November 2014

Curtis Stine, described by one nominator as “an inspiration for excellence,” has received this year’s Exemplary Full-Time Educator Award from the Florida Academy of Family Physicians.

Stine is associate chair of the College of Medicine’s Department of Family Medicine and Rural Health, where he directs clinical programs, curriculum development and evaluation. He joined the medical school in October 2002 after many years in Denver. He has also been in private practice and directed a family medicine residency program.

“Dr. Stine is a humble leader,” said Abby Peters (Class of 2011), a former student of Stine’s who now practices at Tallahassee Pediatrics. “He is quick to listen and slow to speak, allowing students to evaluate their own interests and talents. More than any other physician I know, he receives great joy from adding quality of life to those around him. Through his kind and sincere demeanor, Dr. Stine has touched the lives of numerous patients and medical students.”

Jonny Salud (Class of 2015) was a teaching assistant for the Doctoring 101 course between his first and second years at the College of Medicine. He and the other TAs worked closely with Stine each week to prepare demonstrations of the physical exam and to create supplementary instructional material directed toward first-year medical students.

“He welcomed and encouraged our creativity and independence as student-instructors, which has no doubt left me a better clinician and teacher,” Salud said. “Dr. Stine gives students the space to explore their own style of clinical reasoning, and he shares the depths of his own practical expertise to provide supportive, memorable feedback.”

Told of those comments, Stine replied, “It is one thing to be recognized by your peers, but it’s even a greater honor to be acknowledged by your learners. I’m thrilled and honored.”

Stine’s teaching skills are indeed valued by his peers.

“Curt creates an environment in which we all want to improve our clinical skills, teaching style, understanding of the literature and group facilitation skills,” wrote Suzanne Harrison, the College of Medicine’s director of family medicine education. “Simply, he makes us want to be better people, and that is the ultimate sign of an exemplary teacher.”

Stine has been involved in teaching and training medical students and residents since 1978.

“Learners — like patients and like your children — are unique individuals,” he said. “And similar to caring for patients or raising children, each learner requires an individualized approach. For some, it’s as simple as ‘see one and do one’ and they’ve got it. For others, no matter how many they see, they are still challenged when it comes to actually ‘doing one.’ It’s all been rewarding.”

Part of Stine’s approach to teaching is to emphasize the importance of service. When he spoke to the Class of 2014 during their White Coat Ceremony, he challenged them: “Who will become the pediatrician in Immokalee caring for children of migrant farm workers? Who will become a general internist at the Community Health Center in Orlando, caring for adults that fall below the poverty level? Who is going to deliver all the babies born in 2016 to single moms in Tampa? Who will become the family physician who devotes him/herself to serving a rural community in North Florida? Who will be my geriatrician as I retire, grow old and, eventually, die? To paraphrase the Talmud: ‘If not you, who? If not now, when?’”

Stine is not the first educator currently (or formerly) connected with the College of Medicine to receive this FAFP award. His department chair, Daniel Van Durme, received it in 1997; Edward Shahady, 1998; Walt Taylor, 2008 (Daytona Beach campus); and Eddie Needham, 2013 (Orlando campus).

“Despite his administrative roles, Curt remains an active teacher one-on-one with students,” Van Durme wrote in his nomination letter. “Whether he is giving lectures, facilitating small groups, or seeing patients at our student health center while teaching students, he is focused on the needs of the learner and the opportunities for lasting teachable experiences.”