Jenny McGowan, M.D, associate residency program director for the UofL School of Medicine, was recently named the Health Sciences Center (HSC) Educator Bright Spot for July due to her commitment to impacting the learning of HSC students and trainees. McGowan’s commitment extends beyond the confines of traditional medical courses as she ventures into the realm of wilderness medicine education on an international scale.

Teaming up with fellow Emergency Medicine faculty Raymond Orthober, M.D., the two embarked on a unique educational journey, teaching an annual course in Chamonix, France titled “Wilderness Medicine in the Alps.” The two share the teaching experience in partnership with University of Utah School of Medicine.

Reflecting on the experience, McGowan shared her delight for applying innovative teaching strategies in exotic settings. “It’s been really fun to try out some of the teaching strategies we’ve learned on such a broad scale. It’s been a unique challenge to find ways to make the learning more interactive and engaging for the group, and to add more hands-on skills and practical sessions to allow the students the opportunity to apply their knowledge.”

McGowan, an experienced member of the ULSOM Emergency Medicine faculty, is currently pursing her Master of Science in Health Professions Education (HPE) at the University of Louisville. Her passion for global education is evident, having now taken courses on five continents.

This year, McGowan brought two ULSOM students, Brittney Duffy and Amelia Franxman, with her to France for the wilderness medicine course. The students, both previous Wilderness Medicine Interest Group leaders, enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to develop essential skills in treating patients outside of traditional hospital settings.

While participating in this course, students learn how to be what McGowan describes as a “useful physician,” which means having a strong understanding of how to treat patients outside of a hospital. Various learning scenarios are showcased to demonstrate care in the case of environmental exposures including lightning strikes and drowning.

“Exploring the wilderness of France while learning essential skills that will lead me to be a better physician was even more exciting than it sounds,” said Amelia Franxman, “I feel confident now in my abilities to treat someone outside of the hospital, even in a wilderness setting, which was Dr. McGowan’s goal for us throughout the course.”

The University of Louisville School of Medicine takes pride in faculty members like McGowan, whose unwavering commitment to fostering unique learning opportunities for students exemplifies the school’s dedication to excellence in medical education.