2024 Spring STAR Educator Recipient: Rae Taylor-Childress, MD
Rae Taylor-Childress, MD
Assistant Professor
Department of Pediatrics
Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
Nomination Submission:
Dr Rae Taylor-Childress is a skilled and thoughtful medical educator. She is an effective advisor and mentor to many students through Veritas and as our Pediatric 4th year Associate Director of Pediatric S/Electives. She has helped revise and optimize our 4th year curriculum in Pediatrics and leads many of the interactive, practical sessions. These sessions are offered to every 4th year student either rotating in Pediatrics or going into Pediatrics. They are hands on and cover such areas as developing an asthma action plan, how to trouble shoot g-tubes and their many issues, my patient is showing signs of sepsis- now what? Students develop plans, utilize actual equipment and work through processes, order entry etc. Her approach is truly innovative. She walks every student with interest in going into Pediatrics through the process of applications, attaining letters of recommendation, working with ERAS all the way through to deciding on programs and the entirety of the match process. Under her tutelage, our students have matched in very competitive programs where they thrive. She has also been effective helping meet learning needs of students who struggle. She is a compassionate and generous role model, mentor, guide, and advisor. She is an exemplary teacher and is an important part of our students’ success. In Veritas she walks with students of all levels through the journey of medical school. Additionally, she steps in and helps with the Pediatric Clerkship as needed; today she is helping me give midpoint feedback to clerkship students. In summary, Dr. Taylor-Childress is the consummate educator, advisor, and mentor. She has a passion for helping students be successful in patient care from helping them have perspective in the educational process during pre-clinical years, to trouble shooting issues in the clinical years, through walking through the application process for medical school, to true hands on bedside teaching. She utilizes innovative teaching methods and refines them through reflective technique. In the end, we all benefit from her work.