Lisa Willett, M.D.
In his book Your Future Health Care: The Challenge and the Promise through Better Education, Tinsley Harrison, M.D., shares a formula for all physician teachers: E = hH².
In this formula, Harrison demonstrates his belief that learning is more about the heart than the brain:
• “E” represents education,
• “h” stands for the medical knowledge in one’s head, and
• “H” is capitalized and squared to illustrate the exponential impact of the teacher’s heart.
For over 20 years, Lisa Willett, M.D., MACM, has embodied every element of Harrison’s formula, exemplifying excellence without ego, the motto she coined to describe UAB Internal Medicine residents. She has propelled medical education forward through thoughtful mentorship, compassion, and unwavering advocacy for her medical trainees and colleagues.
An early passion for education
Now professor of Medicine, executive vice chair, and vice chair for Education and Faculty Development in the Department of Medicine, Willett’s commitment to education began long before she joined the faculty. While a chief medical resident at UAB, she had the crucial responsibility of teaching the internal medicine clerkship lecture series. Her dedication to excellence shone brightly, and students emerged from her classes eager to share what they had learned. This was a testament to her ability to connect classroom knowledge with bedside practice early in her career. One student described their experience with Willett as “both safe and inspiring.”
During this time, her willingness to acknowledge her own knowledge gaps not only fostered a culture of mutual learning in the residency program but also built a community of trust between Willett and her learners.
Willett went on to become faculty in 2000. “Shortly after she became a faculty member, I made the best administration decision of my life as a new program director by asking her to be the associate program director of the training program,” recalled Gustavo Heudebert, M.D.
In this role, Willett was instrumental in implementing crucial changes to ensure the residency program complied with work duty hour regulations. According to Heudebert, she singlehandedly revamped all residency rotations using a competency-based approach, clearly defining expectations and outcomes for each rotation.
A leader in UAB Medical Education
In 2012, Willett was the clear choice to become the program director for the residency program. Almost immediately, she encountered significant challenges, including the impending closure of a county hospital. Looking back on her first year, Willett recognized that she had to make tough decisions that pushed her beyond her comfort zone. Nevertheless, she succeeded by staying true to guiding principles that prioritized the needs of both patients and residents.
Throughout her tenure as program director, Willett continually sought innovative ways to advance medical education. She encouraged trainees to explore new avenues. Her support for these initiatives led to significant curriculum changes that aligned with residents’ unique career goals and interests. Willett established tracks in Global Health, Health Disparities, Enhanced Clinical Skills, Clinician Educator, and Medical Education, along with electives focused on Patient Safety and Quality Improvement. She restructured the curriculum to balance inpatient and outpatient clinical duties and built a leadership team of dedicated educators to ensure the Tinsley Harrison Internal Medicine Residency Program was one of the best in the country.
Her commitment to residents extended beyond their clinical training; she advocated for their well-being outside of work, resulting in initiatives ranging from community engagement programs to dedicated relaxation spaces and social events that fostered a vibrant work-life balance. She made parental leave transparent to support female trainees who desired to have children during residency.
With her persistent advocacy and compassion for trainees, it is no surprise that Willett has earned numerous awards throughout her career. However, she considers accolades from her learners the most meaningful. “Dr. Willett has been an exemplary physician and educator,” one medical student noted. “It was obvious how much she truly cares about her patients and her residents.”
Another trainee remarked, “Dr. Willett is an amazing clinical educator. I was particularly impressed with her dedication to my learning…She is empathetic and understanding of the daily challenges residents face.”
Beyond her work with residents, Willett has also made a significant impact on UAB educators by co-founding the UAB Healthcare Educators Academy. This initiative cultivates a community of interprofessional educational leaders and promotes a culture of teaching excellence. Currently, six schools of health-related professions across UAB participate, involving 42 mentees and 38 mentors. She leads the 16, and growing, Department of Medicine fellowship programs and was integral to creating the Addiction Medicine Fellowship. “She has accomplished these myriad tasks by galvanizing the educational leadership within the department—a true testament to her exceptional skills,” her colleagues have noted.
Leading on the national stage
As a respected voice in medical education, Willett has established herself as a thought leader, publishing over 60 manuscripts and invited commentaries in esteemed peer-reviewed journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, Academic Medicine, and Annals of Internal Medicine. Her involvement with the American Board of Internal Medicine and numerous national education grants has expanded her influence far beyond UAB.
In 2018, Willett was elected president-elect of the Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine (APDIM) and was President of the society during the COVID-19 pandemic and the controversial decision for USMLE Step 1 Examination to change from a quantitative score to Pass/Fail. She led with integrity, advocating for clinical training standards and learner wellbeing during this unprecedented time. As a testament to her national impact, she was awarded the ACGME Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach Award in 2020, given to 10 program directors each year.
In July 2023, Willett transitioned from her role as program director to vice chair for Education and Faculty Development in the Department of Medicine. In this new capacity, she shifted her focus from training the next generation of physicians to enhancing skills and developing comprehensive programs that support research, clinical, and educational faculty at all ranks.
“Dr. Willett truly leads and educates with her heart first, investing herself completely in the success of her learners,” concluded nominator Jason Morris, M.D.
Willett’s remarkable career and unwavering dedication to education, advocacy, and mentorship exemplify what it means to leave a legacy in medical education. “It has been a privilege to have a career as a clinician educator, caring for patients and working alongside the best and brightest trainees. I am grateful for everyone who has supported me and inspired me. Medical education is definitely a team effort, and it has been a joy to be part of it,” Willett says.
As we celebrate her achievements as the 2024 Ellen Gregg Ingalls/UAB National Alumni Society Lifetime Achievement in Teaching Awardee, we recognize her profound impact on students, residents, and faculty. Through her guidance and leadership, she continues to inspire and transform the landscape of medical education at UAB and beyond.