OU-COM associate dean receives national recognition

Keith Watson, D.O., named Educator of the Year

By Anita Martin

July 21, 2008

Keith Watson, D.O., associate dean of graduate medical education at the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, received the Educator of the Year Award Friday, July 18, from the American Osteopathic Foundation (AOF).

The award honors individuals who demonstrate a significant and long-standing contribution to the academic advancement
of osteopathic medical students
and the profession.

“Few osteopathic physicians have had more influence on both the process and content of predoctoral and postdoctoral medicine than
Dr. Keith Watson,” said AOF President Gilbert S. Bucholz, D.O., who presented the award at the 2008 American Osteopathic Association (AOA) House of Delegates meeting in Chicago.

“Dr. Watson is a preeminent expert in the area of graduate medical education. He has gone to extraordinary lengths to improve and promote osteopathic postgraduate education by developing new programs, conducting mock accreditation visits and increasing the visibility of osteopathic residency programs,” Bucholz said.

During the past 20 years, Watson has served as a leader in
osteopathic medical education, teaching surgery first at the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he chaired
the Department of Surgery from 1990-1994, then at the Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he served as professor of surgery, associate dean for clinical affairs and project director of the college’s Standardized Performance Assessment Laboratory.

Since coming to OU-HCOM in 1999, Watson has continued to enhance osteopathic education as associate dean for graduate medical education, associate professor of surgery, and chair of the Centers for Osteopathic Research and Education (CORE) board. He also serves as a clinical education examiner and team captain with the AOA Committee on Osteopathic College Accreditation Evaluation Teams.

As chair of the CORE, a statewide consortium of teaching hospitals
that partner with OU-HCOM, Watson helped bring the CORE to a level
of national prominence that is the envy of medical educators, both osteopathic and allopathic, Bucholz said.

“I am very honored,” Watson said. “I see this award as reflecting all the individuals at OU-HCOM because we do this together, and it’s important
for all of us to share this honor.”