Elizabeth DeVos, MD, MPH, wins UF’s top international educator award

Author

Jesef Williams

Published On

November 20, 2020

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Image: Elizabeth DeVos, MD, MPH, is the winner of the University of Florida’s 2020 Senior Faculty International Educator of the Year award. — Elizabeth DeVos, MD, MPH, is the winner of the University of Florida’s 2020 Senior Faculty International Educator of the Year award.

Image: In this photo from 2016, DeVos, on the far left in black, gathers with a group of Rwandan emergency medicine resident physicians during the first Rwanda Emergency Care Association Conference. — In this photo from 2016, DeVos, on the far left in black, gathers with a group of Rwandan emergency medicine resident physicians during the first Rwanda Emergency Care Association Conference.

Image: In this photo from 2019, DeVos is greeted by Edgardo Menendez, MD, president of the Latin American Federation of Emergency Medicine, during the American College of Emergency Physicians International Ambassador Conference in Denver. — In this photo from 2019, DeVos is greeted by Edgardo Menendez, MD, president of the Latin American Federation of Emergency Medicine, during the American College of Emergency Physicians International Ambassador Conference in Denver.

Image: In this photo from 2919, DeVos, pictured fourth from left, gathers with other attendees of the first Paraguayan Society of Emergency Medicine Conference in Asunción. — In this photo from 2919, DeVos, pictured fourth from left, gathers with other attendees of the first Paraguayan Society of Emergency Medicine Conference in Asunción.

Elizabeth DeVos, MD, MPH, an associate professor of emergency medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville, recently received the university’s 2020 Senior Faculty International Educator of the Year award. She was honored during a virtual ceremony Monday, Nov. 16.

DeVos oversees international emergency medicine education on the UF Health Jacksonville campus and is director of Global Health Education Programs at the UF College of Medicine in Gainesville. She has been part of medical outreach and education in several countries, including Paraguay and Rwanda, where she once lived and worked as a faculty physician in the first emergency medicine residency program there.

“From a pool of very strong applicants, the committee was extremely impressed with the depth of your international engagement and your work in support of international education at the University of Florida,” Leonardo A. Villalón, PhD, dean of the UF International Center, wrote to DeVos in a letter. “Many congratulations.”

DeVos said it was a surprise, as well as an honor, to have been selected for the award, which considers international educators of various disciplines from across all of UF’s campuses and other sites. She thanked the UF College of Medicine nominating committee for the endorsement, the department of emergency medicine at the UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville for supporting her endeavors and the college’s Office of Educational Affairs for promoting global health education.

“I believe that a strong foundation in global health principles allows our trainees to develop the best possible skills to care for patients of all cultures, whether here or abroad,” said DeVos, who was recently picked to take part in a virtual exchange program through the UF International Center’s Office of Global Learning.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has made us reconsider ways we facilitate experiential learning,” DeVos said. “While nothing replaces immersion in a new culture, I hope one positive that can come from travel restrictions is an increase in students' access to opportunities to interact virtually with students and colleagues in diverse locales.”

A year of accolades

DeVos’ UF award comes on the heels of her receiving the Order of the International Federation for Emergency Medicine. The award is given to a federation member who has demonstrated an extensive and continuous commitment to the specialty of emergency medicine in their country and has made significant contributions to supporting the federation’s advancement.

Devos has represented the American College of Emergency Physicians at the federation for nearly 10 years.

Featured Faculty

Elizabeth L. DeVos, MD, MPH

Professor
Medical Director, International Emergency Medicine Education; Program Director, COM International Medical Education Programs