The Resident Doctors of BC’s Dr. Patricia Clugston Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching recognizes a physician clinical educator for his or her contributions to residents’ medical education. The recipient will have created a safe learning environment that encourages self-inquiry, supports adult learning, and fosters within learners a desire to achieve their highest potential.
Recipient: Dr. Sonia Butterworth
Dr. Sonia Butterworth is a Pediatric Surgeon at BCCH and a Clinical Associate Professor in the UBC Department of Surgery. She has received outstanding evaluations in all areas of teaching including patient management, surgical skills, medical expertise, communication and professionalism. Her nominators describe her as approachable and patient, encouraging residents to make intraoperative decisions and helping them navigate out of difficult situations.
A visionary leader in postgraduate training at UBC, Dr. Butterworth has transformed the educational curricula, developed novel methods of evaluation, and introduced intensive training experiences into an educational environment that has attracted international attention throughout the surgical community. She currently plays a major role in developing and implementing Competency Based Medical Education (CBME), which emphasizes an outcomes-based approach and ensures that all trainees will acquire skills that enable lifelong learning. In this capacity, Dr. Butterworth serves all of UBC’s nearly 1400 residents who are distributed across the province.