Ingrid Lim, MD
“What’s unique about our CME program is that we design programs relevant to TPMG physicians’ practices. Collaborating with stakeholders such as Quality, Diversity, Physician Health & Wellness, and Pharmacy helps us achieve our ultimate goal – influencing patient outcomes.”
Last spring when the CME chiefs group learned Dr. Lim was a recipient of this year’s teaching award, the response from the group made it clear she was the right choice. “Nearly 40 participants were on that call – and all of them turned on their cameras and cheered,” says Tatjana Kolevska, MD, chair of physician education and Continuing Medical Education (CME).
Dr. Lim’s infectious passion for education has earned her great respect, not only among her CME colleagues, but with residents, fellows, and physicians. A personable, gifted teacher and exceptional clinician, she oversees a group of approximately 20 CME physician planners who design and execute over 500 hours of CME instruction every year, inspiring them to think outside the box when developing educational activities.
“I like to encourage our faculty to go beyond the lecture format and strive to make their messages stick,” she says. “We want learners to walk away feeling motivated to change their practice.”
Four years ago, Dr. Lim recognized that despite KP San Francisco being a large teaching institution, no formal program existed to enhance didactic teaching, bedside teaching, and leadership skills. So she single-handedly created a robust faculty development series that is used throughout the region today. She also established an Academy of Medical Educators, comprised of KP San Francisco faculty who are committed to clinical teaching, research, and medical education. The group supports one another and the rest of the medical center in fostering teaching excellence and advancing its educational mission.
“One of the many things Dr. Lim excels at is incorporating Kaiser Permanente’s key strategic priorities into CME content, whether it’s our efforts to reduce use of opiates, our work on palliative and end of life care, or our focus on health equity,” says Maria Ansari, MD, physician-in-chief at KP San Francisco.
Some of this work has received statewide attention. Her collaboration with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team earned her the Cultural & Linguistic Competency Award from the California Medical Association in 2016. “Dr. Lim’s contributions have improved the joy and meaning we experience in practicing medicine,” says Dr. Ansari. “She builds our confidence, draws us into education, and elevates our own learning.”