23 Oct Kayla Dueland-Kuhn, MD: A 2025 Unsung Hero
Dr. Kayla Dueland-Kuhn has made a profound and lasting impact on our institution through her academic leadership, clinical excellence, and unwavering commitment to education.
As a NYACEP Academy of Clinical Educators Scholar (ACEP NY Chapter), Dr. Dueland-Kuhn has spearheaded many initiatives within our Emergency Medicine (EM) residency program and Pediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM) fellowship. She plays a key role in the Program Evaluation Committee and the Clinical Competency Committee as well. Her contributions have exceeded and elevated the quality of education at our program.
She serves as the Director of our EM Acting Internship Clerkship and is the Course Director for the innovative “Teaching to Learn, Learning to Teach” (TLLT) intern rotation. Students, residents, and fellows rave about her teaching and mentorship.
Dr. Dueland-Kuhn is a natural fit for education as she herself is a dynamic clinical educator. In 2025, she was nationally recognized as the faculty winner of the Clinical Pathologic Case Competition, further exemplifying her leadership and impact on medical education. She leads our multidisciplinary trauma simulation drills in collaboration with Surgery, EM, social work, and our Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team into these sessions, fostering staff wellbeing in traumatic events.
Through her tireless efforts, Dr. Dueland-Kuhn has strengthened our program and demonstrated excellence extends beyond our institution.
Dr. Dueland-Kuhn’s excellence is notable in that she has a very special way of incorporating various members of the hospital team into her drills. She understands that Emergency Medicine is a multifaceted clinical area that requires collegiality, support, teamwork, and collaboration. She is the first member to incorporate wellness into her drills. She is the first winner for the faculty CPC competition. While many educators focus on local influence, she and our Chair encourage our department to reach nationally. She serves on a panel for a regional PEM Consultant Conference. Dr. Dueland-Kuhn bridges gaps and blends educational opportunities to reach the masses. Her influence reaches beyond institution, but her daily work reflects a deep, personal investment in the academic success of our local learners. She is transformative in her teaching style!
Recipient Bio:
Dr. Kayla Dueland-Kuhn is a dual board-certified physician in Emergency Medicine and Pediatric Emergency Medicine whose career has excelled academically, clinically and in leadership. As an Assistant Professor in both the Departments of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics at SUNY Upstate Medical University, she plays a key role in shaping various residents. As a medical school educator, she is shaping the next generation of physicians.
After earning her medical degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University, Dr. Dueland-Kuhn completed both her Emergency Medicine residency and Pediatric Emergency Medicine fellowship at Upstate. She further distinguished herself as a Scholar in the NYACEP Academy of Clinical Educators. In her current roles, Dr. Dueland-Kuhn serves as Director of the Emergency Medicine Acting Internship and Course Director for the “Teaching to Learn, Learning to Teach” (TLLT) intern rotation. She is the leader of designing high-impact, multidisciplinary trauma drills in collaboration with Surgery and other specialties.
In addition, Dr. Dueland-Kuhn contributes as a panelist at regional PEM conferences and as the 2025 faculty winner of the Clinical Pathologic Case Competition. She maintains active membership in professional organizations including ACEP, AAP, and CORDEM.
Perhaps, her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from the University of Akron explains her dynamic, performance based approach to teaching and clinical education.
– Asalim Thabet, MD