Kenneth M. Ludmerer MD

Kenneth M. Ludmerer, MD, Mabel Dorn Reeder Distinguished Professor in the History of Medicine and professor of medicine, is recognized for his outstanding dedication to residency training.

Ludmerer is best known as a master clinician and teacher. His passion for system improvement has earned him the role of the country’s leading ambassador of the principles and values of graduate medical education (GME). His recent book, Let Me Heal, provides the definitive account of the evolution of the GME system, defines the principles of educational excellence and defines the path to realizing these principles. This book provided the intellectual foundation of the new set of Common Program Requirements that govern all residency and clinical specialty training programs in the country, effective July 1, 2017.

Ludmerer earned his bachelor’s degree at Harvard College in 1968 and his master’s degree and medical degree from John Hopkins University in 1971 and 1973, respectively. He did his residency training at Barnes Hospital, postgraduate fellowship at Harvard University, and chief residency in internal medicine at Barnes Hospital. He joined the Washington University faculty in 1979.