Kirshenbaum Honored with Bernard Lown Award

From left: Joel Katz, MD, director of BWH's Medicine Residency Program, James Kirshenbaum and Jules Dienstag, MD, dean for Medical Education at HMS.

James Kirshenbaum, MD, who is described by colleagues as a gifted clinician and mentor, was honored earlier this month with the 2013 Bernard Lown Award for Excellence in Teaching. Established in 2009, this award honors physicians who are outstanding clinical teachers and recognizes the significant role that education plays in the mission of the hospital.

A co-director of Clinical Cardiology Services and director of Acute Interventional Cardiology at BWH, Kirshenbaum received the award during a May 6 ceremony at Harvard Medical School’s (HMS) Tosteson Medical Education Center (TMEC) Amphitheater.

“It’s truly an honor to receive this award and to add my name next to past recipients who are dedicated to teaching the next generation of physicians,” said Kirshenbaum, who is an associate professor of Medicine at HMS.

Kirshenbaum received nominations and letters of support from cardiology fellows, medicine residents and medical students, showcasing his broad capacity for excellence in training the next generation of clinicians in Cardiology and in other areas.

Bernard Lown

One nomination stated: “Simply put, [he is] the best clinical cardiology teacher I have ever met. His bedside teaching rounds in the Levine Cardiac Unit are legendary. He quickly connects with critically ill patients, places them at ease and then communicates complex physiology in comprehensible terms.”

Another nomination talked about Kirshenbaum’s teaching approach: “With quiet confidence, he walks the delicate balance between empowering trainees to make important decisions and providing the guidance that ensures the highest level of care for the patient.”

Kirshenbaum has served as an Internal Medicine key faculty member, overseeing the Cardiovascular curriculum. He is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology, a member of the Clinical Cardiology Council, American Heart Association and a counselor in the Massachusetts chapter of the American College of Cardiology.  A graduate of Harvard College, he earned his medical degree from HMS and completed his internship, residency and clinical fellowship at BWH.