Amir K. Jaffer, M.D., associate professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Hospital Medicine, has been honored with the Society of Hospital Medicine's Award for Excellence in Teaching. The Philadelphia-based society, the national group that represents hospitalists, recognized Dr. Jaffer at its 2010 annual meeting in Washington, D.C., April 8-11.

Dr. Jaffer, who is renowned in the fast-growing field of hospital medicine, was recognized for his dynamic leadership in spearheading the growth of the University of Miami Health System's (UHealth) Division of Hospital Medicine from a team of five to 27 academic hospitalists within two years, and for building educational programs for medical students, internal medicine residents and faculty. He developed and directs the annual Perioperative Medicine Summit, the Miller School's most highly attended CME course, held in conjunction with the Society of Perioperative Medicine and Quality Improvement.

Dr. Jaffer also served as the course director for this year's annual meeting of the Society of Hospital Medicine, attended by 2,500 hospitalists from around the world, including co-founder Robert Wachter, M.D.

"It is an honor to be selected from among a group of highly accomplished hospitalists," said Dr. Jaffer. "The award recognizes the important role hospitalist educators play in helping to shape the future of medical students, internal medicine residents, fellows and, most importantly, the future of this specialty."

In February, Jaffer was instrumental in the launch of UPAC, the UHealth Preoperative Assessment Center, a specialist subdivision of hospital medicine that optimizes patient health before surgery. The unit collaborates with other UHealth divisions, such as anesthesia and nursing, to serve patients at University of Miami Hospital and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

"Through his enormous dedication to his craft at the Miller School and nationally, Dr. Jaffer has become a transformative figure in moving hospital medicine to a true academic discipline," said Marc Lippman, M.D., Kathleen and Stanley Glaser Professor and chair of medicine at the Miller School. "The Excellence in Teaching Award honors Dr. Jaffer's high achievements and the remarkable growth of hospital medicine at UHealth."

Dr. Jaffer joined UHealth and the Miller School in 2007 from the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH.