“It is gratifying to see so many of our incredible educators come together and be recognized for the time and effort they put into providing a first-rate education to UT Health Science Center students and future healthcare professionals,” said Dr. Tom Ruffner, director of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center's Teaching and Learning Center (TLC), during the recent annual Excellence in Teaching Awards ceremony.
For the third consecutive year, Vice President for Academic, Faculty and Student Affairs Dr. Cindy Russell joined the deans in recognizing faculty and graduate students who received certificates and medals over the past year. The winners of three teaching awards were announced and presented with the 2024 TLC Summer Olympics medals.
“One of the core pillars of the UT Health Sciences Center's strategic plan is educational excellence,” said Dr. Russell. “Our goal is to provide a quality educational experience to the brightest students who represent the state of Tennessee. Our faculty inspire countless students through their innovative teaching methods and unwavering support. We take great pride in their extraordinary dedication and commitment to teaching to ensure the academic and personal growth of our students.”
TLC Teaching Award recipients demonstrate evidence of a thoughtful, deliberate and innovative approach to teaching. By celebrating inclusive pedagogy, active learning strategies and outstanding achievements in the scholarship of teaching and learning, the UT Health Sciences Center fosters an environment that values educational endeavors. “We celebrate these outstanding faculty who have dedicated their time, energy and creative talents to our various certificate and medal programs, and the passion, knowledge and compassion they bring to the University,” said Dr. Russell.
The Active Learning Teaching Award recognizes efforts to implement active learning strategies to increase student engagement in the learning process. The recipient is Mitchell Goldman, M.D., from the School of Medicine. “This is what I do,” said Goldman, M.D., in accepting the award.
The Inclusive Education Award recognizes efforts to provide an inclusive and equitable learning environment for all students. This year's recipient is Dr. Sarka Bellanova, a professor of pharmacy. “The pharmacy faculty is a close-knit group that inspires me to strive for excellence,” said Dr. Bellanova.
The Teaching and Learning Scholarship Award is given to the best paper or presentation on teaching and learning. This year's recipient is Dawn Havlda, PharmD, from the School of Pharmacy. “I'm grateful for the opportunity to work at such a great institution with great people,” she said.
The winners of TLC's 2024 Summer Olympics were also announced, a seven-week program where teachers work with coaches to address specific aspects of their teaching and develop deliverables that can be used in the classroom.
The winners of the Micro-Lecture Development Event, all from the Department of Occupational Therapy in the College of Health Professions, were:
• Dr. Ann Zachry (Gold Award)
• Jennifer Henderson, OTD, (Silver)
• Dr. Lauren Woods (Bronze)
The winners of the Academic Technology event were:
• Orli Weiser Pike, OTD, (Fri), College of Health Professions
• Nico Salazar, MD (Silver), School of Medicine
• April Hilsdon, MOT, (Bronze), College of Health Professions
The ceremony recognized faculty from each department at the UT Health Science Center who have been awarded a teaching and learning medal or received a certificate within the past year. The deans of each department announced the names of their faculty members.
“We thank you for all your hard work; it is a testament to your dedication,” said Nicholas Byrne, M.D., interim dean of the School of Medicine. “The teaching and learning of our students and residents is so important, and we thank you for all your hard work in this incredible achievement.” Faculty members who received certificates of commendation from the School of Medicine included:
• Certificate in Active Learning Course Redesign: Pallavi Khanna, MD
• Clinical Educator Certification: Evan Ward, DHSc, Kristen Bettin, MD, Jacob Edwards, Daniel Galvez, MD, Devin Gillaspie, MD, Ranjit Philip, MD, Maggie Vickers, MD, Kathleen Zani, MD, Beenish Zulfiqar, MD
• Faculty Induction Certificates: Anna Bukiya, PhD, Nicolas Chiriboga, MD, Nilmini Viswaprakash, PhD, Angela Mallard, PhD, Brendan Tunstall, PhD, Laxmichaya Sawant, MD
• Teaching Skills Medal: Kavita Raghavan, MD
Dr. Mark Anderson, interim associate dean of the School of Dentistry, presented the medals to the School of Dentistry faculty medal recipients. “We are so grateful for our faculty's dedication and knowledge,” said Dr. Anderson. The School of Dentistry faculty members recognized with the certificates are:
• Active Learning Course Redesign Certificate: Angela Haynes, DHA, Danita Adams, RDH
• Simulation Medallion: Michelle Miles, DHA, Kiesha Werlitz, EdD
• Clinical Educator Certification: Anmol Brar, Teresa O'Daniel, RDH, Mandy Simpson, RDH, Katherine DeColibus, DDS, Simran Flagg, RDH, Shane Rasner, DDS
Dr. Stephen Alway, Dean of the School of Health Professions, recognized faculty members who received medals and certificates. “Teaching is the driving force behind our school,” he said. “You have set a wonderful example for your colleagues, and I cannot wait to see the impact you will have on your students and our school.”
