Media contact: Anna Jones
Caroline Harada
Caroline Harada, M.D., M.D., has been awarded the 2024 Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award by the Association of American Medical Colleges. The award honors one United States medical school faculty member who exemplifies ethics, empathy, service and compassion in teaching and advising.
Harada is an associate dean for strategic initiatives in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine Department of Medical Education. Her work at UAB focuses on health care equity and educating students to create patient-centered environments.
In 2015, Harada co-founded the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship of Alabama to connect graduate students with mentors for community improvement projects. In 2016, she established the Health Equity Scholar Program to teach medical students about health equity in their decision-making and communities.
“I would never have received this award if it hadn’t been for the amazing students who nominated me and my patients, who inspire me to be a better doctor and teacher every day,” Harada said.
Harada also founded and directs the Heersink School of Medicine Office of Service Learning. Under her leadership, the program has expanded to include 11 integrated service experiences, 17 student-led service organizations and a student-run free clinic.
In 2019, she become director of the Patient, Doctor and Society course, a foundational course for first-year medical students. She refocused it on community perspectives to help broaden students’ professional identity. Under her leadership, the course went from lowest-rated to one of the highest-rated preclinical classes.
“My team in the Department of Medical Education is one of the most collaborative, creative and generous groups I have ever had the pleasure of working with,” Harada said. “It is impossible not to be humanistic when surrounded by colleagues who exemplify positive mentoring, community service, compassion, collaboration and commitment to success for all students.”
Recently, as director of Project Advancing Health Equity through Alabama’s Doctors, Harada led a team to introduce new curriculum content for eight preclinical courses, a lunch-and-learn lecture series, and a social determinants of health grand rounds series for clinical students.
Harada worked closely with Craig Hoesley, M.D., senior associate dean for Medical Education, who says Harada’s commitment to her patients, the school and the students cannot be overstated.
“Her work through the Office of Service Learning has continually advanced UAB Heersink School of Medicine’s mission, benefiting students and patients across the region,” Hoesley said. “I am proud that she has been awarded this recognition and know it will only motivate her to make more of an impact in the years to come.”
Harada will be honored during a virtual 2024 AAMC Awards Recognition Event on Oct. 30, as well as at Learn Serve Lead: The AAMC Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.