National foundation dedicated solely to improving the education of health professionals.
David Vermette, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine Division of General Medicine and Geriatrics, and Pediatrics, Division of Hospital Medicine, was announced as one of five Macy Faculty Scholars.
The Macy Faculty Scholars Program, now in its second decade, is dedicated to identifying and nurturing promising early-career educators in medicine and nursing. This initiative aims to develop the next generation of national leaders in medical and nursing education by recognizing outstanding educators, physicians, nurses, and role models who reflect the diversity of learners, patient populations, and healthcare settings across the country.
“I’m profoundly grateful for the opportunity to represent WashU as a Macy Faculty Scholar. In my project, I aim to translate community well-being research into practice and to equip training program leaders with the data and tools needed to transform their learning environments into climates where trainees flourish.
Vermette
Through a Community of Practice of program directors, we will use the RCWB instrument and the Flourish Index as tools for program evaluation and continuous quality improvement, and in doing so, provide a road map for program leaders in all of health professions education to target interventions at the level of community.
The mentorship and network of the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation is unparalleled in medical education, and I am so honored at the opportunity to learn and grow as part of the Macy community.“
By providing resources such as protected time, mentorship, and a professional network of colleagues, the program seeks to accelerate the Scholars’ careers, transform their teaching practice into scholarship, and support them in becoming impactful leaders locally, nationally, and beyond. As a Macy Faculty Scholar, Dr. Vermette will pursue a mentored educational project while participating in a range of career development opportunities through the program. This prestigious honor reflects the impact of his work and the strength of his leadership potential.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. David Vermette to the 2026 class of Macy Faculty Scholars,” said Peter Goodwin, Interim President of the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation. “After having already developed a novel instrument to measure resident community well-being, Dr. Vermette is now proposing to study how the information gathered through the instrument can be used, and to develop a community of practice across program directors who can create and share best practices for implementation to effect change. We see tremendous potential in the ability of Dr. Vermette’s work to positively impact the clinical learning environment—locally, but also with the promise of serving as a national model.”
About the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation
Since 1930, the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation has worked to improve health care in the United States. Founded by Kate Macy Ladd in memory of her father, prominent businessman Josiah Macy Jr., the Foundation supports projects in three priority areas: promoting diversity, equity, and belonging; increasing collaboration among future health professionals; and preparing future health professionals to navigate ethical dilemmas. It is the only national foundation solely dedicated to improving health professions education.