Boonshoft School of Medicine professor and alum recognized with International Education Award

Katharine Conway, director of medical education for the Department of Family Medicine and assistant professor of family medicine.

Katharine Conway ’05, M.D., director of medical education for the Department of Family Medicine and assistant professor of family medicine at the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, received the 2020 International Education Award from the University Center for International Education.

The International Education Award recognizes the successful efforts of members of the Wright State community to expand global awareness and international understanding, developing innovative internationally focused curriculum, operating educational activities abroad, and providing services to international students and scholars.

The award is presented annually in conjunction with Wright State’s International Education Week. This year, International Education Week takes place Nov. 16–20.

Conway was nominated for the award by the Department of Medical Education. In her letter to the nominating committee, Brenda Roman, M.D., associate dean for medical education and professor of psychiatry, said, “Dr. Conway re-invigorated the didactic curriculum and worked with medical students on scholarly projects related to global health. In this medical school pathway, she directs the Global Health Foundations Modules and is the primary educator. Dr. Conway also coordinates all the fourth-year Global Health electives. She oversees all of the medical student experiences globally, preparing them effectively for their medical experience in developing countries. When the pandemic prevented students from traveling, she quickly pivoted, working with students in the Global Health Scholars Program to further relationships with established international contacts to assist them virtually in this pandemic. This allowed students to gain a better understanding of the global health challenges around the world, without leaving the United States.”

Conway joined the Boonshoft School of Medicine in 2014 as an assistant professor of family medicine. She was named director of medical education and clerkship director in 2015. In 2018, she was appointed director of the Global Health Scholars Program, which allows medical students to learn about and engage in global health through various educational opportunities, travel abroad and other activities.

As faculty advisor for the Global Health Initiative and Refugee Student Alliance student interest groups, Conway has further educated students and faculty with her knowledge of global concepts. She also is an inaugural member of the Society of Refugee Healthcare Providers.

Promoting the scholarly aspects of global health is important to Conway. Her recent scholarly work includes two publications related to global and refugee health. She has presented at the Annual Consortium of Universities Global Health Conference, the Midwest Global Health Conference and the North American Refugee Resettlement Conference.

From 2016 to 2018, Conway was awarded the Patient-Centered Outcome Research Institute grant, Refugee Centered Medical Home-PCMH Working Better for our Newest Neighbors. This grant aims to assist refugee patients, allowing them to achieve their full health potential and improve their access to health care. Conway used the grant funding to facilitate the opening of a refugee medical clinic at Five Rivers Health Center in Dayton.

Conway works closely with and is a mentor to BSOM medical students. A majority of her conference poster presentations involve medical students, illustrating her passion for being an educator.

“No matter in what capacity I have worked with Dr. Conway, she has always brought passion and excitement. She is an amazing educator and steadfast promoter of global health education. Not only is Dr. Conway a great educator, she is also a great advocate. She works hard to help her students obtain the educational experiences they desire,” said Kaitlyn Danner, a fourth-year medical student.

Along with being an outstanding educator and advocate for global health, Conway is an exceptional family physician. Practicing medicine for 15 years, she provides the best care possible for her patients and is highly respected by her colleagues. She practices family medicine with Wright State Physicians.

Katherine Tina Lomeo, a fourth-year medical student, said, “Dr. Conway is an exceptional human being. Her passion for global health is evident and she truly works to create a strong global health presence in the medical school. She is exactly the kind of physician, teacher, and mentor one would want to have.”