Mark Levine, MD

I always knew I wanted to become a doctor, but I thought I would go into psychiatry because I like to talk to people.  It wasn’t until medical school that I found out I needed to listen more than talk.  You know I still have this issue if you have ever taken signout from me.  I also almost passed out watching the fourth-year students draw blood during our “immersions”, so I figured I would volunteer in the ED to get over my scare of blood.  I got better, unless I was getting stuck – I still pass out. 

I joined the faculty in 1999 after completing residency at MetroHealth/Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, OH.  I started working as a co-director of the clerkship and then took it over along with Sandy Sineff within a  year of starting here.  I have continued in that role since (without Sandy).  I have served/currently serve on the admissions committee, taught for the Practice of Medicine (now defunct) courses where the students learn physical exam, and also learn how to write notes, create differentials, etc.  I took over the GU Practice of Medicine course for a year as well.  I now continue working with the GU standardized patients, am the Capstone clinical procedure lead instructor, and am now the ACR director as well as the clinical elective director.  I also interview potential residents and sit on the match committee.  I have been an ABEM board examiner for about 9 years as well.  This year, I took over Med Prep 1 (the red shirts, but their lecture series, not the ED rotation).  

Initially, my interest was in EMS.  In 2000 I applied for and was offered the job as Medical Director for the St. Louis Fire Department.  I had no training and there were few and far fellowships in EMS.  Everything that I learned and taught was on-the-job.  Taking that one step further, I started the EMS rotation here and pretty much was the EMS section chief before we had a section.  Over the years, we have had some great faculty and fellows that have turned into the backbone of the faculty and the EMS section.  A couple of years ago, I stepped back from the StLFD and became the assistant (read unpaid/volunteer) medical director to focus more on my educational duties for the medical school and Department of EM.   I do maintain my links with EMS and WUEMS, working with all of the various sports teams, giving lectures on the national circuit, and teaching (when possible).

I view my role in faculty development as an offshoot form not having great guidance for promotions and how to move ahead in the department and in the medical school.  Now that I have seen multiple faculty go through (and not go through) and have some idea of what is out there that is valued by the school and promotions, my interest is in helping junior faculty move up through their academic career here.   My schedule is still as random as everyone else’s, so I can usually find a way to squeeze in meetings at convenient times and places.  Let’s meet and give you the real scoop.