Shari Whicker assumed the role of assistant dean for faculty development at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine on Nov. 1. In this role, Whicker will direct all faculty development efforts within the medical school.

In addition, Whicker will also continue leading the Teaching Excellence Academy for Collaborative Healthcare (TEACH), which serves the medical school, Carilion Clinic, and Radford University Carilion by creating a community of educators and fostering their development as teachers, learners, and education researchers. In addition, she serves Carilion Clinic as senior director for the Office of Continuing Professional Development, fostering the development of other health care professionals and education throughout the health system.

Whicker joined the medical school in 2014 as faculty development manager, with subsequent advancement to the role of associate director and director of faculty development. Over the past 20 years, Whicker has fostered a passion for medical education, teaching, learning, and education research in educator and educational leadership roles in the Wake Forest, Duke University, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, and Carilion Clinic health systems.

“We are fortunate to have Shari as a partner and advocate for our faculty,” said David Musick, senior dean for faculty affairs. “She is able to help our faculty – who are experts in their fields – best transfer that knowledge to a wide range of learners, including our students as well as residents, other health care professionals, and even patients.”

Whicker’s roles in medical education have spanned the continuum of medical education to include medical students, trainees, and physician faculty as well as staff and learners from affiliated health professions. Within these roles, her primary focus has been and continues to be on the development of faculty/health care professionals and trainees as lifelong learners, teachers, and medical education researchers.

“I look forward to this new role which will help amplify my passion,” said Whicker. “I enjoy working with faculty to empower them in their roles as teachers, clinicians, researchers, and leaders.”

Whicker also holds a faculty role at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine as associate professor of pediatrics and interprofessionalism. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina Greensboro and both her master’s degree in education and her doctorate in adult learning at North Carolina State University.

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