In Memoriam: Georgi Bland

Debra Weinstein, MD, and Georgi Bland at Georgi's retirement party

The GME team is deeply saddened to note the passing of Georgi Bland, the “founding” GME Accreditation Manager at MGH and then Partners, who died in June. 

Georgi came to MGH in June, 1975 and spent her first 14 years here working in administrative roles with Drs. Nina and Robert Rubin and in the Renal Transplant/Dialysis Unit, before moving to the MGH Professional billing Department as a Fiscal Liaison. In 1994, Georgi joined Deb Weinstein in creating a GME Office at MGH which, in 1996, became a system-wide resource. In building the GME Office Georgi quickly became a trusted resource for program directors and program staff across specialties. She helped implement a set of GME policies to ensure consistent processes and important protections and shaped the process of internal program reviews - participating in more than 100 reviews. Georgi staffed the education committees, generating elegant minutes that chronicle the evolution of GME into the current era. 

As the GME team grew, Georgi trained new colleagues and inspired everyone to maintain the same high standards that she consistently upheld. She spent long hours encouraging, supporting and coaching GME program coordinators – and worked to cultivate a network of colleagues. Those privileged to work closely with Georgi treasured her keen intelligence, sharp wit, honest critique, and intense loyalty. 

Georgi reluctantly retired from Partners GME in November, 2011 after working for an extended period despite serious illness. In 2011 the Partners Georgi Bland GME Citizenship Award was initiated to honor Georgi and recognize the ongoing impact of her contributions. Georgi later generously decided to endow this prize. The Georgi Bland award is given every three years, and nominations for the 2019 awardee are currently open (https://www.partners.org/Graduate-Medical-Education/GME-At-Partners/Awards/GME-Institutional-Citizen-Award.aspx). Next year’s awarding of this prize will be particularly meaningful.

Messages of condolence can be sent to Georgi’s sister Vivienne and dear friend Wendy DeMille.

Vivienne and Henry Shue
St. Mary's Priory House
Church Lane, Cogges
Witney, OX 28 3LA
Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

This page was updated on 07/12/19.