VA Boston Physician Receives Prestigious Worthen Innovator Award for Patient-Centered Practices
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Dr. Susan Nathan, a physician at VA Boston Healthcare System, has won the David M. Worthen Innovator Award, one of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ highest honors for health professions education. Nathan was recognized for her advancements in palliative care education and patient-centered practices, especially through the My Life, My Story program, which she directs, where Veterans share their life stories with trainees to improve understanding and care. The Worthen Awards, sponsored by the VA Office of Academic Affiliations, recognizes exceptional champions for enhancing health professions trainee education in three categories: the Rising Star Award, the Innovator Award, and the Career Achievement Award.
VA Boston Physician Receives Prestigious David M. Worthen Award for Health Education
The VA Boston Healthcare System’s Doctor Susan Nathan was honored with the David M. Worthen Innovator Award. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs made this announcement on Thursday, July 10, 2025. Doctor Nathan’s remarkable contributions in palliative care education and patient-centered practices have transformed how trainees interact with Veterans, particularly through the My Life, My Story program, she directs.
This program allows Veterans to share life stories with trainees, thereby enhancing the understanding and care they provide. Interim executive director at VA Boston HCS, Leslie Pierson, expressed gratitude, stating that the program inspires everyone committed to Veteran-centered care.
The Worthen Award, named after the late Dr. David M. Worthen, a former VA head of Academic Affiliations, is for champions enhancing health professions trainee education. It is sponsored by the VA Office of Academic Affiliations.
Other Worthen Award Recipients
The Worthen Rising Star Award was given to Dr. Matthew Soltys of Iowa City VA Medical Center, for developing innovative training courses and expanding patient safety curriculum. Dr. Sonya Malekzadeh, an attending surgeon at Washington, D.C. VA Medical Center, received the Worthen Career Achievement Award for her lifetime contributions in health professions education and exceptional surgical care to Veterans.
The Office of Academic Affiliations’ Acting Chief, Dr. Ezgi Tiryaki, commended the awardees’ contributions to training the future generation of health care professionals. VA maintains the largest education and training program for health professionals in the U.S., partnering with most medical schools and universities, with 122,000 trainees each year.
Contact Information for My Life, My Story Program
Trainees and VA staff members interested in the My Life, My Story program can email Doctor Nathan at Susan.Nathan@va.gov.
Photo caption: Dr. Susan Nathan, who received the David M. Worthen Innovator Award, has revolutionized how health professions trainees engage with Veterans (Photo credit: Dr. Adam Woolley, VA Boston HCS).
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