Efficient Teaching in a Busy Clinical Practice

Elizabeth McMurtry, DO, FACEP Related Seminars and Products

Dr. Elizabeth McMurtry is the Associate Dean for Clinical Education for Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences and is an emergency physician. She previously served as emergency physician and clinical educator for emergency departments in Arizona, Nevada, and Washington.

Dr. McMurtry is a 2002 graduate of the Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her training in emergency medicine at Scott and White Memorial Hospital – Texas A&M University Health Sciences Center in 2005. Dr. McMurtry has researched and published about emergency medicine and medical education and has delivered many lectures and presentations on her areas of expertise. Her current role as Associate Dean for Clinical Education allows her to further the community-based model of education and assist community clinicians in becoming more efficient educators, specifically including developing the Master Preceptor Fellowship supported by a $1.95 million HRSA grant awarded to PNWU in 2018.

 Dr. McMurtry completed the American College of Emergency Physician’s Teaching Fellowship in 2011 and the Osteopathic Health Policy Fellowship in 2022. In 2016, Dr. McMurtry was honored with the Physician of the Year Mission Achievement Award, a peer-selected award bestowed by the medical staff at Walla Walla General Hospital in honor of service and commitment to excellence.

Dr. McMurtry is a fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians. She joined the National Faculty for the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) in 2016, writing and reviewing items for COMLEX-USA and COMAT exams. She has been on the Board of Trustees for the NBOME since 2018, and works on the awards, audit, and finance committees. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the American College of Emergency Physicians – Washington Chapter and is the chairperson for the Communications Committee. She has recently joined the Eastern Washington Area Health Education Center advisory board.

Dr. McMurtry’s additional interests include playing classical piano and injury prevention for keyboardists, and she completed Salem College’s Certificate for Injury-Preventive Keyboard Technique in 2018.  She also enjoys outdoor sports such as whitewater rafting and camping in her RV in her spare time.

Brenda Polite, MD, FAAFP Related Seminars and Products

Dr. Brenda Polite is an Assistant Dean for Clinical Education at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine.  She has been a part of the Clinical Education team since 2011 and originally worked with the students during didactics before becoming a regional assistant dean. Dr. Polite graduated from Loma Linda University School of Medicine and completed her family medicine residency at Glendale Adventist Medical Center. She is board certified in family medicine by the American Board of Family Medicine and has received the degree of Fellow from the American Academy of Family Physicians.

With her deep interest in working with students in underprivileged and underserved areas, Dr. Polite pursued a career in Student Health through White Memorial Medical Center providing school-based medical care for college and elementary students in the inner-city. She has volunteered with Expanding Your Horizons, local schools, and other programs to promote higher education and careers in medicine.

In 2016, Dr. Polite was an American Medical Association-WPS Inspirational Physician Recognition Honoree for guiding and inspiring medical students to reach their full potential.

Dr. Polite lives in SW Washington with her family.  In her free time, Dr. Polite likes to bake, travel, and solve puzzles – especially escape rooms.