Case Study: Fitzsimmons

“The goal was to introduce learners to a vulnerable patient population of aging adults who had chronic complex conditions, including mental health comorbidities,” Fitzsimmons said.
Third, Fitzsimmons recently attended an American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) national conference where she presented at combined educational sessions for clinical practitioners on faculty development and leadership. Fitzsimmons also presents IPE to the various clinical education sites and other national IPE events.
Fourth, she is a board member of the National Professional Consortium of the APTA and is transitioning to the nomination committee.
Fifth, she teaches a session with colleagues in the School of Medicine and the Office of Medical Education called
AME and Educator Portfolio
One way UCSF cultivates IPE faculty is through the Academy of Medical Educators (AME). AME was created in 1999 as a program that supports the educational mission at UCSF and rewards teaching excellence through small IPE grants.
Initially, only School of Medicine faculty were involved with AME, but now it welcomes all faculty. Fitzsimmons and Kimberly Topp, PhD, PT, are the only PT faculty who are on AME. Topp is a Professor in the School of Medicine’s Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science and is the Vice Chair of the IPE Executive Committee, where she organizes IPE opportunities for students.
One of the things that AME has fixed in the past few years is the Educator Profile, which deals with faculty advancement and promotion. In 2013, the AME assembled an action group to improve the Educator Profile. The educator profile is a four-part application that is a part of the advancement program, and specifically goes through the CV Advancemet process overseen by the Academic Senate.
Recently, Fitzsimmons submitted an Educator Portfolio in
Fitzsimmons also felt drawn to UCSF because of the University mission.
The steps Fitzsimmons has taken to UCSF she describes as “circuitous,” and not the usual order. However, she encourages those pursuing a career similar to hers to explore opportunities that “knock on your door, even if they don’t necessarily make sense at the moment.”
“When I was a clinician and took the opportunity in automotive marketing it came full circle in helping with my communication skills and my ability to work with people outside of physical therapy,” Fitzsimmons said. “Sometimes we make career decisions only with our heads, but I think we have to also go with our hearts too and follow our passions.”
When Fitzsimmons is not actively involved in academia, she enjoys outdoor activities, such as: backpacking, camping, and open water swimming with her dog and wife throughout California, Oregon, and Washington. She once hiked from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail, which spans 2,650 miles, but her favorite places to hike are the Northern Cascades National Park and Goat Rocks