Kathryn E. Redinger, MD, has been named chair of the Department of Medical Education at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed).
Dr. Redinger began her new role May 1, replacing Mike Busha, MD, who had served as department chair since 2017 in addition to his duties as chief academic officer and senior associate dean for Academic Affairs. Dr. Redinger will continue to serve as assistant dean for Clinical Applications and maintain her clinical duties as an emergency medicine physician.
“It’s an honor to lead this department at such a transformative time,” Dr. Redinger said. “Our work in medical education is more than teaching – it’s about forming physicians who are grounded in service, compassion, and excellence.”
Dr. Redinger is taking the helm of the Department of Medical Education at a time when it is experiencing extensive growth at the medical school. Over the last six months, the number of faculty has increased from less than 12 to more than 100 with the appointment of interdisciplinary community faculty educators that are part of WMed’s regional campus expansion in St. Joseph, Michigan, and the ongoing need for teaching faculty and preceptors. As the new department chair, Dr. Redinger will focus on faculty engagement and the development of medical school faculty as medical educators.
“With the rapid growth of our faculty, my focus is on building a thriving, collaborative community that supports our educators as much as they support our students,” Dr. Redinger said. “When we invest in our faculty, we elevate the entire learning environment.”
Dr. Redinger holds dual appointments as an associate professor in the departments of Medical Education and Emergency Medicine at WMed, and she is actively involved in curricular development and academic leadership. Her educational innovations have been published in Medical Education and the Western Journal of Emergency Medicine.
Dr. Redinger is board-certified in Emergency Medicine and a fellow in the American College of Emergency Physicians. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Notre Dame in 2007 and her earned her MD degree at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine in 2011. Dr. Redinger completed her emergency medicine residency training at WMed, serving as chief resident and completing a specialty track in healthcare administration.
Since completing her residency training in 2014, Dr. Redinger has been practicing emergency medicine at Ascension Borgess Hospital She has also served as a site medical director and quality assurance and corporate compliance officer for her practice. Her research interests include quality and performance improvement, medical ethics, medical education, and emergency mental health and patients in crisis. She is especially interested in the promotion of leadership, wellness, and career formation of physicians, both practicing and in training.