Benjamin Blatt, M.D., professor of medicine at the George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences, will receive the Distinguished Service and Leadership Award presented by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Northeast Group on Educational Affairs (NEGEA).

The Distinguished Service and Leadership Award is presented to individuals selected by the Steering Committee who offer a significant contribution to the NEGEA initiatives through the years.

“There are other people who have made great contributions,” Blatt said of the honor. “I’m lucky to be the one who was selected.”

His contributions include serving in NEGEA leadership positions and coordinating two annual meetings at GW. With NEGEA colleagues, he also founded initiatives in instructing students on how to be teachers themselves, and in teaching physical examination with a new clinical reasoning-based approach called Core and Clusters. These resulted in publications in Academic Medicine.

“It’s important to find a group of kindred spirits who share your interests,” said Blatt. “The NEGEA, with educators from all over the northeast and its cordial atmosphere, greatly increases ones chances of finding like-minded collaborators.”

Blatt will receive the award during the May 2017 NEGEA Education Meeting at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry on Saturday, May 6.

The NEGEA is one of the four regional groups under the AAMC. The group works to promote excellence in the education of medical students, residents, and physicians through the professional development of medical educators.

For more information about the NEGEA 2017 Annual Conference, visit http://www.cvent.com/events/2017-negea-annual-conference/event-summary-63efae29d88b4ee79ffbbd77b2aa2c67.aspx