“It’s exciting to have so many of our amazing educators come together and be recognized for the time and effort they devote to giving their students and future health care providers at UT Health Science Center a top-notch education,” Tom Laughner, PhD, director of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s Teaching and Learning Center (TLC), said at the recent Annual Celebration of Teaching Excellence.
For the third consecutive year, Cindy Russell, PhD, vice chancellor of Academic, Faculty, and Student Affairs, along with the college deans, recognized faculty and graduate students who have received certificates and medallions over the course of the past year. The winners of three teaching awards were announced and the medals for the 2024 TLC Summer Olympics awarded.
“One of the core pillars in the UT Health Science Center’s Strategic Plan is educational excellence,” Dr. Russell said. “Our goal is to provide quality educational experiences to highly qualified students who represent Tennessee. Our faculty members inspire countless students through their innovative teaching methods and unwavering support. We take immense pride in their exceptional dedication and commitment to teaching, ensuring the academic and personal growth of their students.”
Recipients of the TLC Teaching Awards show evidence of a commitment to thoughtful, deliberate, and innovative teaching. By honoring outstanding achievement in inclusive teaching, active learning strategies, and the scholarship of teaching and learning, UT Health Science Center fosters an environment that values teaching efforts. “We celebrate these outstanding faculty, who have invested time, energy, and their creative talents across various certificate and medallion programs, and the passion, knowledge, and care they bring to our university,” Dr. Russell said.
The Active Learning Teaching Award recognized efforts in implementing active learning strategies to enhance student engagement in the learning process. The recipient of the award was Mitchell Goldman, MD, College of Medicine. “It’s just what I do,” he said, accepting the award.
The Inclusive Teaching Award recognized efforts to create an inclusive and equitable learning environment for all students. This year’s recipient of the award was Sarka Beranova, PhD, College of Pharmacy. “In the College of Pharmacy, we have a close-knit group, which enables me to strive for excellence,” Dr. Beranova said.
The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award is awarded for contributing the most outstanding paper or presentation related to teaching and learning. This year’s recipient was Dawn Havrda, PharmD, College of Pharmacy. “I appreciate the opportunity to work in such a fine institution with great people,” she said.
The winners of the TLC’s 2024 Summer Olympics , were also announced. This is a seven-week program in which faculty work with a coach on a specific aspect of their teaching to develop a product useful in the classroom setting.
Winners of the Developing a Microlecture event, all from the Department of Occupational Therapy in the College of Health Professions, were:
• Anne Zachry, PhD, (gold)
• Jennifer Henderson, OTD, (silver)
• Lauren Woods, PhD, (bronze)
The winners of the Academic Technology event were:
• Orli Weisser-Pike, OTD, (gold), College of Health Professions
• Nico Salazar, MD, (silver), College of Medicine
• April Hilsdon, MOT, (bronze), College of Health Professions
During the ceremony, faculty from each of UT Health Science Center’s colleges, who were awarded teaching and learning medallions or who had received a certificate over the course of the past year were recognized. The deans of each college presented the names of their respective faculty.
“We appreciate all you do, it shows dedication,” said Nicholas Verne, MD, interim executive dean of the College of Medicine. “Teaching and learning for our students and residents is so important, and we appreciate all your efforts in this great achievement.” The faculty from the College of Medicine recognized for receiving certificates were:
• Active Learning Course Redesign Certificate: Pallavi Khanna, MD
• Clinical Educator Certificate: Evan Ward, DHSc, Kristen Bettin, MD, Jacob Edwards, Daniel Galvez, MD, Devin Gillaspie, MD, Ranjit Philip, MD, Maggie Vickers, MD, Kathleen Zani, MD, and Beenish Zulfiqar, MD
• Faculty New to Teaching Certificate: Anna Bukiya, PhD, Nicolas Chiriboga, MD, Nilmini Viswaprakash, PhD, Angela Mallard, PhD, Brendan Tunstall, PhD, and Laxmichaya Sawant, MD
• Craft of Teaching Medallion: Kavitha Raghavan, MD
Mark Anderson, DDS, interim associate dean for the College of Dentistry, presented dentistry faculty medallion winners. “We are very grateful for the dedication and knowledge of our faculty,” Dr. Anderson said. The faculty from the college of dentistry recognized for obtaining certificates were:
• Active Learning Course Redesign Certificate: Angela Haynes, DHA, and Danita Adams, RDH
• Simulation Medallion: Michelle Miles, DHA, and Kiesha Werlitz, EdD
• Clinical Educator Certificate: Anmol Brar, Teresa O’Daniel, RDH, Mandy Simpson, RDH, Katherine DeColibus, DDS, Simran Flagg, RDH, and Shane Rasner, DDS
Stephen Alway, PhD, dean of the College of Health Professions, recognized faculty from the college for obtaining medallions and certificates. “Education is the engine that drives our college,” he said. “You, the faculty, have set great examples for your colleagues. I can’t wait to see how you will impact our students and our college.”
