PCOM Announces 2019 Innovative Teacher of the Year
July 24, 2019Jason Kaplan, DO ’13, clinical assistant professor, leads interactive online learning
activities for medical students in cardiology clerkships.
Jason Kaplan, DO ’13, clinical assistant professor, cardiology, has been named the Philadelphia campus’ Innovative Teacher of the Year for 2019. Now in its fifth year, the award honors
educators who exhibit original and creative thinking.
Dr. Kaplan serves as the online preceptor of clinical cardiology, leading interactive
learning activities for students during their cardiology clerkships. His clerkship
is a blended format, which allows students to learn from patients in a live setting
while completing online requirements. This ensures that each student’s educational
experience is comparable regardless of training site assignment.
Dr. Kaplan’s program has been facilitated across more than 10 training sites, combining
pre-recorded lectures, library resources, interactive echocardiogram exercises, discussion
boards, online assignments, computer-based games and simulations, and quizzes.
“There isn’t a lot of this type of blended learning in the field of cardiology. Most
students learn cardiology from classroom lectures and rounds,” said Dr. Kaplan. “This
format is a supplement, allowing them to access a wealth of educational resources
and lectures right at their fingertips, in real-time. And, they have access to these
materials for years; it can even help them while they study for their boards.”
Erik Langenau, DO, MS, chief academic technology officer and chair of the nominating committee, said that
what separated Dr. Kaplan from other online preceptors was the volume of available
online interactive resources provided to students.
“Dr. Kaplan’s collaboration with course director Bruce Kornberg, DO ’78, professor and chair, cardiology, on this project serves as a great model, one which
ensures a student is accountable for learning and leverages technology for active
and deeper learning,” he said.
Dr. Kaplan noted that students have been very receptive of the online component, and
that many have said it’s been helpful for them, particularly while in the field. He
credited Dr. Kornberg and Dr. Langenau, as well as Michael Becker, DO ’87, assistant dean of clerkship education, and Pat Lannutti, DO ’71, co-vice chair and professor, internal medicine, for their support and success of
the blended learning model.
“I’m incredibly lucky to have people around me who support me in this way,” he said.
Nominations for the Innovative Teacher of the Year award are submitted by fellow faculty
and staff. Nominees are selected for their use of creative student engagement which
may include clinical reasoning, simulation, hands-on learning, role-play, positive
reinforcement and technology. Using a scoring rubric to help in the selection process,
the committee evaluates innovation by the degree to which the innovation varied from
standard teaching methods; the level of active engagement for the learners; and sustainability
of the teaching method.
Read about Philip Fabrizio, DPT, associate professor, physical therapy, who was selected
as PCOM Georgia’s 2019 Innovative Teacher of the Year.
“Congratulations to both Drs. Kaplan and Fabrizio for their dedication to learning,
creativity, and willingness to innovate,” said Dr. Langenau.
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About Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
For the past 125 years, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained
thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral
scientists who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just
symptoms. PCOM, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education,
operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic
medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers
graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical
sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling,
physician assistant studies, and school psychology. PCOM students learn the importance
of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its
community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care to medically underserved populations.
For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
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Brandon Lausch
Executive Director, Strategic Communications
Email: brandonla@pcom.edu
Office: 215-871-6312 | Cell:
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