Joel and Ellen Gordon

Young Investigator Awards

2026 Winners

Ami Suresh, Jack Gurwin, and Kristina Zheng

Louise E. Arnold Excellence in Research or Innovation Poster Session Awards

  • These award honors Dr. Louise E. Arnold who was a key leader in the Learning Communities Institute since its inception and a luminary in medical education. Dr. Arnold made substantial contributions to the academic medical education literature, most notably in the area of professionalism for which she was a national and international expert.

    She generously gave her time, expertise, and kindness through mentoring countless students, residents, and faculty. These awards are given in Louise’s spirit of innovation, generosity, and generativity. These awards acknowledge and celebrate posters that embody excellence in innovation and/or research that advances or has the potential to advance learning communities in medical education.

2026 Winners

Faculty Best Overall Poster
 
Student Best Overall Poster
 
Faculty Best Presentation Poster
 
Student Best Presentation Poster

Susan Shultz Award for Professional Staff

  • Since the inception and formation of the LCI, Susan Shultz has played an invaluable role in contributing to the success of the organization. As the LCI Administrator, Susan has provided key organization support, as well as being a key member of the leadership team. Moreover, Susan has provided consistency to the organization, and serves a reminder that our most precious asset are the people who are part of the LCI, and she models the ideals of service, relationship, caring, and compassion, that are at the heart of the organization. 

    In 2021, Ron Arky, made a generous contribution to the LCI for the establishment of this award, to honor Susan’s legacy and to recognize professional staff, at the various LCI institutions, who make a significant contribution of the development of learning communities on their local campuses, in the LCI, and the broader medical education community.

  • 2025: Kathryn Pauli

    2024: Jennifer Vanecko

    2023: Julie Calcavecchia

    2022: Lauren Parker

    2021: Susan Shultz

“She doesn't just help to administer these houses, she knows them, learns their identities, and carries their needs in her mind as if each one mattered to her personally.”

“Her work exemplifies the values at the heart of this award, service, relationship, caring, and compassion, and much of the success of our Learning Communities is made possible by her consistent work behind the scenes.”

“These responsibilities may not always be visible to the students who ultimately benefit from them, but they are fundamental to transforming ideas for community-building into actual experiences for our students.”

Program Innovation Award

  • The purpose of this award is to recognize institutions and their programs that are leading the way in learning communities movement in medical education.  The award seeks to recognize programs that:

    • Find new and innovative ways to utilize the learning communities framework

    • Contribute to the research or literature surrounding learning communities in medical education

    • Serve as a model for other institutions in the areas of curriculum, mentoring, career advising, wellness programming, or other support of student professional identity formation

2026 Winner:

University of Kentucky College of Medicine

  • 2025: Newcastle University

    2024: Baylor College of Medicine

Since launching its Learning Communities in the 2019–2020 academic year, UK COM has developed an innovative, student-centered model that fosters connection, belonging, and professional growth throughout medical school.

Serving approximately 800 medical students across three campuses, UK COM’s 10 Learning Communities provide a supportive environment where students build meaningful relationships with faculty and peers while exploring career pathways, developing leadership skills, engaging in community service, and prioritizing wellness. By intentionally creating a space for mentorship and personal and professional development outside the formal curriculum and assessment process, the program allows students to seek guidance, explore their professional identities, and navigate the challenges of becoming physicians.

 UK COM’s commitment to innovation extends beyond its own campuses. Faculty and students have contributed to the national medical education community through presentations, workshops, posters, and webinars, sharing insights and evidence that can help other institutions strengthen their own Learning Communities programs.

 A particularly meaningful measure of the program’s impact is the continued increase in students’ reported sense of belonging since the Learning Communities were established.

The Arky Award

  • Ron Arky, MD Professor of Medicine and Director of the Francis Peabody Society at the Harvard University School of Medicine, has been a steadfast leader and supporter of medicine school learning communities.

    Ron has also been an important benefactor for the LCI, providing a generous gift to enable us to being as an organizations.

    This award is names after Dr. Arky as a means to continually appreciate his contributions to the LCI and to the learning communities movement. This award is given annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the development of learning communities in medical education.

  • 2024: Dave Hatem, MD

    2023: Jason Noah, MEd

    2022: Lars Osterberg, MD

    2021: James Wagner, MD

    2019: Amy Fleming, MD

    2018: Meg Keeley, MD

    2017: Peter Denson, MD

    2016: Erika Goldstein, MD

    2015: Robert Shochet, MD

    2014: Louise Arnold, MD

2026 LCI Research Mini Grant Program Awardees

  • From Prematriculation to Professionalism: Assessing Learning Communities for Pathway vs. Traditionally Sorted Medical Students. Research team led by Dr. Jessica Lewis, Assistant Professor and Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University.

  • Only 1 Step Ahead: Improving Wellness in Second Year Medical Students Preparing for Step 1.  Research team led by Dr. Rebecca Latch, Associate Dean for Student Affairs at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine.

The 2027 Mini Grant Call for Proposals will be available late November, 2026.