Michael Poles is co-director of the Educator Community and in he was appointed the assistant dean of medical education for preclinical sciences. He has served as the director of the gastroenterology section of NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s Core Principles of Medicine course for 15 years and the colorectal cancer pillar director for 7 years. In addition, he has served as the director of the fellowship program in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and gastroenterology section chief at the VA NY Harbor Healthcare System. An enthusiastic teacher known for his excellent lectures, Dr. Poles has received medical school awards for both basic science and clinical teaching. In 2010, he was awarded VA Teacher of the Year and is a six-time awardee of Gastroenterology Teacher of the Year.