Anatomy Takes Evers Society Teaching Award for Fifth Straight Year; Pharmacology, Medicine Get New Awards

Dr. James Hutchins, associate professor of anatomy, earned the Basic Science Professor of the Year award from the medical students after walking away with the same honor from the dental students last spring.

A member of the Department of Anatomy has taken the award every year since 1998: Dr. John Naftel in 1998, 1999 and 2000; and Dr. Anna Lerant in 2001.

The medical school teaching awards were announced at the annual Carl G. Evers Society banquet on April 2. The society, established in 1996 to foster communication between faculty and students by formally recognizing excellence in teaching, is made up of medical students.

Second-year student Amanda Moore, who took Hutchins' course in neuroanatomy last spring, described him as someone who "has earned our trust and respect." Medical students are constantly taught to establish relationships, she said. "That's the way he teaches, by establishing relationships. He bends over backwards for the students whose intentions may be better than their grades. He has the ability to see the big picture, and to see the relevance of what they're learning, not just what he's teaching. He can captivate and entertain an audience."

Hutchins praised the caliber of the students he teaches and the quality of teaching in his department. "I have to share this honor with my colleagues in the Department of Anatomy. They've set the standard," Hutchins said. "Being surrounded by great teaching pushes me to do better for the students. And I am blessed to work in an institution that values teaching."

Although Hutchins has been among the Basic Science All-star ranks twice, this was his first top award.

Dr. Dick Smith, associate professor of medicine (VA), took the top award as the Clinical Sciences Professor of the Year. Third-year student Richard Pittman said, "I heard about Dr. Smith from my very first year, but it took me a while to see for myself what former students were talking about. There are many teaching styles in medical school, and we can learn from all of them. But when the teacher really cares about his students--that's when we really learn. He's all about helping us learn."

Smith received the same honor in 1997 and 2001. In 1997, he said he had the best job in the university. "I'm in the enviable position of giving students what they want. They come here wanting to learn clinical medicine, and I can teach it to them."

The Resident of the Year Award, a category established last year, went to Dr. Paul McClusky, surgery resident. Third-year student Nikki Shoemake praised McClusky for his clinical skills, his willingness to take the time to teach students and his friendship. "He has all these things and then some," she said. She recalled her third day on surgery rotation when McClusky was operating. "I was feeling pretty useless" during a surgery on a small child in critical condition. "Afterward, everyone was feeling disappointed at the outcome. But he must have remembered what it was like to be a student in those circumstances, and he took that opportunity to tell me I had done good work."

In a new category this year, the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology took the honors as the Basic Science Department of the Year while the Department of Medicine shared the laurels as Clinical Science Department of the Year.

Jason McManus, second-year student, said pharmacology consistently and efficiently delivers what students need. "They put students first."

Josh Phillips, fourth-year student, said medicine excells at "patient care and student care."

Dr. Joanne Olson, director of institutional research, received a special award for her helpfulness to students in the Evers Society with their surveys and questionnaires. "She handles every request we make without hesitation," said Evers Society president Katie Fokakis.

Society members also honored Margaret Matijevich, education coordinator in the Department of Medicine, with a special award in "recognition of her dedication to helping medical students who are inherently helpless."

Other awards presented at the annual banquet included the Basic Science All-stars: Dr. Kay Allen, associate professor of pathology; Dr. John Kermode, associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology; Dr. Anna Lerant, assistant professor of anatomy; Dr. Roy Davis Manning, professor of physiology and biophysics; and Dr. Rob Rockhold, professor of pharmacology and toxicology.

Resident All-stars: Dr. Andy Dabbs, surgery; Dr. Karen Field, ob-gyn; Dr. Burton Pfeiffer, surgery; Dr. McLean Trotter, internal medicine; and Dr. Casey Woodring, ob-gyn.

Clinical Science All-stars were Dr. John Conforti, assistant professor of medicine; Dr. Sharon Douglas, assistant professor of medicine; Dr. Michael McMullan, assistant professor of medicine; Dr. John Norton, associate professor of psychiatry and human behavior; and Dr. Allen Richert, assistant professor of psychiatry and human behavior.

Photos of the all-stars will appear in the next issue of This Week at UMC.

–Janis Quinn (4/15/02)

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