2025 Peggy Bia Awards Celebrate Outstanding Educators in Internal Medicine

Each year, the Yale Department of Internal Medicine honors an intern, senior resident, and fellow with the Dr. Peggy Bia Award for Outstanding Clinical Teaching, recognizing physician-trainees who demonstrate exceptional dedication to medical student education. The award highlights excellence in teaching during the internal medicine clerkship, a core clinical rotation in which students gain hands-on experience caring for hospitalized adult patients under faculty and resident supervision.

This year’s awardees were selected by members of the Yale School of Medicine (YSM) class of 2027, the majority of whom completed their core clinical rotations this past year. The awards were presented at Medical Grand Rounds (MGR) on December 11, 2025, by Anna Zimmerman, MD, assistant professor of medicine (general medicine) and associate director of the internal medicine clerkship, and Fabrizio Darby, co-president of the YSM class of 2027.

Darby noted that many different nominations were received for the award this year, highlighting the impact of resident and fellow teaching on student education. “Everyone wanted their nominee to win, which really goes to show how much we appreciate what you all do for us,” he said, speaking to the crowd at MGR.

The 2025 winners of the Dr. Peggy Bia Award for Outstanding Clinical Teaching were:

Yi Kuan Li, MD (intern)

Sarah Householder, MD (senior resident)

Mary White, MD (clinical fellow)

Darby shared brief reflections from his classmates about their experiences with each award recipient.

Li is a first-year psychiatry intern, who is completing a preliminary year in internal medicine. She was recognized for her excellent attitude and caring nature, with one student commenting that “she was by far the best intern they worked with, operating efficiently while showing compassion,” said Darby.

Householder is a fourth-year resident in the medicine-pediatrics program and was praised for her active engagement with students, including taking dedicated time to teach before, during, and after rounds. “Students enjoyed working with Dr. Householder, noting that she balanced learner independence with appropriate oversight,” said Darby. “She led by example, providing excellent patient care with a warm bedside manner.”

White is a first-year gastroenterology fellow and was recognized for consistently going the extra mile to actively involve students in patient care. “Dr. White pushed students toward independence while thoughtfully guiding them through difficult situations,” said Darby. “Her warm, patient, and encouraging nature contributed to a consistently positive and supportive learning experience.”

According to Zimmerman, the award is a tribute to Margaret “Peggy” Bia, MD, professor emeritus of medicine (nephrology) at YSM.

“Dr. Peggy Bia was a tireless advocate of medical education here at Yale, known as an astounding teacher who served as director of clinical skills for 15 years,” said Zimmerman. “In doing so, she cultivated caring and a love of doctoring in a generation of medical graduates from Yale. This award, named in her honor, is granted annually to those who embody the spirit of pedagogy central to the mission of the Department of Internal Medicine at Yale.”

To learn more about the Department of Internal Medicine’s clerkship component, visit Medical Approach to the Patient (MAP) - Internal Medicine Clerkship Component.

The Department of Internal Medicine at Yale School of Medicine is among the nation's premier departments, bringing together an elite cadre of clinicians, investigators, educators, and staff in one of the world's top medical schools. To learn more, visit Internal Medicine.