Sibley award winner ‘strong role model’

Preparing doctors who are knowledgeable and competent to practice has
been integral to the career of Joseph Ferencz, winner of the 2011 John
C. Sibley Award.

The Sibley Award is presented annually to a part-time faculty member
in the Faculty of Health Sciences who have made outstanding
contributions to the education of health professionals.

Medical education – both undergraduate and postgraduate – is of
special interest for Ferencz, associate clinical professor in the
Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine's department of psychiatry and
behavioural neurosciences.

An alumnus of the McMaster medical school, Ferencz has been involved
in the teaching and supervision of medical students and residents
since 1993. His experience includes: teaching clinical skills and
providing large group sessions, as well as providing clinical
supervision to psychiatry residents at all levels of training. In
1998, he was awarded the Residents Association Clinical Teaching
award.

'He has been a strong role model, and it has been particularly
gratifying to see that many of his past students have taken on
leadership roles in medical education after graduation,” says James
Bourgeois, vice-chair, education, of the department of psychiatry and
behavioural neurosciences.

Ferencz says he felt honoured to be chosen for the Sibley award: “I've
been involved in medical education throughout my career, and it's
certainly gratifying to have my contributions recognized in this way.”

Shortly after Ferencz joined the department of psychiatry and
behavioural neurosciences in 1993, he accepted the position of core
program coordinator for the postgraduate residency program, and
supervised the first major postgraduate curriculum revision.

Between 1996 and 2000 Ferencz was intensely involved in undergraduate
medical education as chairman of Unit 4 (neurology, locomotor and
psychiatry). As chairman, he oversaw the design, administration,
coordination, and evaluation of a four-month block of the
undergraduate medical curriculum.

Ferencz continues to be involved in the M.D. program, providing an
annual lecture to the MF5 class entitled “What is Mental Disorder.”

“Joe is truly a leader among our part time faculty, despite major
clinical demands on his time,” said Bourgeois, adding that Ferencz
exemplifies the spirit of the Sibley Award in all that he undertakes.

This year, Ferencz was also awarded the Sister Joan O'Sullivan Award
at St. Joseph's Healthcare. The award is presented annually to a
physician who exemplifies outstanding teaching and clinical abilities
while maintaining the mission, values, and vision of St. Joseph's and
the Sisters of St. Joseph's of Hamilton.