Each year, the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) recognizes preceptors for their commitment to educating students through the Master Preceptor Award. This year, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine’s (PCOM) Michael Srulevich, DO, MPH, and George Spyropoulos, DO, have been awarded this distinction for their sustained commitment to excellence in the training, education and mentoring of osteopathic medical students in family medicine.
Preceptors are an important part of the clinical training experience provided to students at PCOM. They provide the experiential portion of the curriculum by supervising student physicians as they acquire clinical medical knowledge by helping to care for real patients—in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.
The news that he had been named 2023 Master Preceptor by the ACOFP had Dr. Michael
Srulevich contemplating the future. “I guess I can retire now,” he joked, before adding:
“Honestly, this is a really special award.” Srulevich, associate professor in the
Department of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine and program director for the PCOM Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program, had spent over a decade at big health systems before the draw of academia brought
him to PCOM. “I came to PCOM, not only to practice medicine but really to work with
students and to teach,” he said. “The thing I really enjoy most is bedside teaching.
Sitting there in a lecture hall, I don't feel comfortable. I mean I do those kinds
of lectures all the time, but what I really like is bedside teaching because you’ve
got the patient there, there’s skin in the game and you can see who you're talking
about.”
Srulevich was nominated for the award, in part, by doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) student Taylor Rider (DO ‘23), who submitted his name for the impact he has had on her career. “Dr. Srulevich is the epitome of compassion,” she said in her nomination letter. “He has embraced what many believe to be the unpalatable parts of medicine, primarily palliative and end-of-life care, and made them beautiful. Dr. Srulevich humanizes medicine and imparts this sentiment on students privileged to work with him. I am honored to learn from and emulate him in my own budding practice. I am better, as a provider and person, for knowing him.”
Rider’s fellow nominator, Michael Becker, DO, MS, associate dean of clinical education and professor of Family Medicine, shared her sentiments. “[Dr. Srulevich] embodies the role of physician as an advocate, educator, and mentor,” he said. “PCOM is fortunate to have him at our institution, as our students are the true beneficiaries of his wonderful presence.”
Srulevich feels he was “just plain lucky” to get the nomination, noting that this honor could have just as easily gone to his colleagues, Nicol Joseph, DO, CMD, and Katherine E. Galluzzi, DO, CMD, FACOFP dist.
In typical fashion, Dr. George Spyropoulos’ reaction to learning he’d been nominated
by his peers for the Master Preceptor Award was gracious and self-effacing. “The best
recognition you can get is when you're recognized by your peers,” he said. “And I
have the privilege to work with a phenomenal group of people.”
Dr. Spyropoulos has a passion for teaching, but especially for learning—not just for his students, but for himself. He credits his success as a teacher to the opportunities he’s been given to learn throughout his career. “I’m giving back the same way my fellow peers and the people who were my mentors gave of themselves for me to be the person that I am today,” he said. “But, [as a teacher] you’re constantly learning and it puts you in the position where you have to keep up, you have to stay sharp.”
Respected among students and faculty alike for his skill and professionalism, Dr. Spyropoulos is recognized most notably for his kindness and humanity. “For over 25 years, Dr. Spyropoulos has dedicated his professional life to teaching medical students and residents,” said David Kuo, DO, associate dean of graduate medical education and associate professor of family medicine. “He is consistently professional and pragmatic, and he also brings humor to his interactions with the students, residents and patients. George is also a wonderful human being, and I am proud to call him my friend.”
Peter Bidey, DO, MSEd, vice-chair and assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine, was equally effusive in his praise for Dr. Spyropoulos, saying, “Dr. Spyropoulos is the perfect example of a master preceptor. His unique ability to blend both medical knowledge, practical knowledge, and a dose of humor is not only beneficial to the patients but the prime example of how a physician educator should be. His kindness, patience, and approachable personality endear him to his learners, but most importantly inspire the faculty, staff, and students of PCOM on a daily basis.”
Dr. Srulevich and Dr. Spyropoulos will be recognized at the ACOFP Annual Convention, March 29-April 2, in Orlando, FL.
For the past 125 years, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms. PCOM, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
Brandon Lausch
Executive Director, Strategic Communications
Email: brandonla@pcom.edu
Office: 215-871-6312 | Cell:
717-371-0609
© 2024 Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine