On May 19, the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine will present Ohio Academy of Family Physicians member Andrew Filak Jr., MD, with the college’s highest honor, the Daniel Drake Medal. Dr. Filak is senior associate dean for academic affairs, professor, and chair of the Department of Medical Education and professor of family and community medicine at the UC College of Medicine.
The Drake Medal is given annually by the College of Medicine to living faculty or alumni for their outstanding and unique contributions to medical education, scholarship, and research. The award was established in 1985 to honor the 200th birthday of Daniel Drake, MD, the founder of the Medical College of Ohio, the forerunner of the UC College of Medicine. Dr. Drake was one of the most influential physicians, educators, and scientists of 19th century America. He also founded the Cincinnati College, the Cincinnati Lancaster Seminary, the Cincinnati Public Library, the Western Museum, and the Commercial Hospital and Lunatic Asylum (known today as UC Medical Center). He also established the Cincinnati Eye Infirmary and the Kentucky School for the Blind in Louisville, KY.
Dr. Filak is the founding chair of the Department of Medical Education at the UC College of Medicine. He has led all educational activities at the college since 1991, serving first as associate dean and then senior associate dean. In 2011, Dr. Filak led and implemented a significant revision of the college’s curriculum where students began receiving clinical training beginning with their first year of medical education. Dr. Filak served as interim dean and vice president for health affairs for nearly a year beginning in 2010. He also has served for 31 years as the designated institutional official for graduate medical education. Dr. Filak came to UC for his family medicine residency in 1978 after receiving his medical degree from George Washington University in Washington, DC, and joined the faculty in 1981. He has received numerous other awards, including the John. C. Leonard Award from the Association for Hospital Medical Education, the Parker J. Palmer Courage to Lead Award from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, and the Educator of the Year from the OAFP.
Congratulations, Dr. Filak!