Educational Mentor of the Year Award

Apgar Academy Awards Tiffany E. Murano, MD 2025 Educational Mentor of the Year

In recognition of transformative engagement in the lives of students, trainees, clinicians, and scholars at Columbia and throughout the nation, Tiffany E. Murano, MD is hereby named the 2025 Virginia Apgar Academy for Medical Educators Mentor of the Year.

Tiffany Murano, MD is a Professor of Emergency Medicine, the Vice Chair of Education for the Department of Emergency Medicine at Columbia University and Associate Designated Institutional Official for New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Murano received her Doctor of Medicine degree from the Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (formerly known as the Mount Sinai School of Medicine) and her residency training in Emergency Medicine (EM) at Montefiore/Jacobi Medical Center. Murano has also served in several national leadership roles, on the board of directors of the Council of Residency Directors in Emergency Medicine (CORD-EM)  and as a member of the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Emergency Medicine Review Committee. Her experience with GME and Milestones supported a colleague’s nomination to the Blue-Ribbon Panel for Milestone Education in Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Residencies. Murano plays an integral role with the American Board of Emergency Medicine as an oral board examiner as well as an item writer for the in-training examination and a senior oral board case reviewer.

Nominators of Dr. Murano affirm that “her special sense of caring” and “steadfast support” align perfectly with the spirit of this award, crediting her with “undoubtedly advancing the quality of their work and knowledge” by guiding them toward “being the best possible version” of themselves and “emboldening their interests and strengthening their initiatives.”

Within the Department of Emergency Medicine Dr. Murano’s colleagues describe her as the “embodiment of the true essence” of a mentor. From “providing exemplary academic and professional advisement . . . [to her] encouragement of intellectual growth and engagement in scholarship,” Murano serves as a “consistent role model of professionalism and leadership.” Her legacy is reflected in the success of her mentees and the inclusive, vibrant community of learners she helps to cultivate.

We  applaud Dr. Murano for this distinction and join with all her students and trainees in the deepest appreciation.  Dr. Murano was recognized for this distinction at the annual Apgar Academy Celebration hosted April 29, 2025.

Recipients of the Apgar Educational Mentor of the Year Award

2024 Maria Garzon, MD

2023 Elaine J. Abrams, MD

2022 Elisabeth B. Guthrie, MD