Ken Steinberg to receive Distinguished Teaching Award

Congratulations to Dr. Ken Steinberg, professor (Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine) and Vice Chair for Education, who has been selected by the American College of Physicians to receive the Jane F. Desforges Distinguished Teacher Award.

This national award honors individuals who exemplify the highest qualities of an outstanding teacher, as reflected in the achievements of their former students. These students, inspired by the nominee,  have attained influential roles in medical education, particularly as educators themselves.

He will formally receive the award at the ACP national meeting in April and will also earn ACP Mastership at the same time, which recognizes outstanding and extraordinary career accomplishments.

Steinberg is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine. He currently serves as Vice Chair of Education in the Department of Medicine and previously directed the Internal Medicine Residency Program from 2007 to 2024.

He earned his BA in biology from Colgate University and his MD from New York Medical College. He completed his residency and chief residency at Boston University Medical Center and fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at the University of Washington.

A nationally recognized leader in critical care and medical education, Steinberg held key roles in the NIH/NHLBI ARDS Clinical Trials Network, including major studies on corticosteroids and ketoconazole in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). He has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications and contributed to numerous book chapters on acute lung injury, critical care, and medical education. His research has advanced understanding of ARDS pathophysiology, treatment, and long-term outcomes.

He has received multiple honors, including the Dr. Paul B. Beeson Award for teaching excellence and Presidential Citations from the Society of Critical Care Medicine. He remains active in the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine, is a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians, and has served on editorial boards and national committees shaping critical care and residency education.

Steinberg has been a member of his Chapter Council for more than 10 years and continues to help coordinate outreach to residency programs in the Chapter.