Professor or Radiology and Internal Medicine

Department: Radiology

The “Gerszten Award” recognizes a faculty member who is truly outstanding in all aspects of teaching. Our 2022 awardee, Mark Parker, M.D., FACR, professor of Radiology and Internal Medicine and Director of Thoracic Imaging, has made a significant impact on learners at all levels of medical education across specialties and professions. This is especially remarkable for a radiologist who has little formal time scheduled with learners. A former internal medicine resident, Nelya Ebadirad, M.D., attests, “Dr. Parker is a gifted radiologist, a skilled educator, the epitome of professionalism, and a role model inside and outside of the reading room.” Dr. Parker’s learners make note of his expert guidance, depth of knowledge, and eagerness to share his expertise with others. He creates a learning environment in which learners feel comfortable asking questions and contributing to discussions. He models exceptional scholarship, fosters a positive environment, is generous with his time, and maintains a sense of humor.

Dr. Parker came to VCU in 2001 and quickly established his presence as a dedicated and effective educator. In 2004 he was selected by the Division of Pulmonary Medicine for the “Excellence in Teaching” Award and four years later received the “Teacher’s Teacher of the Year Award for Extraordinary Educator in Thoracic Medicine.” Radiology residents have honored him with “Anthony V. Proto Awards” for mentorship three times (2010, 2017 and 2020). In 2015 he was inducted as a Fellow in the American College of Radiology (ACR). Dr. Parker has contributed 46 peer-reviewed publications, 36 scientific posters, 8 invited articles, 44 abstracts/proceedings, and 16 books, book chapters and monographs.

Dr. Parker’s dedication to teaching across specialties models systems-based care; he has participated in over 270 multidisciplinary conferences across VCUHS. He has formally mentored three fellows in Cardiothoracic Imaging and over 48 fellows in Pulmonary Medicine Critical Care over the past five years. A total of 30-mentored medical students, residents, junior faculty and/or fellows have had accepted scientific exhibits presented at 17 Annual National Radiological Society Meetings, and in 2018, he mentored three junior faculty in successful publication of the first and only textbook published to date on lung cancer screening.

Of note, Dr. Parker mentors medical students enrolled in radiology research electives. In 2022 alone, Dr. Parker taught research and presentation skills to five VCU medical students; all five had their research abstracts and posters accepted via a very competitive process for the premier meeting of thoracic radiologists – the Annual Meeting of the Society of Thoracic Radiology. In addition, one medical student was accepted for an oral presentation, her first at a live national meeting and won the “Best Presentation given by a Medical Student Award.” Dr. Parker spreads the news about his learners’ accomplishments to SOM leadership to be sure this is recognized in their Dean’s Letters and other opportunities.

Dr. Parker is also an esteemed teacher of colleagues in practice; in 2021, he directed a virtual American Roentgen Ray Society (AARS) course on “COVID-19: Clinical Presentations and the Spectrum of Imaging Findings,” and he was named the AARS Distinguished Educator in May 2022. This award honors outstanding individuals in the field of medical imaging who have a proven record of improving radiological education and remain committed to creating and implementing new and innovative educational activities.

As former VCU medical student and resident, now Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Kristin Miller, M.D., summarizes, “I feel so fortunate have learned from such an astute clinician, and will be forever indebted to him for the knowledge he has shared with me and the thousands of other students he has taught over his career. Even today, I continue to learn from Dr. Parker in our conferences and frequent interactions where I seek his expert opinion.”

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