Overview

Dr. Bernstein attended medical school at the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) and residency at the Emory University School of Medicine. At Emory, Dr. Bernstein was fortunate to have Dr. Joyce Doyle as her advisor. Dr. Doyle was an excellent role model and had a profound impact on Dr. Bernstein's ultimate decision to pursue a career in academic medicine. Dr. Doyle personified the career that Dr. Bernstein aspired to have, one that balanced teaching, patient care and research with time for family. It was Dr. Doyle that first encouraged Dr. Bernstein to continue on at Emory after her residency as a faculty member: "She identified my talent and love for teaching."

After joining the faculty, Dr. Bernstein was honored when Dr. William Branch, the chief of the Emory Division of General Medicine, approached her about teaching the "Clinical Methods" course for the medical students. "He ignited my passion for teaching clinical skills to medical students and residents and set me on the career trajectory I have been fortunate to have thus far."

As a Professor of medicine, Dr. Bernstein divides her time between teaching and advising medical students at the Emory School of Medicine and seeing patients and teaching residents at Grady Memorial Hospital. Dr. Bernstein is the Director of the "Essentials of Patient Care" clinical skills curriculum that begins as students enter medical school and finishes at the end of their fourth year. The course is taught initially in a small group setting and focuses on medical decision-making and acquisition of clinical skills.

Dr. Bernstein has found her career in Emory's Department of Medicine to be extremely rewarding and has been recognized by her students and peers for her achievements. Among the many honors and awards that she has received, she is a three-time recipient of the Emory Dean's Teaching Award, and was awarded the Evangeline Papageorge Distinguished Teaching Award from the Emory University School of Medicine, the Emory Provost Distinguished Teaching Award for Excellence in Graduate and Professional Education, as well as the national Herbert S. Waxman Award for Outstanding Student Educator from the American College of Physicians.

Just as she has benefitted from the mentorship of many inspirational physicians, Dr. Bernstein is proud to now be an educator and mentor for the next generation of doctors. "Seeing medical students and residents transform into confident, compassionate physicians" is one of the greatest parts of her job. She gives learners who want to pursue a career in internal medicine the advice to "find an aspect of internal medicine that works for you, because it is a field that has something for everyone." She also stresses the importance of having a work-life harmony to the students and residents that she teaches because being a well-rounded person makes them better, more compassionate doctors.

Academic Appointment

• Professor, Internal Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine
• Associate Professor, Emory University School of Medicine

Education

Research