EVERS SOCIETY HONORS TEACHING EXCELLENCE AT MEDICAL CENTER

Recurring themes quickly became evident while the top teaching honors were announced during the 11th annual Carl G. Evers, MD, Society banquet April 12 in the Norman C. Nelson Student Union.

Not only were all three recipients of the Basic Science Professor of the Year Award, the Resident of the Year Award and the Clinical Science Professor of the Year Award described as dedicated, compassionate and knowledgeable, but they all had received All-Star recognition in their respective categories at the 2006 Evers ceremony.

Dr. William P. Daley, assistant professor of pathology, received the Basic Science Professor of the Year Award. What sets Daley apart from other faculty, according to Nathan Shefveland, M3, is his “interest in improving things for students.”

“I have had the opportunity to meet with him and to talk with him on different occasions,” Shefveland said. “He is always interested in finding out what we thought worked and what we thought didn’t work and what could be done to make it (communication between faculty and students) better.”

Dr. Jon D. Simmons, a house officer in surgery, received the Resident of the Year Award for being “a great all-around guy who in every instance has become a friend and an ally to the students,” according to Zheng Zhu, M4.

 “His dedication to his profession is infectious,” she said. “He has taught me to truly respect surgery and what surgeons do.”

The Clinical Science Professor of the Year Award went to Dr. Jeffrey D. Crout, associate professor of pediatrics, for embodying “what it means to be a physician and a teacher,” according to Corey Coleman, M3.

“He willingly doles out his vast knowledge and experience,” Coleman said. “I hope one day I can achieve a fraction of the compassion and knowledge this physician displays on a daily basis.”

Established in 1996, the Evers Society fosters communication between faculty and students by formally recognizing excellence in teaching.

“Tonight we celebrate education at its best and the teachers and professors who have contributed to the success of the medical students throughout the state,” said Sarah Abston, M3 and vice president of the Evers Society.

For the second year in a row, Dr. N. Anthony Moore, professor of anatomy, received a Basic Science All-Star Award. Molly McVey, M1, said Moore was special to the M1 class.

“He was so generous to the class; his door was always open,” she said. “He was always in the lab with a herd of students hovering over him trying to find out exactly what he was going to do.”

Carter Payne, M3, presented a Basic of Science All-Star Award to Dr. James C. Lynch, professor of anatomy, for challenging medical students to be physicians who are “caretakers of the heart.”

“It is rare to encounter souls who transform the mind as well as the heart,” Payne said. “He is truly one of the professors at UMC who made me realize why God has placed me in medical school.”

Dr. Kimberly A. Donnellan, house office in otolaryngology and communicative science, received a Resident All-Star Award for epitomizing “what you want as a resident,” according to Jay Young, M4.

“(She) is extremely well-respected by faculty, ancillary staff, patients and students,” Young said. “She always has a great attitude, she always has a smile on her face and she is always ready to help in any way she can. The advice she has given throughout the year has been instrumental.”

Brent Hardin, M3, presented a Resident All-Star Award to Dr. Steven G. Koopman, house officer in surgery, for being “highly respected and well regarded.”

“His medical colleagues call him the ‘Super-intern,’” Hardin said. “Fellow residents regard him as a true friend and always willing to help. Faculty called him the hardest-working fourth-year medical student they had every seen.”

Dr. J. Brad Ingram, house officer in pediatrics, received a Resident All-Star Award for immediately taking medical students under his wing and “guiding us through the world,” said Payne.

“He is a skilled clinician and an overall amazing pediatrician,” she said. “He carries a passion for pediatrics that allows him to care for a patient’s whole family in a passionate way.”

Dr. Thais Tonore, assistant professor of medicine, received a Clinical Science All-Star Award for being “a perfect example of all we seek to honor . . . and all that we as physicians aspire to be,” according to David Norris, N4.

“Her passion for medical education has made her one of our beloved preclinical-clinical educators,” Norris said. “This is the doctor I want to be when I finally grow up.” 

Dr. N. Saleem Islam received his second consecutive Clinical Science All Star Award in absentia.               

The Department of Pathology received the Basic Science Department of the Year Award. Christy Walters, M2, said the department “has done the most to prepare us as physicians.”

“They were always willing to talk about our questions, accept our mistakes and listen to our arguments,” Walters said. “This department has meant a lot to my class through the things it has done to help us ultimately learn outside of lectures.”

Adam Adcock, M3, presented the Clinical Science Department of the Year Award to the Department of Pediatrics for maintaining an “open-door policy.”

“Students say they can always go in and ask questions,” Adcock said. “On a daily basis I got to experience the joy these residents and physicians have in getting to see their patients. The joy they have doing what they’ve always wanted to do – treat patients – has taught us how to honor and treat our patients.”

Members of the Evers Society Hall of Fame – faculty who have received so many Evers awards that their names have been “retired” from nomination – also were recognized at the banquet. They include Dr. Bernard J. Dreiling, professor of medicine; Dr. John C. Kermode, professor of pharmacology and toxicology; Dr. Anna A. Lerant, associate professor of anesthesiology; Dr. R. Davis Manning, professor of physiology and biophysics; Dr. John P. Naftel, professor of anatomy; and Dr. Louis B. Yerger, Jr., former associate professor of orthopedic surgery.

— Bruce Coleman(4-23-07)

2007-04-19 00:00:00 16831