Department: School of Medicine

Several themes emerged in the letters of support for Dr. Amanda (Mandy) George’s nomination for the Irby-James Award: an overall appreciation of her effective and engaging teaching style and compassionate patient care coupled with a recognition of her unparalleled patience, kindness, humility, passion and selflessness as a servant leader. Dr. George strikes a rare balance between being supportive yet challenging and being approachable while having high expectations of her learners to “step up, be curious, follow through, and take full responsibility for their roles as primary care physicians.”

After receiving her undergraduate education at Duke University, Dr. George then earned her M.D. and Ph.D. in Anatomy and Neurobiology from VCU in 2010. She completed her internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Duke University before joining VCU faculty as an Assistant Professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine in 2013. Medical students voted her Best Teacher in the M3 Internal Medicine Clerkship in 2014, and residents honored her with the Faculty Excellence Award in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2023. Her dedication to her students and residents is also evident in their glowing testimonials. One resident recalls an overwhelming and challenging patient interaction, to which Dr. George offered: "Would you like to see me do it first?” This seemingly simple question, alongside practical tips and genuine encouragement, exemplified Dr. George's ability to empower her learners. As another resident aptly reflects, “Dr. George cares about those she leads, and I remember her

taking time to get to know me, asking about my family and children.” Dr. George’s commitment to both educating and nurturing her learners is a testament to her dedication to their growth and well-being, shaping them into compassionate and well-rounded physicians.

Dr. George's teaching prowess extends beyond the bedside. Her innovative approach to revamping the residency Journal Club curriculum showcases her commitment to staying at the forefront of medical education. Residents describe these sessions as “incredibly well thought out” and “one of the greatest gifts” she gives to them as she helps them develop skills to effectively digest new medical literature, determine whether a novel therapy is applicable to their patient population and efficiently interpret complex statistical analysis.

In 2019, Dr. George was selected by her peers for the Excellence as a Clinician Educator award, the same year she received the prestigious American College of Physicians Academic Teaching Award. Additionally, Dr. George has been selected as a Richmond Top Doc for the past six years, and in the past three years, she has received the most votes in the ambulatory Internal Medicine category. Dr. George has also distinguished herself through her leadership within the Internal Medicine Residency program. As director of the Resident Primary Care Clinic at VCU Health’s Ambulatory Care Center, she manages the clinic logistics, working to ensure residents “have continuity with their panel of patients over time,” which she achieved through changes to resident and patient scheduling. Rebecca Forrest, M.D., program director, Internal Medicine Residency, states, “Dr. George does not only do all of these things, she does them exceptionally well and with a humility and lack of need or desire for recognition…Our learners admire, respect, and most importantly - learn how to be the best doctors possible from Dr. Mandy George.”

Colleague Megan Lemay, M.D., perfectly describes Dr. George’s impact as a clinician-educator: “Do you have a teacher who was your role model in medical school or residency? The one who pops into your head when you reach a challenge? The one who you try to emulate when you want to perform at your best? The one you tell your learners about? This is Dr. Amanda George for every resident who has ever worked with her. I guarantee there is a VCU graduate who is right now asking themselves, ‘What would Dr. George do?’”

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