Lynn Smitherman, M.D., associate professor of Pediatrics at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, will be recognized next month with a national award for her work in training upcoming pediatricians.

Dr. Smitherman will receive the Leading Example for Aspiring Pediatricians Award by the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Pediatric Trainees during the academy’s national conference in September.

The award honors the work of trainee mentors, especially those who have helped trainees discover their voices as advocates for child health and physician wellness.

"I am truly humbled to receive this award,” said Dr. Smitherman, who also serves as vice chair of Medical Education and vice chair of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for her department. “To be recognized by the students and residents that I have worked with over the years is the highest honor.  It is a privilege to mentor and teach the next generation of physicians."

Dr. Smitherman was nominated for the recognition by medical students Michal Ruprecht and Curtis Mack, and resident Jessica Greb, D.O.

In their nomination, they wrote: “Dr. Smitherman's commitment to mentorship shines through everything she does. Now as a student under her preceptorship, I have seen first-hand her passion for mentoring trainees such as myself. Her approach to clinical care is magical and she always finds ways to make a patient feel more comfortable and safe in the clinic environment. Her mentorship has only skyrocketed my interest in pediatrics and I am certain that she is the reason why so many of my peers decide to pursue a career in pediatrics and child health advocacy.

“In addition to mentorship, Dr. Smitherman is actively involved in advocacy efforts. Dr. Smitherman, a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Task Force Addressing Bias and Discrimination, played a critical role in developing a national policy statement that recognized for the first time the impact racism has on the health of American children and teens. The statement, ‘The Impact of Racism on Child and Adolescent Health,’ was issued by the AAP in 2019. In addition to Dr. Smitherman's national advocacy work, she conducts implicit bias training with our state's medical society and medical school. Since 2021, a statewide rule required implicit bias training for health care workers, and Dr. Smitherman's work ensures that our medical community receives this vital training.”

Herman Gray, M.D., M.B.A., chair of the WSU Department of Pediatrics, congratulated Dr. Smitherman on the recognition of her work.

“This LEAP Award recognition by both your AAP peers and the Section on Pediatric Trainees, as well as students and mentees, is a wonderful acknowledgement of the work you’ve done over many years,” Dr. Gray said.

The American Academy of Pediatrics Michigan chapter presented Dr. Smitherman with the 2020 Special Achievement Award for her work in raising awareness of the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion, both in medicine and in society at large.