Aimee K. Zaas, MD, MHS, professor of Medicine in Infectious Diseases and director of the Duke University School of Medicine Internal Medicine (IM) Residency Program is a recipient of the 2026 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach Award.
The ACGME Awards recognize notable individuals, programs, and organizations for their outstanding work and contributions to graduate medical education.
As a program director, Dr. Zaas has been recognized for fostering innovation, serving as exemplary role model for Duke residents and fellows, and for her dedication and commitment to the IM program and educating the next generation of physicians.
Dr. Zaas is recognized as a thought leader in medical education, evidenced by publications on professionalism, graduate medical education milestones, and trainee burnout as examples of key issues that she has tackled.
Former trainees note her inspirational leadership in creating an environment where learning flourishes, motivating them to excel as they discovered their own career passions.
“These individuals set the bar for excellence and exemplify the leadership and commitment that continue to advance and strengthen the GME community,” said ACGME President and Chief Executive Officer, Debra Weinstein, MD.
Dr. Zaas is a 1998 graduate of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She completed her residency at Johns Hopkins University in 2001 with infectious diseases fellowships at Duke completed in 2004, and has a research interest in genomic applications for prediction of infectious diseases.
Award winners will be celebrated at the 2026 ACGME Annual Educational Conference, taking place in February in San Diego, California.