Gwendolen Buhr MD, MHS, MEd, associate professor in the division of Geriatrics, has been named Associate Director of Undergraduate Medical Education – Ambulatory for the Department of Medicine effective May 1, 2023.
Dr. Buhr will be the first person to fill this newly created role, joining Jenny Van Kirk, MD, assistant professor in the division of General Internal Medicine and Associate Director of Undergraduate Medical Education. Van Kirk will continue to lead on the inpatient and sub-internship arenas, while Buhr will focus on the growing outpatient undergraduate medical education footprint.
Buhr joined the Duke faculty in 2004. She has been an influential teacher and clinician at both The Forest at Duke and in the Geriatric Evaluation and Treatment Clinic at Duke University Hospital. She has an established track record of administrative leadership and educational scholarship and previously served as president of the North Carolina Medical Directors Association.
She has served as PI or Co-PI on multiple educational grants, developing new curricula to meet evolving educational needs in the health professions. At Duke, Buhr has been deeply involved in educational programs for learners of all levels – from students in the interprofessional education clinic, to residents and fellows, to actively involved in faculty development. Additionally, Buhr has published and presented extensively in medical education.
“We are excited to welcome Dr. Buhr to the team. Her substantive ambulatory educational leadership experience, outpatient clinical work, and track record of administrative excellence will be an asset as we increase student participation in our outpatient clinics,” said Poonam Sharma, MD, director of undergraduate medical education.
“Dr. Buhr will be a great addition to the UME team and we are excited that she will help implement the PIONEER program to give students a more representative experience during the Internal Medicine clerkship,” said Lisa Criscione-Schreiber, MD, MEd, vice chair for education.
In her new role, Buhr will develop the Internal Medicine portion of the new PIONEER curriculum for second year medical students. She will be instrumental in providing faculty development and ensuring alignment with the School of Medicine expected teaching and evaluation practices in the ambulatory space.
Buhr is a 1998 graduate of University of Texas Austin Long School of Medicine. She obtained a master’s degree in education with specialization in health professions education and did her residency at Cone Health. Dr. Buhr was a fellow in the division of Geriatrics from 2001 to 2004.