Dr. Melissa Newcomb accepts appointment as a new Assistant Dean in GME office
Dr. Melissa Newcomb, associate professor of surgery, accepted appointment as Assistant Dean for Assessment and Evaluation, a new position within the UK Graduate Medical Education (GME) office, in late February. The position will begin officially on July 1, 2020.
The assistant dean position will work with UK’s residency program committees to develop of processes and systems of measures to document the progress of medical residents from first year learners to competent providers in their chosen field.
The Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education programs (ACGME) is requiring medical training programs in the U.S. to utilize clinical competency committees (CCCs) to advise directors and improve the instruments used to evaluate the progress of residents through their years of training.
“Measuring learners’ progression to competency is a complex process. It has always interested me. I am very excited that I was chosen for this position and look forward to begin officially in July. This new role will allow me to work with the GME office and our residency programs on this process,” Dr. Newcomb said.
According to the offer letter from Dr. Katherine McKinney, GME Senior Associate Dean, Dr. Newcomb was selected from a group of very strong candidates within UK HealthCare.
“We are excited about the impact you’ll have on our GME community,” wrote Dr. McKinney.
Adding another voice of support for Dr. Newcomb’s appointment, Dr. William B. Inabnet III, chair of the UK Department of Surgery, said, “Dr. Newcomb's well-deserved selection for this important position underscores her commitment to education and support for the next generation of learners.”
In addition to her faculty position in the division of General Surgery, Dr. Newcomb serves as the associate program director for the General Surgery Residency program. In 2017, she was a co-recipient with Dr. Cortney Lee of the Ward O. Griffen Surgery Teaching Award for excellence in medical student education. The subsequent year, Dr. Newcomb was presented the Ben Eiseman Surgery Teaching Award for excellence in Residency Education.
Newcomb has also received several teaching awards based on nominations from UK General Surgery residents.
