[May 24, 2019] RVU is pleased to announce that Jill Pitcher, DO, FACOFP, Associate Professor of Family Medicine, was awarded the Presidential Award of Excellence.
The Presidential Award of Excellence was established in 2017 to honor and recognize the faculty members who consistently demonstrate excellence in the scholarly activity of teaching, service, and research. While the award is bestowed by the University president, the recipient is chosen by his or her fellow faculty members.
Since joining RVU’s Department of Primary Care Medicine in 2011, Dr. Pitcher has distinguished herself as a teacher and mentor, encouraging students in medical training to provide compassionate care and creating memorable learning experiences for them. Her exceptional work in the community often doubles as a learning opportunity for students, partnering with Women’s Shelter for Battered Women, Special Olympics Colorado, Salud Clinic Health Fair, and many more. She also works closely with the Global Medicine Track, and has taken students to treat patients in rural and underserved communities around the world. She currently serves on multiple RVU committees: Admissions, Global Medicine, Student Performance, and Faculty Development. Earning the respect and admiration of her colleagues, she was elected Chair of the RVUCOM Faculty Council for the 2013-15 and 2017-18 academic years.
“We all recall our mentors, who cared more about our growth and success than theirs,” said Clinton E. Adams, DO, FACHE, President and CEO of RVU. “The difference they made in our lives secures the future of our profession, community, and even our Country. Dr. Pitcher has given from her heart and soul to all who allowed her to influence and guide their path to becoming caring, competent, and lifelong learners. They are now multiplying her talents across the country as osteopathic physicians that want to make a difference.”
Dr. Pitcher’s dedication to the profession is evident on the local, state, and national level. She is actively involved in a number of organizations as a delegate for the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP), a board member for the Denver Osteopathic Foundation, and as president of the Colorado ACOFP chapter. For her role as a teacher and source of inspiration for those in medical training, she was named the 2019 Outstanding Female Leader of the Year by the ACOFP.
Dr. Pitcher received the Presidential Award of Excellence during the University’s Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 18th.
