Office for Excellence in Education People

Medical Director

Dr. Andrea Leep Hunderfund an Associate Professor of Neurology. She serves as the Medical Director of the Office of Applied Scholarship and Education Science. Dr. Leep Hunderfund's medical education research aims to support leaders, clinical teams and students in co-creating environments that reflect professional values, facilitate learning and promote healing.

Administrator

Stephanie M. Pagel, M.A., M.B.A., is an Administrator within Mayo Clinic Education, working with the Academy of Educational Excellence, the Office of Education Research, the Office for Excellence in Education, and the Mayo Clinic Harper Family Foundation Artificial Intelligence Education in Medicine Program. Stephanie provides strategic and operational leadership, ensuring the effective implementation of these groups’ initiatives.

Director, Program Evaluation & Continuous Quality Improvement

Dr. Nadine Alamy is an Assistant Professor of Medical Education. She serves as the Director of Program Evaluation and Continuous Quality Improvement in the Office for Excellence in Education. In this role, Dr. Alamy provides strategic direction and operational guidance for the Education Shield’s Program Evaluation Framework and collaborates with education leaders to ensure high-quality data systems.

Director, Faculty Development; Co-Director, Academy of Educational Excellence

Dr. Heather Billings is an Assistant Professor of Medical Education. Dr. Billings serves as the Director of Faculty Development, Co-Director of the Academy of Educational Excellence at Mayo Clinic, and Chair of the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science’s Faculty Data and Development Subcommittee. She is involved in various educational initiatives and has a strong focus on faculty development.

Director, Educational Assessment

Dr. Natalie Langley is an Associate Professor of Anatomy in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic Arizona. She also serves as the Vice Chair of the Curriculum Committee at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine and the Director of Educational Assessment with the Office for Excellence in Education. She investigates the effectiveness of curricular and teaching method innovations in medical education. 

Medical Director, Academy of Educational Excellence

Dr. Alex Niven is a Consultant in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. He serves as the Medical Co-Director of the Pulmonary Function Laboratory and the Education Chair for the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Niven is actively involved in various educational initiatives, including his role as the Medical Director of the Academy of Educational Excellence, where he contributes to faculty development and recognition events.

Medical Director, Education Research

Dr. John Ratelle is a consultant in the Division of Hospital Internal Medicine (HIM) at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. He serves as the Medical Director of Education Science for the Office of Education Research and holds several key education leadership roles, including Education Chair for HIM, Chair of the HIM Education Research Subcommittee, and Lead Course Director of the annual Mayo Hospital Medicine Continuing Medical Education (CME) Course. Dr. Ratelle's research interests focus on the education of hospitalists, with a specific emphasis on reflective learning and commitment-to-change during and after conference-based CME.

Director, Coaching and Educational Enhancement

Dr. Patti Thorn is an Assistant Professor of Medical Education and the Director of Coaching and Educational Enhancement. She is a Master Certified Coach (MCC) for Health Care Educator Stretch Goals and a Certified Mentor Coach (CMC). 

Scientific Director, Education Research

Dr. Ellen Usher is a Professor of Medical Education and Education Scientist within the Office for Excellence in Education.  She serves as the Scientific Director of the Office of Education Research.  Dr. Usher's projects focus on exploring the impact of various pedagogical interventions and innovations on student learning outcomes, engagement, and motivation.

Director, Curriculum

Dr. Nancy Van Erp is the Director of Curriculum within the Office for Excellence in Education. Dr. Van Erp provides strategic and operational direction toward the implementation of a systems approach to curriculum, aligned with educational frameworks, outcomes-based standards, innovative methodologies, as well as accreditation and school specific requirements.