UTMB Office of Regional Medical Education

ORME Faculty and Staff

Michael Ainsworth, M.D., Associate Dean for Regional Medical Education, Director of Clinical Assessment and Professional Development, UTMB School of Medicine. As Associate Dean for Regional Medical Education, Dr. Ainsworth works closely with physician educators, program coordinators and students to oversee educational opportunities resulting from partnerships between UTMB, UT-Austin, the Seton network as well as several affiliated community and international facilities.

Cheryl L. Freeman-Alfred, Senior Administrative Secretary. Ms. Freeman is responsible for the support of all ORME activities. She works closely with educators to provide information needed to meet the needs of the Pediatric and Internal Medicine clerkships and the Ambulatory Community Selective. She supports the Elective Course Committee’s goal to review and maintain the Electives Brochure. Ms. Freeman is a resource to assist anyone needing information from the ORME.

Pam Hentschel, M.S., Senior Medical Educator. As a Senior Medical Educator in the ORME, Ms. Hentschel chairs the Community Faculty Development Coordinating Committee, working towards providing the tools for community preceptors to excel in their roles as medical educators. She is available to answer questions for students interested in or enrolled in medical training opportunities at off-campus locations; including pre-clinical preceptorships and Year 3/Year 4 electives.

Karen Hunley, Coordinator, Community-based Education. Ms. Hunley's role in the ORME largely involves working with Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) to communicate with community physicians about the Pediatric Clerkship and Internal Medicine Clerkship curricular expectations and scheduling of student activities. She works closely with community preceptors, students, university educational coordinators and private practice business managers to answer questions and act as a liaison between those involved with the teaching of medical students.

John C. Luk, M.D., FAAP, Assistant Dean for Regional Medical Education, Pediatric Hospitalist at the Children’s Hospital of Austin, Clinical Assistant Professor in the UTMB Department of Pediatrics, and Director for the UTMB School of Medicine Pediatrics Clerkship in Austin. As Assistant Dean for Regional Medical Education in Austin, Dr. Luk collaborates with the Associate Dean for Regional Medical Education encouraging the broad educational experience of medical students in Austin, stimulating collaborative curriculum development efforts between the two campuses, and enhancing the educational development of School of Medicine faculty in Austin.

Lisa M. Mignerey, B.B.A., Community Education Specialist. Ms. Mignerey recruits and coordinates clinical site rotations and the Family Home Visit (FHV) program for the Practice of Medicine, Year 1 course. She is the course coordinator for the 4th year Ambulatory Community Selective (ACS) and works closely with Area Health Education Centers (AHEC), SOM faculty and staff, and private practice business managers to ensure that curricular expectations for students are met within the community experience. Ms. Mignerey is also responsible for the planning and coordination of the ORME’s annual Top Doc Awards Ceremony.

Adriane Thompson, B.A., Student Coordinator, Austin Programs. Ms. Thompson is based at the Brackenridge hospital as a central contact person for all students, staff and faculty involved with the Austin Medical Education Program. She is available to assist full-time Year 3 and Year 4 Austin students as well as Galveston-based students going to Austin for one or more rotations. She works with Austin educational coordinators to prepare students for upcoming courses, orient them upon arrival and meet their needs throughout their Austin educational experience.

David C. Weigle, Ph.D., M.P.H., Senior Medical Educator for Regional Medical Education, Clinical Assistant Professor in the UTMB Department of Family Medicine. As Senior Medical Educator for Regional Medical Education in Austin, Dr. Weigle is involved in curriculum design and evaluation of our student programs, and responsible for the continued development of faculty skills in medical education.