Alison Clay Early Career Educator Award

Meet the 2025 Winner: Nancy H Stewart, DO, MS

Dr. Stewart is a Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine physician committed to improving trainee education and sleep health in her patients and trainees. She has been involved with the American Thoracic Society Section of Medical Education since its early days and helped grow its presence across social media platforms. She has held various leadership positions across ATS assemblies supporting trainees and junior faculty members through the Section of Medical Education and the Behavioral Sciences and Health Services Research and Sleep and Neurobiology Assemblies. She is nationally involved in trainee Milestone development through the ACGME for Pulmonary, Critical Care, Interventional Pulmonary, and Faculty Milestones. Additionally, she leads a robust research program at The University of Kansas focused on improving sleep in patients with COPD and the healthcare work force. She enjoys integrating students, residents, and fellows into her research team and mentoring. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys spending time with her husband Jeremy and cheering on her three children at various sporting activities.

Description

The Section on Medical Education is pleased to sponsor the Alison Clay Early Career Educator Award. Learn more about Alison Clay. This award will be awarded to an individual who has made significant contributions to education in pulmonary, critical care and/or sleep medicine and has demonstrated the potential for future success as an educator. We welcome nominations of physician-, nursing-, or basic science educators. Awardees will be presented with a framed certificate at the Section of Medical Education membership meeting at the ATS International Conference.

Eligibility

1. The nominee must be a member of the ATS and the Section on Medical Education.
2. They must be an Instructor or Assistant Professor (or equivalent rank) at the time of nomination.
3. Consideration will typically be limited to nominees who are ≤ 7 years from completion of fellowship training, except under extenuating circumstances that should be explained in the nominating or a separate letter.
4. The nominee must spend a significant portion of their time participating in peer and/or trainee education, be recognized by her/his learners and colleagues as an outstanding teacher and be in the midst of building a career as an educator.
5. Contributions to the Section on Medical Education in the form of Committee or Working Group Participation or leadership, and/or otherwise advancing the SoME’s mission will be viewed favorably.
6. Self-nominations will not be considered for this award.

Nomination Packet

1. A nomination letter from a member of the Section on Medical Education (3-page maximum) should address:
   1. Excellence in teaching
   2. Excellence in mentoring
   3. Scholarly contributions in medical education
   4. Educational innovation
   5. Educational Leadership
   6. Participation in the ATS and the Section of Medical Education
2. Curriculum Vitae for the nominee