Season 5, Episode 2: Celebrating 30 Years of Leadership and Learning in Health Professions with Dr. Terry Wolpaw

In celebration of the Harvard Macy Institute’s 30th anniversary, this blog & podcast series honors the remarkable individuals who have shaped and supported our community over the years. These accomplished educators, leaders, and champions of health professions education have contributed to the institute’s enduring legacy. Through their leadership, innovation, and commitment to advancing education, they continue to inspire and guide future generations. Join us as we highlight their journeys, achievements, and reflections on the impact of HMI on their professional lives and the wider global community. 

This episode of the Harvard Macy Institute podcast features Dr. Terry Wolpaw, a nationally recognized leader and innovator in medical education. She shares her journey from clinician to educationalist, highlighting the importance of shifting from a teacher-centered to a learner-centered approach. 

Dr. Wolpaw discusses her experiences at Case Western Reserve and Penn State College of Medicine, where she led major curriculum changes. Key to her success, she says, was the ability to articulate a vision, assemble a strong team, and foster an environment of adaptive thinking. 

She also reflects on the challenges of leading change and the importance of knowing when to step back and let go. This episode offers valuable insights for health professional educators at any stage of career who are navigating the complexities of medical education and curriculum design. 

Terry Wolpaw has served as the vice dean for educational affairs at Penn State College of Medicine where she oversaw undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education. She has also served as the associate dean for curricular affairs at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Among her many accomplishments was working to secure two five-year AMA grant awards at Penn State, both envisioning and promoting health system science as a core component of curricular design. She received one of the first American College of Rheumatology Clinician Scholar Educator career development awards, which catalyzed her interest in student-centered learning. Her educational scholarship has focused on the expression of students' clinical reasoning and uncertainties. She developed the SNAPPS technique for learners’ case presentations to preceptors, which is used with medical students, residents and physician assistant students both nationally and internationally. Dr. Wolpaw is an alumna of the Program for Educators in Health Professions and Leading Innovation in Health Care and Education. Since then, she has served as faculty in the Program for Educators in Health Professions. In 2005, she played a key role in introducing sessions focused on posters and abstracts. This focus soon expanded into the broader theme of the Educator as a Scholar. This theme remains an integral part of the program today.