Dr. Claxton is a clinician-educator who focuses on the evaluation of curricular interventions, teaching communication skills, and training other faculty educators in the science of learning, as well as practical teaching skills to use both in teaching with simulated patients and didactic training. She is passionate about using evidence-based teaching techniques to improve the quality of education in the medical field. In addition to her academic roles, Dr. Claxton practices inpatient palliative care on the consultation service.
- BS, University of Florida, 2001
- MD, University of Florida, 2005
- MS, University of Pittsburgh, 2010
- Internal Medicine Residency, University of Virginia Health System, 2008
- Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh, 2010
Education & Training
See J, Van Deusen R, Claxton R, Shenai N, Rothenberger SD, Donovan AK. CALMER Conflict: A novel curriculum for graduating medical students to manage and defuse patient-provider conflict. J Gen Intern Med. 2025; 40(1):253-257.
Bansal A, Noll A, Patel A, Claxton R, Rogal S, Arnold RM. GITalk: Communication skills training for gastroenterology fellows improves self-assessed preparedness for serious illness conversations. J Palliat Medicine. 2025.
Lowry M, Pruskowski J, Claxton R, Berenbrok L. Course development and integration of a skills-based assessment for an elective palliative care course. Am J Pharm Educ. 2025; 89(8):101439.
Mack M, Claxton R, Arnold RM, Maurer S. Peds OncoTalk: A curriculum to teach communications skills to pediatric hematology/oncology fellows. Pediatric Blood and Cancer. 2025.
- Tara Cook Palliative Care Teaching Award, UPMC, 2021
- Eric Neilson Leadership Award, Association of Specialty Professors, 2022
- Fellow, Teach Like a Champion, 2022-2023
- Robert Arnold Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring Award, UPMC Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics, 2023
- VitalTalk Faculty Leadership Award, 2025
- UPMC Physician Excellence Award, 2025
