Kristin Bittinger
What inspires or motivates you in your role at HMS/HSDM?
Although a seemingly canned answer, I am, in all truthfulness, inspired by the people and community at Harvard Medical School. This community includes smart, talented and truly caring people that want to make a difference - whether through support of the next big (or little) scientific discovery, the care of individuals in need, or through the education of our current and future leaders. I love science, respect medicine and believe that my life has been shaped by the great educational opportunities that my parents worked hard to provide for me. HMS represents all of those things and its legacy is an inspiration.
What are you most proud of about your work at HMS/HSDM?
I am most proud of the fact that a question like this still makes me uncomfortable. I set high standards for myself and work hard to achieve them and hope, as a result, I contribute.
Nonetheless, I do not miss the core truth of my professional experiences - everything I have seen accomplished was a "we" and not a "me" event. I am replaceable at Harvard Medical School. The teams I have been a part of, however, may not be. And I am very proud, much in awe, and privileged to have worked with some of the best teams at this school - people who believe that integrity means something, that think creativity and innovation are core to our future and, above all else, support each other in pursuit of shared goals.
What is the significance of the object you brought with you to the photo shoot?
I confess. I brought my iPad because I always have it with me. Conveniently, it proved to be the perfect representation of my current role in external education. External education strives to leverage technologies to educate new constituencies of learners. It is not about transferring the classroom experience to an iPad, but rather about transforming the experience by teaching in new ways, incorporating technology for better educational outcomes and delivering content to individuals when they need it (and on a device they always have with them!). I am excited to be a part of external education's early efforts towards this future.