David Lee Pierce
Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine
Clerkship Director-Medical Student Education
University at Buffalo
Buffalo General Hospital
100 High Street
Buffalo, New York USA
Phone: 716-859-2460
Fax: 716-859-1993
Email: dlpierce@buffalo.edu
Education and Professional Experience:
My introduction to medicine began in Mexico. This offered a unique opportunity to learn a new language and, more notably, discover a unique culture. I completed my medical training at New York Medical College. After medical school I trained for two years at the University at Buffalo in Combined Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. In due time, I switched my training to emergency medicine, where I served as Chief Resident. I am currently a clinical faculty member in the department of emergency medicine and the medical student clerkship director for emergency medicine. Over the past 3 years I have authored several book chapters, written and illustrated my own book on Hand and Upper Extremity Trauma, written several grants, lectured nationally, and conduct clinical research in cardiac and neurosurgical emergencies. The bulk of my time has been directed toward developing an interprofessional simulation center that will integrate the curricula of the five health science schools at the University at Buffalo.
Scholarly Interest:
Until recently, it never occurred to me that my contribution to this world may be as that of a teacher. I find myself enamored with education, teaching, and promoting my own aptitude in these areas. I seek every opportunity to teach medical students and residents. As a result, I have been awarded several commendations for teaching excellence from the University at Buffalo. This recognition has strengthened my resolve to promote the educational value of this university to the highest level. The EDUCATE Initiative (Educational Directive to Unlock Clinicians’ Ability to Teach Effectively) is a group I founded two years ago. It is my hope to develop this venture into a university-wide faculty development program to enhance clinical teaching skills.
Personal Background:
I cannot fully describe myself without briefly mentioning my father. As a single parent, he raised me in a suburb of Buffalo, NY from the time I was five years old. Responsible, compassionate, unprejudiced, and honest; he exemplifies the qualities that I admire most in life. My father, a counselor at a local college, has been my mainstay. He raised me in a very middle class home, with few material luxuries. Two intangible gifts my father gave me at an early age were; self confidence by way of encouragement, and the freedom to pursue my imagination. A great infatuation with art has been a constant theme throughout my life. I was initially enrolled in college as an art major. Despite a redirection in my career, art resurfaces time and again in my life. Physical challenges and fitness are fundamental aspects of my personality. I have risked my life in far too many thrill seeking activities to list; from sky diving to competitive mountain biking. Now, at the age of 36, I prefer spending my free time with my family, running, writing (fiction), reading world history, learning foreign languages, and drawing/sculpting.