(Dr. Jorge Oldan: 2019-2020)
(Dr. Ben Smith: 2020-2021)
(Dr. Kristen Olinger: 2021-2022)
For the third consecutive year, a UNC Department of Radiology faculty member has been chosen for the UNC School of Medicine (SOM)’s prestigious, year-long Teaching Scholars Program (TSP). Overseen by the SOM’s Office of Faculty Affairs and Leadership Development and now in its 20th year, the TSP is designed to aid SOM junior teaching faculty in developing medical education expertise and to enrich the SOM’s overall teaching environment.
In August 2021, Assistant Professor of Radiology Kristen Olinger, MD, was among 19 SOM faculty scholars named to the 2021-2022 TSP class. Dr. Olinger succeeds Assistant Professor of Radiology Ben Smith, MD, (2020-2021) and Associate Professor of Radiology Jorge Oldan, MD (2019-2020) as TSP Scholars. 
Some enrichment opportunities extended to TSP Scholars over the 12-month program include (virtual) monthly seminars, mentoring on teaching and assessing learners, and introduction to a range of small- and large-scale medical education models. Annually at a graduation symposium, each member of the TSP’s graduating cohort presents to colleagues the results of year-long individual projects aligned with areas of educational interest. Year-long projects are aimed at demonstrating how a TSP Scholar has grown as a clinician educator, acquired medical education expertise, and contributed to the core education pillar of UNC School of Medicine’s mission.
Dr. Olinger noted: “As a junior attending, I am reminded daily of the opportunities I have at my fingertips to combine my passion for clinical care, research and teaching trainees at all levels, from medical students to fellows. As a [TSP] participant, I hope to further advance my skills as a clinician educator and leader in academic medicine. I hope to improve my ability to provide effective feedback and translate what I learn through the course to new educational opportunities for the trainees I work with on a daily basis.
While I’m sure there will be overlap between the fantastic teaching skills and approaches modeled by mid-career and senior UNC Radiology faculty mentors, I look forward to the opportunity to meet other clinician educators outside of radiology interested in medical education. I anticipate that there will be a wealth of knowledge given their varied backgrounds and a chance to see different adopted teaching methods. It’s possible that resolutions to educational issues other colleagues have experienced within their own departments may be translatable to [UNC Radiology].”