OUWB alum named chief resident, receives Excellence in Teaching award
woman with dark hair smiling at the camera

OUWB charter class member Kimberly Lemkin, M.D., stands out as a leader in two departments in her psychiatry residency at Tufts Medical Center.

Two chief resident roles

As the administrative chief resident, Lemkin serves as a mentor for the other residents and schedules their didactic series. She is also the chief resident for the consultation/liaison service and in the emergency room. “My role in all capacities is to help junior residents and to be present for them,” she says. “I learned so much under the guidance of my seniors, and it is great to now be in that position to guide and mentor others.”

Despite her success at her residency, she still faces challenges. “Time management was hard at first and can still be,” she says. “There are quick changes in responsibility each month and from year to year.” Lemkin has bonded with her coworkers, creating a support system that helps her overcome some of these obstacles.

She also attributes her ability to handle the stresses of residency life to her time at OUWB.

“OUWB helped prepare me for my residency in many ways. My class sizes were really small, and I felt I was able to ask questions and be actively involved,” she says. “Also, the holistic approach to patient care is particularly prevalent in psychiatry now, and I was introduced to it at OUWB.”

Award-winning teacher

In 2017, Lemkin was the recipient of the 2016-2017 Excellence in Teaching Award from the medical students at Tufts. “The award was a really great surprise,” she says. “The Tufts medical students are hardworking and really fun to work with. It was an honor to be acknowledged for my teaching, and this serves as a good motivator.”

Moving forward, Lemkin plans to pursue a combination consultation/liaison and consultation psychiatry fellowship in her local area. She hopes to continue to have the opportunity to teach and mentor others.