A Prescription for Transformative Teaching

This is where the journey begins. Where I am committed to providing a "prescription" for transformative teaching. Join me as I grow and succeed in my mission to elevate education. I am glad you're here to be a part of my story.

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As we all know innovation is no stranger to healthcare.  We would not be able to cure some cancers if it were not for innovation!  I have worked with our Hematology/Oncology fellows for over fifteen years and I have seen disruptive innovation firsthand.  Disruptive innovation can bring change and will often result in new ways of doing things.  While I think we are on the right path with our education, I feel we need a more formal plan that will see us well into the future.

I would like to develop a plan that would build confidence, ensure success, and build better patient outcomes for our fellows.  MD Anderson is number one in the nation for cancer care so I feel we should be producing the best fellows possible.  By making a formal plan, I think we will not only foster a positive learning environment, but we will engage learning at all levels.  We will be able to bolster their education and build their confidence all while using resources available to our hospital. 

My plan will include things such as: simulation labs, rotational education experiences and didactic lectures.  I would like to design a program that could be used by fellows at all levels of training.  It could be built on a rotating schedule to ensure that each fellow attends all sessions and learning experiences.  My goal in developing this program is to have better patient interactions and patient outcomes, while building on the fellow’s knowledge and improving their overall confidence. 

 

This may seem like a large task, but I think we owe it to our fellows and patients. 

About me

Hi, I'm Kary Garnica, and for the past 15 years, I’ve had the privilege of working at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Graduate Medical Education. During this time, I've helped run the largest Hematology/Oncology fellowship program in the country, and I’ve witnessed firsthand how medical education continues to evolve.

Over the years, I've seen shifts in how we approach learning, training, and mentoring—but none as significant as the changes brought on by COVID-19. The pandemic challenged long-held assumptions and pushed us to reimagine the ways we support and educate our learners.

These challenges sparked a deep commitment in me: to not just adapt, but to actively shape the future of medical education. As I pursue my graduate studies, I'm gaining new insights, tools, and strategies that I plan to bring back to my work—ensuring that our fellows don’t just keep up with change, but thrive through it.

This space is where I’ll reflect on what I’m learning, share insights from my journey, and explore how we can continue to elevate the learner experience in medical education.

Let’s innovate how we teach—together.