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Richard L. Page, M.D., Dean of the Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at The University of Vermont, has announced that, following a national search, Christa Zehle, M.D., has accepted the position of Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education at the College. Dr. Zehle, who has served as Interim Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education at Larner since January 2019,  assumes the new role effective immediately.  

A 1999 alumna of the Larner College of Medicine, Dr. Zehle did her residency in pediatrics at the University of Rochester, where she was named chief resident in 2002--2003. She joined UVM in 2003 as assistant professor of pediatrics and was promoted to associate professor in 2011. She became associate dean for students in 2012.

Dr. Zehle is a sought-after mentor for medical students and residents and has received numerous awards for teaching. In addition to her roles at the Larner College of Medicine, she practices as a pediatric hospitalist and successfully launched the Pediatric Hospitalist Program at The University of Vermont Medical Center in 2003.

“After a rigorous national search, Dr. Zehle emerged as the best candidate for this important role," said Dean Page.  "She has done an outstanding job as interim and I am so pleased she will become our Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education. I am grateful to Dr. Beth Kirkpatrick and Dr. Lewis First, search committee chairs, and to the entire search committee for the thorough and professional way they approached their task.”

Dr. Zehle is a Master Teacher at the Teaching Academy, a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, and the Gold Humanism in Medicine Honor Society. She serves as a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, is a member of the American Medical Association (AMA), and is active in the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Group on Educational Affairs and Student Affairs. She is also the Northeast representative of the AAMC Committee on Student Affairs Working Group on Medical Student Well-being.  Among Dr. Zehle's honors are the 2014 Early Achievement Alumni Award from the UVM Larner Medical Alumni Association, and the  2012 Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Faculty Award.

In her Interim Senior Associate Dean role, Dr. Zehle has identified areas for improvement in medical education, co-chaired the LCOM Bylaws Committee, and organized a working group to garner recommendations for Continuing Medical and Interprofessional Education.

"Dr. Zehle has fostered partnerships among the College's Medical Education Leadership Team, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, members of the Teaching Academy and Active Learning team, and curricular associate deans and directors that have increased educational opportunities and assure that the College remains at the forefront of the delivery of innovative medical education," said Dean Page.

As Interim Senior Associate Dean, Dr. Zehle's knowledge and insights have made her a key member of the College's Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) 2021 Accreditation Administrative Team. She has initiated exploration of diversity pipeline programs, clarified accreditation expectations, and collaborated with educational leaders to identify medical education opportunities. She has also developed collaborative relationships to create additional curricular initiatives and has worked to enhance communication between the Office of Medical Student Education and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion for student issues, working with the University’s Bias Response Team to sharpen Larner's efforts in this area.

"The Larner College of Medicine is a very special community with a long history of collaboration and innovation in medical education," said Dr. Zehle.  "I am honored to serve as Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education and to have the opportunity to collaborate with our talented students, faculty and staff in educating the physicians of tomorrow to provide professional, compassionate and evidence based patient care."