Turning Pro: Bungo named Distinguished Faculty in Professionalism Education
“Education toward professionalism is more than being skilled and knowledgeable. It requires a lifelong transformational change in how we think, act, and feel as doctors. Our professional formation (Turning Pro) is shaped by the community in which we are surrounded.” – John Riggs, MD, assistant dean for professionalism and The Patricia and Ian Butler Endowed Professor in Medical Profession.
The Turning Pro series explores the myriad of ways McGovern Medical School is educating for lifelong transformation change, so we are individual and collectively highly competent, adaptable, committed to values, and guided to have meaningful lives.
The McGovern Medical School Office of Professionalism has named Michael Bungo, MD, FACC, FACP, CPE, professor of cardiology in the Department of Internal Medicine, as the winner of the John P. and Kathrine G. McGovern Distinguished Faculty Award in Professionalism Education.
The John P. and Kathrine G. McGovern Distinguished Faculty Award in Professionalism Education is awarded to faculty who have established one or more successful programs in promoting educations in aspects of professionalism for learners enrolled in McGovern Medical School undergraduate or graduate programs. Recipients of the award receive $2,500 and are honored at an award ceremony where they provide a brief presentation on their contributions.
Examples of professional education programs include but are not limited to, professional identity formation, faculty development in assessing professionalism, organizational professionalism efforts, resiliency building initiatives, assessing and remedying professional lapses, interprofessional education, and failing successfully.
For a complete description of the award, click here.
“During the formal educational process, the aspiring physician learns the art and science of medicine,” Bungo said. “However, little time is dedicated toward acquiring the skills necessary to interact and lead within the business complexities of the healthcare system.”
In 2016, Bungo debuted a 4-week elective to residents and fellows leading to a “Certificate in Healthcare Management” from the University of Houston Clear Lake College of Business. The following year, the program opened to fourth-year medical students, and since then the elective has had nearly 400 learners participate.
“We would like to express our appreciation to the McGovern Medical School dean’s office and the administration at Memorial Hermann – Texas Medical Center for helping underwrite the cost of the program,” Bungo said. “Their vision and support toward investing in the education and success of our young physicians is greatly and repeatedly appreciated.”
Bungo received his medical degree from New Jersey Medical School in Newark, N.J., and completed his residency and fellowship training at the New England Deaconess Hospital – Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. He joined the UTHealth Houston community in 2002 as chief of staff at the LBJ General Hospital and has served in numerous administrative roles at UTHealth Houston including vice dean for Clinical Affairs and CEO of UT Physicians.
Prior to his time at UTHealth Houston, Bungo served as vice chair in the Department of Medicine at UTMB and was the chief scientist of the Medical Sciences Division at NASA Johnson Space Center and the director of the Space Biomedical Research Institute.