Evers Society Honors Medical Teaching Excellence

Dr. Paul May’s innovation in teaching and his attention to detail won the admiration of medical students and earned him the Basic Science Professor of the Year award at the 10th annual Carl G. Evers, M.D., Society banquet.

“Who can forget his colorful personality and colorful ties?” said Crystal Berry, a second-year medical student, during her introduction of May’s award. “When he laughed, we all laughed.”

A professor of anatomy and 19-year faculty member, May said this was the first time he received the honor and appreciates the recognition.

“The love of teaching students is what we’re all about. They care about you, and you should care about them. This is just a symbol of that,” he said after receiving the plaque.

Students, residents and professors gathered April 24 at the Norman C. Nelson Student Union for dinner and the awards ceremony. Established in 1996, the Evers Society fosters communication between faculty and students by formally recognizing excellence in teaching.

Some professors have been recognized so often that their names are retired from nomination, and they are inducted into the Evers Society Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame members include Dr. John Kermode, associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology; Dr. Anna Lerant, assistant professor of anesthesiology; Dr. Davis Manning, professor of physiology and biophysics; Dr. John Naftel, professor of anatomy; Dr. Bernard Dreiling, professor of medicine; and Dr. Louis B. Yerger, Jr., associate professor of orthopedic surgery and rehabilitation.

For the second consecutive year, Dr. Jimmy Stewart, an assistant professor of medicine, received the Clinician of the Year award because of his obvious “love of patients, students and teaching,” said Kevin Keeton, a fourth-year medical student. Stewart said this award is as much of a surprise and honor as the first one.

“Patient care is very good. Research is a part of what we do, but teaching is really why we’re here,” he said.

Another top honoree was Dr. Amy Blossom, a second-year ob-gyn resident who won Resident of the Year.

Third-year medical student Abumere Akinwale said her ob-gyn rotation cemented her decision not to specialize in that area of medicine; however, Blossom’s teaching skills impressed her, whether Blossom was counseling a 13-year-old girl about sexually transmitted diseases or comforting an 80-year-old woman with ovarian cancer.

Blossom said she had no idea the students were considering her for the award. “I am very surprised and honored,” she said.

The Department of Internal Medicine won the Clinical Science Department of the Year and the Department of Physiology won the Basic Science Department of the Year.

Other awards presented at the banquet were the Basic Science, Resident and Clinical Science All-stars. The Basic Science All-stars were Dr. William Daley, assistant professor of pathology; Dr. John Hall, Arthur C. Guyton Professor and chair of physiology and biophysics; and Dr. Anthony Moore, professor of anatomy.

Resident All-stars were Dr. Paul McCluskey, surgical resident; Dr. Eric Stupka, medical resident; and Dr. Jon Simmons, surgical resident.

Clinical Science All-stars were Dr. William Sorey, associate professor of pediatrics; Dr. Jeffrey Crout, assistant professor of pediatrics; and Dr. Saleem Islam, assistant professor of surgery.

—    Patrice Sawyer Guilfoyle (5-1-06)

2006-04-27 00:00:00 2893