For the first time since 2012, the ACGME today presented the John C. Gienapp Distinguished Service Award to Timothy C. Flynn, MD, FACS. The award is named for Dr. John Gienapp, who was the ACGME’s Executive Director for 19 years. Dr. Gienapp made several important contributions to GME and ACGME accreditation, and when he retired this award was established in his honor to recognize those who, like himself, dedicated themselves to a career in graduate medical education and made outstanding contributions to residency education and ACGME activities in a variety of ways. Gienapp winners have served on and chaired ACGME Review Committees, were specialist site visitors, served on appeals panels, volunteered for task forces and work groups, and more. This is, essentially, a GME Lifetime Achievement Award!
Dr. Flynn’s commitment to and passion for medical education is evident to anyone who has met him. He received his medical degree with honors from Baylor College of Medicine in 1974, followed by an internship at Navy Hospital, San Diego and then two years as a general medical officer, which included a year as the physician for Operation Deep Freeze in Antarctica. Upon completion of his Navy obligation, he returned to Houston and completed his surgery residency at the University of Texas, where he remained as faculty until moving to the University of Florida in 1984. Dr. Flynn became Professor of Surgery in 1994 and served as the General Surgery Residency Program Director from 1993 through 2003. In addition to his role as Surgery Program Director, he was Associate Dean for GME and DIO from 1992 through 2009.
According to colleagues, Dr. Flynn is the “key individual” in Florida to be consulted when a medical education issue is on the table. Notably, when the Florida Legislature debated and then made an 80 Million-dollar investment in development of GME, Dr. Flynn was the pivotal voice with state policymakers.
Nationally, Dr. Flynn has also always been active as a leader in professional education policy development and implementation. Dr. Flynn chaired the American College of Surgeons Board of Governors, was president of the Association of Program Directors in Surgery, was a member of the Board of the American Board of Surgery, chaired the Board of Governors of the American College of Surgeons, chaired the American Board of Surgery, and chaired the ACGME’s Board of Directors. He has won several awards, including the Roche Award as Senior Medical Student from Baylor College of Medicine; the Navy Achievement Medal; the Outstanding Faculty Award from the University of Florida, General Surgery; and the Edward M. Copeland Chief Resident’s Award, University of Florida, to name just a few.
Dr. Flynn’s is the career commitment the John C. Gienapp Award was established to recognize, and the ACGME was thrilled to present this award to him.