Associate Dean Kountz Awarded Mastership in American College of Physicians

David S. Kountz, M.D., MBA, MACP, has been awarded Mastership in the American College of Physicians (ACP), the national organization of internists.

“I am honored to receive this distinction. I consider it a validation of the work we drawing through the medical school, and at our network’s clinical sites,” said Dr. Kountz, Professor of Medicine and Senior Associate Dean, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine and Vice President, Academic Diversity and Co-Chief Academic Officer for Hackensack Meridian Health. (Dr. Kountz also serves as Vice President, Academic Affairs at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.)

Election to Mastership recognizes outstanding and extraordinary career accomplishments, according to the ACP. Masters must have made a notable contribution to medicine, through teaching teaching, outstanding work in clinical medicine (research or practice), contributions to preventive medicine, improvements in the delivery of health care, and/or contributions to the medical literature.

"David Kountz is one of only a few African-American senior "tutors" in a program established by the AAMC for mid-career African American male physicians," said Bonita Stanton, M.D., founding dean of the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. "Dr. Kountz is a major credit to our institution."

Dr. Kountz is widely recognized for his work in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and Graduate Medical Education, Dr. Kountz has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and is an accomplished medical educator. Dr. Kountz is the immediate past-president of the Group on Resident Affairs of the Association of American Medical Colleges. In 2019 he was awarded the Verice M. Mason Community Service Award by the Edward J. Ill Excellence in Medicine Foundation.

According to ACP bylaws, Masters are elected “on account of personal character, positions of honor, contributions toward furthering the purposes of the ACP, eminence in practice or in medical research, or other attainments in science or in the art of medicine.” ACP activities are also taken into consideration for all candidates. This includes service to the ACP in an official capacity, participation in chapter activities, and involvement in the development of College products and educational programs. Volunteer and community service is also taken into consideration.

ACP will honor new Masters at Convocation during Internal Medicine Meeting 2022, ACP’s annual scientific conference. The meeting is April 28-30 in Chicago.