South Carolina Physician Receives National Honor for Teaching Excellence from the American Academy of Family Physicians

CHICAGO – Elizabeth G. Baxley, M.D., a family physician in Columbia, S.C., received the Exemplary Teaching Award from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) at its annual meeting this week in Chicago. The AAFP’s Scientific Assembly, one of the largest gatherings of primary care providers in the country, was held Oct. 3-6.

The Exemplary Teaching Awards recognize AAFP members who have excellent teaching skills and who have implemented outstanding programs or developed innovative teaching models. The awards were given in two categories: full-time and volunteer. Baxley received the Exemplary Teaching Award in the category of full-time faculty member.

Baxley is professor and chair of the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of South Carolina (USC) School of Medicine. Under her guidance, the family medicine department has participated in both national and regional health care collaboratives aimed at improving the quality of care for patients and the education of students and residents. A testament to her leadership, the department has also received an unprecedented number of national grants and awards since she was named department chair four years ago.

In addition to her undergraduate and medical student teaching, Baxley is involved in graduate medical education at the Palmetto Health Richland Family Medicine Residency Program in Columbia, where she precepts for family medicine, OB/GYN and psychiatry residents. She continues to care for a broad panel of her own patients and serves as an advisor to family medicine residents.

Baxley’s teaching experience also includes continuing medical education. She has served as the director of faculty development at the USC School of Medicine and co-directed the school’s Executive Leadership Institute. At the national level, she participates in the AAFP’s Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO©) program, which teaches life support skills specialized for complications that may occur during childbirth to maternity care providers. She served as chair of the ALSO© advisory board for five years beginning in 1998 and continues to serve on the program’s faculty. Baxley also routinely presents continuing education courses on health care quality improvement, maternity care and women’s health issues at national medical meetings.

Throughout her medical career, Baxley has been an active family medicine leader on the local, state and national levels. A member of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine for more than two decades, Baxley has been a regular presenter at their annual meeting. She also is an active member of the South Carolina Academy of Family Physicians and currently serves on their board of directors.

Baxley earned her undergraduate degree from Clemson University in South Carolina and her medical degree from the USC School of Medicine, Columbia. She completed her residency at Anderson Memorial Hospital in South Carolina. She is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and is a fellow of the AAFP, an earned degree awarded to family physicians for distinguished service and continuing medical education.