School of Medicine Faculty Honored for Excellence

The School of Medicine recently honored more than 150 faculty members for their role in medical education, research, patient care and administration.

Steven Berk, M.D., executive vice president and provost and dean of the School of Medicine, said the Dean’s Faculty Appreciation Dinner is an annual event to recognize the dedication of their faculty.

“This is our opportunity to express appreciation to our faculty for their outstanding contributions to student and resident education, patient care, research and community service,” Berk said.

Dean's Teaching Awards

The Dean’s Teaching Awards were presented to faculty who have several years of sustained excellence in teaching as demonstrated in student and peer evaluations, evidence of strong commitment to the educational process and innovation in teaching.

• Dean’s Basic Science Teaching Award: First-year medical students– Brandt Schneider, Ph.D., Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry
• Dean’s Basic Science Teaching Award: Second-year medical students– Jane Colmer-Hamood, Ph.D., Department of Microbiology and Immunology
• Dean's Clinical Teaching Award: Mark Jenkins, M.D., Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation
• Dean’s Educational Innovation Award: Ron Cook, D.O., MBA, Department of Family and Community Medicine
• Dean’s Scholarship/Research Award: Lan Guan, Ph.D., Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics
• Dean’s Distinguished Service Award: Dale Dunn, M.D., Department of Pathology

Unsung Heros

Unsung Hero Award recipients are nominated by School of Medicine department chairs.

• Ronald Banister, M.D., Department of Anesthesiology
• Jannette Dufour, Ph.D., Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry
• Raul Martinez-Zaguilan, Ph.D., Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics
• Fredrick Onger, M.D., Department of Family and Community Medicine
• Dolores Buscemi, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine
• Gul Ahmad, Ph.D., Department of Microbiology and Immunology
• Cornelia de Riese, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Desirae McKee, M.D., Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation
• Chwan-Li (Leslie) Shen, Ph.D., Department of Pathology
• Desiree Pendergrass, M.D., Department of Pediatrics
• Lisa Popp, Ph.D., Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience
• Phyllis Peterson, PA-C, Department of Psychiatry
• Ari Halldorsson, M.D., Department of Surgery
• Thomas Nelius, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Urology

Special Recognition and Departmental Awards

Two senior faculty members received special recognition. Jonathan Vordermark, M.D., Department of Urology, received the Distinguished Faculty Mentor Award. This award was presented by the Faculty Council Executive Committee in recognition of his dedication to helping junior faculty develop into School of Medicine leaders.

Bernell Dalley, Ph.D., Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, received the Piper Professor Award. Dalley was named a Piper Professor of 2011 by the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation, an award for excellence in teaching bestowed on 10 faculty members in Texas involved in higher education.

Three departments were also showcased during the dinner. Outstanding Achievement in Teaching went to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Outstanding Achievement in Research went to the Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, and the Department of Dermatology received Outstanding Achievement in Patient Satisfaction.

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