About the Office Medical Education
Susan Crouch Brewer, M.D. F.A.C.P.
Assistant Dean, Office of Medical Education
Associate Chair for Student Programs, Department of Medicine
Associate Professor of Medicine
Susan Crouch Brewer, M.D., F.A.C.P. Dr. Brewer is a Tennessee native and received a BA from UTK and a MT from St. Jude Children's Research hospital in clinical microbiology. She received her medical degree from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine and completed her residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Infectious Disease at UT. She has served as director of educational programs for third and fourth year medical students in the Department of Medicine for 9 years and as a faculty member in that discipline for 14 years.
J. Patrick Ryan, PhD
Assistant Dean for Basic Science Curriculum
Associate Professor and Assistant Chair
Molecular Sciences
Dr. Ryan received his B.S. in bacteriology from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and his Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After a 3 year stint as a Visiting Scientist at DuPont Co., Dr. Ryan joined the UTHSC faculty in 1988. He is now an Associate Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Molecular Sciences; his research focuses on a genetic analysis of herpesvirus infection. In addition to his duties in the OME, Dr. Ryan is course director of Medical Microbiology and director of the Integrated Program in Biomedical Sciences in the College of Graduate Health Sciences.
Bill Brescia, Ph.D.
Director of Instructional Technology
Dr. Brescia is responsible for providing translative services between information technology personnel and end users by serving as the primary resource to faculty within the College of Medicine for integration of technology into the curriculum. He is involved with the students by overseeing the on-line testing process and managing student evaluations for courses and clerkships. He also provides leadership in faculty development regarding integration of technology into delivery of instruction; plan and deliver seminars and workshops for faculty and staff on instructional design and the use of technology in instruction.
Bill authored and co-authored numerous publications in instructional technology, distance learning, and made in excess of 60 presentations at international, national and regional conferences. His research interests include developing strategies for improving interaction in online learning, web-base mentoring, distance learning, and older learners use of technolgy.
G. Stephen Nace, MD, FACP
Assistant Dean for Curriculum Integration
Dr. Nace received a B.A. from Emory University. He received his medical degree from Vanderbilt, where he also completed an internal medicine residency, followed by fellowships in nephrology and clinical pharmacology. He has practice experience in nephrology, general internal medicine, and hospital medicine.
Dr. Nace was the internal medicine residency program director at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. His interests include medical education, clinical informatics, and systems-based practice.
Vicki M. Park, Ph.D.
Director of Educational Support and Scholarship
Associate Professor
Department of Pediatrics & Department of Preventive Medicine
Dr. Park received a B.A. from Johns Hopkins University and a Ph.D. from Yale University. Shecompleted postdoctoral research in molecular genetics and a clinical fellowship in laboratory genetics at Case Western Reserve University. She holds board certifications in Clinical Cytogenetics and Clinical Molecular Genetics. Dr. Park has been teaching medical genetics since joining the UTHSC faculty in 1991.
Ruby Bland
Academic Scheduling
Ruby coordinates and manages the scheduling of courses and clerkships throughout the four-year educational program in the College of Medicine. Scheduling involves the basic science courses, with over 1450 total contact hours in multiple settings over 18 months, as well as the 11 required clerkships and 4 electives for over 2380 individual student placements annually. Ruby received her bachelor degree from the University of Tennessee Martin.
Ruby is also the office’s point of contact for all of the clerkship coordinators housed in Memphis, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Nashville and Jackson. She maintains records related to the clerkships and manages the online clerkship scheduling system. She is also authorized by the NBME to certify student enrollment in the College.
Kimberlee Norwood
Medical Educator
The position of Medical Educator was created to provide additional support to the activities of the Office of Academic Affairs and the Office of Medical Education, to develop and manage an undergraduate medical education curriculum with a focus on cultural competent health care. Ms. Norwood has been in Memphis, Tennessee most of her life and calls Memphis home. She earned a BS and an MA from the University of Memphis. Her MA is in Medical/Urban Anthropology. She is currently completing her dissertation for a PhD in Human Services with Capella University. Prior to joining the Office of Medical Education as a Medical Educator, Ms. Norwood was a Research Coordinator with the Department of Preventive Medicine here at UT.
Carolyn Dawson
Coordinator
Carolyn Dawson is responsible for managing the New Innovations Undergraduate Management Suite. This includes coordinating the evaluation process among the faculty and students within each clerkship in the Office of Medical Education. Ms. Dawson earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Leo University. Prior to joining the staff in January 2010, Ms. Dawson was the Database Coordinator for Institutional Advancement at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia.
Stefeni Kennedy
Executive Secretary
Stefeni is responsible for the organization and implementation of the duties of the Office of Medical Education and responsible for making day-to-day administrative and operational decisions. Stefeni provides direction and guidance to staff, faculty, students and student workers, and establishes and maintains office procedures. The Office of Medical Education oversees the curriculum of over 600 medical students leading to the M.D. degree. Stefeni organizes and schedules 3 curriculum committee meetings, develops the agenda, attends all meetings and records the minutes. She is also responsible for organizing the Progress and Promotions Committee meetings for each of the four classes of medical students as needed. She maintains the official documentation and files for each committee and ensures the confidentiality of the meetings.
