Surgery resident Audrey Kulaylat honored for exceptional teaching

Audrey Kulaylat, MD, a PGY-5 trainee in Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center’s General Surgery Residency, was honored in November 2019 as part of the Exceptional Moments in Teaching program of Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine.

Dr. Kulaylat, herself a Penn State College of Medicine graduate, was described by a current student as follows:

“Some of my most meaningful experiences working with Audrey came in the operating room. She always encouraged us to get involved and help out with the cases. Although I had limited experience assisting in surgical cases prior to the clerkship, she was always patient and non-judgmental. Audrey provided immediate feedback during the cases and taught me about ways to improve surgical techniques, such as suturing and stapling, as well as other pre-operative tasks, such as placing catheters and prepping patients. At the same time, she was very personable and would talk with me about her experiences with medical school and residency, as well as topics related to everyday life, which created a more relaxed learning environment for me. Additionally, she would frequently express appreciation or thank us (the students) for doing certain tasks, which is something that I particularly appreciated because as medical students we’re often not recognized or acknowledged for many of the smaller things that we can do to help the team out. With Audrey, I felt like I was a valuable and contributing member of the team.”

Penn State College of Medicine’s Office for a Respectful Learning Environment recognizes exceptional faculty, residents and fellows with the monthly “Exceptional Moments in Teaching” program. Each month, one faculty member and one resident/fellow are highlighted for their contributions. College of Medicine students are invited to submit narratives about faculty members, residents, nurses or any other educators who challenge them and provide an exceptional learning experience using the online nomination form.

The Office for a Respectful Learning Environment fosters an educational community at Penn State College of Medicine in which all learners and educators feel supported, challenged, valued and respected. It serves all learners at the College of Medicine: medical students, graduate students, physician assistant students, residents and fellows.

See previous faculty and resident/fellow honorees here.

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