March 7, 2011 — Dr. Valentina Brashers, a nursing professor at the University of Virginia, has been elected a fellow in the American College of Physicians and will be inducted at its annual meeting in April.

In addition to teaching, she is an attending physician in internal medicine. The distinction recognizes achievements in internal medicine and the specialty of adult medical care.

Brashers has been teaching pathophysiology, immunology, pulmonary assessment and chest X-ray interpretation to graduate and undergraduate nursing students and health-care professionals since 1987. Previously honored several times by U.Va. for her teaching excellence, she is recognized nationally for her scholarship in the area of inter-professional education and practice.

The American College of Physicians is the second-largest physician group in the United States. Membership includes more than 130,000 internists, related subspecialists and medical students. Internists are specialists in the prevention, detection and treatment of illnesses in adults.