Elaine Hart, MD, Receives Kinzer-Rice Award for Excellence in University Teaching

LOMA LINDA >> Elaine Hart, MD, assistant professor and director of the OBGYN student clerkship program at Loma Linda University School of Medicine (LLUSM), received the 2016 Kinzer-Rice award for excellence in university teaching during an evening ceremony on Thursday, February 4 in the Centennial Complex. Hart—whose children used to tell inquirers that, “Yes, we are related to Dr. Hart, but not the one you’re thinking of”—was nominated for the honor by a recent former student. Her teaching philosophy grows out of a natural love for people and her enthusiasm for her chosen profession. “I like to get to know my students, to find out what brought them into medicine, and to learn what is their passion,” she says. “I know they don’t all want to choose OBGYN for their careers, but I want this to be a great rotation for them. I want them to refer back to what they learned in OBGYN and be able to better care for pregnant or lactating patients as a result.” According to an online article at http://home.llu.edu/academics/academic-resources/faculty-development/kinzer-rice-award, the purpose of the biennial award is to “call attention to the importance of teaching in the life of Loma Linda University and to honor a full-time faculty member every two years who exemplifies the finest traditions of education.” Faculty members from all eight Loma Linda University schools are eligible for the reward, but only one is selected to receive the $1,000 cash gift and commemorative medallion. The award is named after two deceased LLU School of Dentistry faculty members, Drs. Robert Kinzer and Bruce Rice. Hart became a physician later in life. “I was 40 when I went to medical school,” she discloses. “I’ve been a physician for 16 years including my residency. I’m very homegrown: I graduated from LLUSM in 2000 and did my residency here. Then I was asked to stay on as an attending physician. I was delighted, because I love teaching.” Caring for OBGYN patients was a passion of Hart’s long before she became a physician. “I went to medical school after a career in nursing,” she reveals. “I did two years of medical/surgical nursing and telemetry, and the rest of my 19-year nursing career was spent in labor and delivery and home care of high-risk pregnancy patients.” Medical school is hardly the easiest course of study, but two extenuating circumstances added to the challenges for Hart. “I worked as a nurse through medical school until my residency,” she reports, “and I had three teenagers while I was back in school. I even became a grandma during my residency.” Hart met her husband, Jim, while they were both attending a grief recovery class after their first spouses passed away. They discovered mutual interests in road biking and travel. In fact, they got engaged during a biking tour of France, Germany and Switzerland. “It was amazing,” she recalls. “The guy who ran the tour said that had never happened before. “Better say I’m a bicyclist,” she clarifies, “because I would never ride a motorcycle. While I was in medical school, we spent a day in the morgue and there were two 18-year-olds there who both died in motorcycle accidents. But I love going on 25- to 30-mile bicycle rides. It’s a great way to stay in shape and enjoy the fresh air and beauty of the great outdoors. “I also love to travel,” she continues. “Hawaii, the Caribbean, Europe. I love my bike! It’s just really fun. I also love snorkeling. In fact, we’re leaving on a Caribbean cruise Thursday night and I can hardly wait! I like hiking; anything that gets me to scenic places.” Hart maintains an active family life. With a total of five children—three of whom grew up to be nurses—five grandchildren “and two more on the way,” life is never boring. Right now, she is excited because one of the two grandchildren scheduled to enter the world this year is a boy; the first in the family. And although she would rather have a dog, Hart has a cat named Piglet. “She snorts,” she explains. “Someone else named her.” Looking back on becoming the fifth Kinzer-Rice award recipient in the history of the university, Hart makes no attempt to conceal her excitement. “It was incredible,” she beams. “I was so honored! There are so many other people equally as deserving as I. It was so exciting to represent the School of Medicine.” Hart’s reception of the award represents the first time it was given to a full-time clinician. “In addition to directing the clerkship program, I maintain full-time work as an OBGYN physician,” she reveals, “delivering babies, taking care of pregnant women, as well as women of all ages and those with gynecological problems.” When she’s not working or jetting off to an adventure somewhere, Hart conducts research projects focused on breastfeeding and medical school education. Some of the enthusiasm she brings to the role of mentoring future physicians spills over when Hart describes what she likes best about teaching. “I love it when a student comes up to me and says, ‘Dr. Hart, I really didn’t know what to think about facing an OBGYN rotation,’” she reveals. “’But I learned a lot and had a great time.’ “They may have been a little bit petrified at first,” she concludes, “but they come away having had a good experience. I love when that happens!”