In 2006, leadership of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine established the Committee on Educational Values and Rewards to examine our educational strengths and challenges. This committee, named for Martin D. Abeloff who set the gold standard for leadership in academic medicine, clinical care, discovery and education, presented a comprehensive and forward thinking plan including the recommendation to create the Institute for Excellence in Education (IEE). In a September 22, 2009 communication to all of Johns Hopkins Medicine, Edward D. Miller, MD, then Dean of the Medical Faculty and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine, formally established the IEE to promote, value, and advance the education mission of the School of Medicine. In that same communication, he announced that Associate Professor of Medicine Joseph Cofrancesco Jr, MD, MPH, FACP, considered one of Johns Hopkins’ most respected educators and clinicians, was named the institute’s inaugural director.
The ability to grow, inspire, and prepare the next generation of great clinicians, educators, researchers and leaders in medicine and biomedical science rests in the hands of our educators. Though financial and regulatory changes could threaten education, the SOM and IEE remain deeply committed to our educational mission. In its first five years, the IEE has made remarkable progress, focusing on four “pillars”: improve teaching, recognize outstanding educators, inspire and support educational scholarship, and foster a community of educators. Successful IEE programs include the Annual Education Conference and Celebration, Summer Teaching Camp, Education Grand Rounds, peer reviewed Education Awards for Outstanding Achievement, and the Faculty Education Scholars program (including the Berkheimer, international and residency redesign challenge grants). Moving forward, the IEE will focus on further enhancing our current programs while expanding the “Improve Your Teaching” website and dissemination of educational scholarship, exploring peer coaching and mentoring programs, and increasing collaboration with our friends and colleagues at the Schools of Nursing, Public Health and Education. In a short time, IEE has become a cornerstone for excellence in education on campus and nationally. We look forward to our next five years.
Held by Joseph Cofrancesco, Jr
JOSEPH COFRANCESCO, JR is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and the Director of Johns Hopkins Institute for Excellence in Education (IEE) Professor of Medicine. He also helped to create and serves as the Director of the Johns Hopkins General Internal Medicine Clinician Educators Mentoring and Scholarship Program. He maintains a thriving general internal medicine practice and also provides care to individuals living with HIV infection. Dr. Cofrancesco has published and lectured extensively on HIV care, issues related to clinician-educators in academic medicine, and educational techniques, including presentations in Japan, Abu Dhabi, and Brazil. He remains active in teaching and mentoring students, residents, fellows, and peers.
Dr. Cofrancesco received his bachelor’s degree from Columbia College of Columbia University, worked for a time in international educational administration, and then received his medical degree with honors from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. He trained in internal medicine and medicine/primary care at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and the Albert Einstein Medical Center of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he also served as the inaugural chief resident for primary care. He later received his MPH with honors from the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, what is now the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, along with completing his General Internal Medical fellowship training at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He has been on faculty at Johns Hopkins since 1997.
Dr. Cofrancesco has won many education awards, starting in residency, including the Leo M. Davidoff Society Certificate of Distinction Albert Einstein College of Medicine (1990), Johns Hopkins Department of Medicine Ambulatory Preceptor Award (2005), the National Award for Mid-Career Education Mentorship Society of General Internal Medicine (2010), the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Professors’ Award (2012) and the Johns Hopkins Osler Housestaff Appreciation Award (2014). He has held leadership positions in the Society of General Internal Medicine. He served as the inaugural steering committee chair for the national Academies Collaborative (2011-13).
His passions remain clinical medicine, teaching and education, and fostering a culture that deeply values medical education.