Nashville, Tenn.