Irby-James Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching
“Who is this man? The hospital should clone him and distribute his copies throughout the
hospital.”
This man is Rahul J. Anand, M.D., FACS, Associate Professor of Surgery, Division of Acute Care Surgical Services, and Program Director, Medical Student Surgery Clerkship. Dr. Anand came to VCU in August 2010 and assumed responsibility for the Surgery Clerkship in 2011. He also contributes to the M4 Surgery Elective, the trauma shadowing program, and simulation training, among other teaching activities.
“Dr. Anand ‘brings it’ every time he lectures, or scrubs in, or does anything. He simplified complicated subject matter, he added a bit of humor to a dry medical day, he always offered me encouragement – he is just a great teacher.”
“He embodies all that students look for in an educator: approachable, enthusiastic, engaging, and has high expectations.” declares Sidrah Khan, Medicine class of 2016. Dr. Anand is skilled at actively including learners at all levels in his bedside teaching, from preclinical students who are shadowing his service, to surgical housestaff.
“Excellent teacher. Constantly quizzing and teaching students. Very friendly and seeks out the students. His teaching sessions, formal or informal, are high yield. He knows a ridiculous amount of information and is fantastic at his job.”
This year, Dr. Anand was awarded “Fellow” certification in the Association of Surgical Education Academy of Clerkship Directors, one of six charter members receiving this recognition, which recognizes leadership, scholarship, and research and faculty development in surgical education.
“I saw him talk to a family for a solid half hour explaining a PEG procedure and why their loved one needed it.”
“I’ve often heard him challenge his students to think critically about their decisions and to ask if they are acting in the best interest of their patients,” recalls Susan C. Haynes, Surgical Simulation and Skills Coordinator. He is recognized for his commitment to professional behavior and for showing respect to everyone he encounters.
“He made me consider becoming a surgeon.”
Many current surgical residents look back to their surgery clerkship and experience with Dr. Anand as the time when they first began to seriously consider becoming a surgeon. “I had originally thought of surgery as a daunting and stressful career. However, working with Dr. Anand helped me appreciate the abundant joy and excitement in surgery, eventually leading me to pursue surgery as a career,” declares Hanjoo Lee, M.D., Medicine Class of 2015, now training at New York Medical Center – Westchester.
“Dr. Anand is my hero. I was struck by the obvious effort he made to learn all of our names and to talk to us each time he saw us.”
Dan W. Parrish, M.D., General Surgery Resident, states, “He continually asks the surgery residents what they liked and disliked about their own surgical clerkship and has tried to incorporate many of our ideas.”
“I want to be a physician like him.”
*all italics are quotes from medical student evaluations of Dr. Anand.