• Active Learning Course Redesign Certificate: Anne Zachry, PhD, Lauren Woods, PhD, LaToya Green, DPT
• Teacher Initiation Certificate: Samantha Etters, M.S.
• Educational Arts Award Medal: Pamela Lewis Kipcray, Ph.D.
• Recognition Medal: Rebecca Reynolds, EdD
• Course Design Award: Rebecca Reynolds, EdD
• Teaching Skills Medal: Faith Kiphut, DPT, Myra Meekins, DPT, Orli Weisser-Pike, OTD, Cody Whitefoot, PhD
• Professional Educator Medal: Rebecca Reynolds, EdD
• Educational Paradigm Award: Ann Zachry, Ph.D.
• Educational Paradigm Award: Lauren Woods, Ph.D.
• Technology-Enabled Teaching Award: Dr. Lauren Woods and Dr. Pamela Lewis Kipcray
The School of Nursing faculty were announced by Dr. Charlene McNeill, associate dean for academic affairs. “Your accomplishments are incredible,” she said. The medal and certificate recipients were:
• Active Learning Course Redesign Certificate: Alexia Williams, PhD
• Clinical Educator Certification: Meghan Madea, Leslie Rhodes, DNP
• Teacher Initiation Certificate: Louise Manasco, MSN, Rhonda Johnson, DNP, Ja'Quay Brister, DNP
• Teaching Arts Award: Amanda Travis, DNP
• Instructional Technology Award: Shelley Miller, DNP, Keisha Roach, PhD
• Inclusive Learning Medallion: Dr. Kimberly Kennel and Dr. Amanda Travis
• Information Literacy Award: Carrie Harvey, Ph.D.
• Interprofessional Education Award: Michelle Rickard, DNP
• Mentoring Medallion: Alice Farrell, PhD, Amanda Travis DNP, Janet Tucker, PhD.
• Social Determinants of Health Pedagogy Medallion: Amanda Travis, DNP, Marie Gill, PhD
• Learning Science Medal: Amanda Travis, DNP
• Technology-Enabled Teaching Award: Amanda Travis, DNP
Pharmacy Dean Reginald Fry, PharmD, commended pharmacy faculty for demonstrating their commitment to teaching.
• Active Learning Course Redesign Certificate: Benjamin Duhart, PharmD
• Newly licensed faculty: Hunter Fly, PharmD, Thad McGinness, PharmD
• Interprofessional Education Medallion: Elizabeth Hall, PharmD.
• Social Determinants of Health Education Medal: Kelsey Frederick, PharmD.
Several students from the UT Health Sciences Center were also recognized for their achievements. In the Future Educators Academy, which helps graduate students and residents become effective educators in academic settings, many students finished the year with outstanding accomplishments.
Among them was Alaina Grissom, a student in the Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences program, who was the first student to earn six TLC medals. Emily Genewin, a doctoral student in nursing practice, also earned six medals. Both students will receive a certificate on their transcripts.
Dr. Donald Thomason, dean of the Graduate School of Health Sciences, and Dr. Charlene McNeill, dean of the School of Nursing, presented the medals to the following graduate and professional students who earned one or more medals:
• Biomedical Sciences: Elizabeth Schneider
• Doctor of Nursing Practice: Rachel Barber
• Speech and hearing sciences: Olivia Hecker Diehl, Tanjida Zaman, Kate Reagan
“Our Teaching and Learning Center provides incredible support to our faculty,” said Dr. Russell. “I am inspired and grateful for the innovative ideas they continually generate. I commend these faculty for contributing their time, energy and creativity to our various certificate and medal programs, and I applaud the passion, knowledge and compassion they bring to the College.”