• Active Learning Course Redesign Certificate: Anne Zachry, PhD, Lauren Woods, PhD, and LaToya Green, DPT
• Faculty New to Teaching Certificate: Samantha Etters, MS
• Art of Teaching Medallion: Pamela Lewis-Kipkulei, PhD
• Assessment Medallion: Rebecca Reynolds, EdD
• Course Design Medallion: Rebecca Reynolds, EdD
• Craft of Teaching Medallion: Faith Kiphut, DPT, Myra Meekins, DPT, Orli Weisser-Pike, OTD and Cody Whitefoot, PhD
• Expert Educator Medallion: Rebecca Reynolds, EdD
• Paradigms of Education Medallion: Anne Zachry, PhD
• Paradigms of Education Medallion: Lauren Woods, PhD
• Teaching with Technology Medallion: Lauren Woods, PhD, and Pamela Lewis-Kipkulei, PhD
Faculty from the College of Nursing were announced by Charleen McNeill, PhD, executive associate dean foe Academic Affairs. “Everyone’s achievements are outstanding,” she said. The holders of the medallions and certificates were:
• Active Learning Course Redesign Certificate: Alexia Williams, PhD
• Clinical Educator Certificate: Meghan Madea, Leslie Rhodes, DNP
• Faculty New to Teaching Certificate: Louise Manasco, MSN, Rhonda Johnson, DNP, and Ja’Quay Brister, DNP
• Art of Teaching Medallion: Amanda Travis, DNP
• Craft of Teaching Medallion: Shelley Miller, DNP, and Keesha Roach, PhD
• Inclusive Learning Medallion: Kimberly Kennel, PhD and Amanda Travis, DNP
• Information Literacy Medallion: Carrie Harvey, PhD
• Interprofessional Education Medallion: Michelle Rickard, DNP
• Mentoring Medallion: Alise Farrell, PhD, Amanda Travis, DNP and Janet Tucker, PhD
• Pedagogy of the Social Determinants of Health Medallion: Amanda Travis, DNP and Marie Gill, PhD
• Science of Learning Medallion: Amanda Travis, DNP
• Teaching with Technology Medallion: Amanda Travis, DNP
Reginald Frye, PharmD, PhD, dean of the College of Pharmacy, applauded pharmacy faculty who demonstrated their commitment to teaching:
• Active Learning Course Redesign Certificate: Benjamin Duhart, PharmD
• Faculty New to Teaching Certificate: Hunter Fly, PharmD and Thad McGiness, PharmD
• Interprofessional Education Medallion: Elizabeth Hall, PharmD
• Pedagogy of the Social Determinants of Health Medallion: Kelsey Frederick, PharmD
“Our faculty members inspire countless students through their innovative teaching methods and unwavering support.”
Cindy Russell, PhD
Several UT Health Science Center students were also recognized for their accomplishments. The Future Educators Academy, which supports graduate students and residents to help them become effective educators in academic settings, saw many students complete the year with outstanding accomplishments.
Among them was Alaina Grissom, in the Speech and Hearing Science program, who was the first student to complete six of the TLC’s medallions. Emily Jennewine, Doctor of Nursing Practice student, also completed six medallions. Both students will receive a notation on their transcript indicating their certification.
Donald Thomason, PhD, Dean of the College of Graduate Health Sciences and Charleen McNeill, PhD, College of Nursing, presented the following graduate and professional students who completed one or more medallions:
• Biomedical Sciences: Elizabeth Schneider
• Doctor of Nursing Practice: Rachel Barber
• Speech and Hearing Science: Olivia Hecker-Deel, Tanzida Zaman, and Kait Reagan
“Our Teaching and Learning Center provides such outstanding support to our faculty,” Dr. Russell said. “I am inspired by and thankful for the fresh ideas they continually bring forward. As we recognize these faculty, who have invested time, energy, and their creative talents across various certificate and medallion programs, we celebrate the passion, knowledge, and care they bring to our university.”