This story was originally posted on Center Times Plus on November 5, 2018.

Moments of inspired teaching, thoughtful educational strategy, and grateful student accolades punctuated UT Southwestern’s Excellence in Education Awards ceremony showcasing the educational leg of UT Southwestern’s mission.

“From the time UT Southwestern was a row of Quonset huts, we have been dedicated to the highest quality in health care, scientific research, and education. The Excellence in Education Awards recognize and applaud the dedication and passion of the very best teachers on our campus,” said Dr. Dorothy Sendelbach, Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Medical Education, Professor of Pediatrics, and President of the UT Southwestern Academy of Teachers (SWAT). “UT Southwestern relies on its creativity and energy to maintain our well-deserved reputation as a superb institution of learning. It is a pleasure to have the opportunity to honor and thank the awardees at this ceremony.”

Dr. Sendelbach and Dr. James de Lemos, Professor of Internal Medicine, received 2018 Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Awards.

More than 30 educators from across UT Southwestern’s Medical School, Graduate School, and School of Health Professions were recognized for their inspirational teaching skills and methods, including Dr. Gary Iwamoto and Dr. Celia Jenkins, who were honored with Distinguished Educator Awards. Dr. Iwamoto, Professor of Cell Biology, was also recognized with the Katherine Howe Muntz Award.

Dr. Gary Iwamoto (left) receives the SWAT Distinguished Educator Award for Biomedical Science from Dr. Dwain Thiele.

Dr. Celia Jenkins (right) receives the SWAT Distinguished Educator Award for Clinical Education from Dr. Dwain Thiele.

“It is my privilege to serve in a role that allows me to explore the data on teaching on this campus,” said Dr. James Wagner, Chair of the SWAT Teaching Evaluation and Recognition Committee, Professor of Internal Medicine, and Associate Dean for LCME Accreditation and Educational Outcomes. “We look at use of learning objectives, construction of testing items, student performance on tests on taught concepts, as well as student evaluations of lectures. What our committee finds is the cream of the crop, so we can recognize them and hope they pass their expertise along to others, so all educator boats can be raised.”

The annual recognition ceremonies are sponsored by the Southwestern Academy of Teachers, a group of elite UTSW educators who strive to provide an academic and organizational environment that fosters excellence in teaching at all levels, rewards superb teachers, stimulates innovation in education, and promotes scholarship in education. 

The SWAT Outstanding Educator Awards

Graduate School

• Dr. Jennifer J. Kohler, Associate Professor of Biochemistry
• Dr. Richard C. Robinson, Associate Professor of Psychiatry

Health Professions

• Dr. Beth K. Deschene, Associate Professor

Medical School, Biomedical Science Educator

• Dr. Bret Evers, Assistant Professor of Pathology 

Medical School, Clinical Educator

• Dr. Kathie Trello-Rishell, Associate Professor of Psychiatry

The SWAT Distinguished Educator Awards

Biomedical Science Educator

• Dr. Gary Iwamoto, Professor of Cell Biology

Clinical Educator

• Dr. Celia Jenkins, Professor of Psychiatry

2018 Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Awards Recognition

• Dr. Dorothy Sendelbach, Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Medical Education, Professor of Pediatrics
• Dr. James de Lemos, Professor of Internal Medicine

2018 Small Grants Recipients

• Dr. James Cutrell, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, “SPICE-ID: Use of Spaced Interval Curriculum for Education in Infectious Diseases”  
• Dr. Elizabeth Heitman, Professor of Psychiatry, and Dr. Stuart Ravnik, Associate Dean of the UT Southwestern Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Assistant Professor of Cell Biology, “Design and Evaluation of a Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Course for Postdoctoral Fellows in Laboratory Research”  
• Dr. Lindsey Jackson, OB/GYN Resident, “Anal Sphincter Laceration Model vs. Educational Video: Is There a Difference in Resident Education and Performance?”  
• Dr. Shan Renee Luong, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, and Dr. Jaini Sutaria, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, “Incorporating Standardized Simulation-Based Teaching and Evaluation of Entrustable Professional Activities in Internal Medicine Sub-Internship”  
• Dr. Janine Prange-Kiel, Associate Professor of Cell Biology, “Effects of ‘The Origami Embryo,’ a Hands-on Exercise, on the Understanding of Early Embryonic Development”  
• Dr. Karuna M. Raj, Assistant Professor of Radiology, “The Image of Radiology: Increasing Knowledge and Confidence of Appropriate Imaging Utilization in the Fourth Year of Medical School Through Interactive Web-Based Modules”  
• Susan Rodder, Assistant Professor of Clinical Nutrition, “Teaching of Recommended Dietary Patterns to Reduce Cardiac Risk to First-Year Medical Students”  
• Dr. Caitlin Siropaides, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, and Dr. Dheepa Sekar, third-year resident in Internal Medicine, “Adapting VitalTalk for Residents: A Longitudinal Resident Curriculum to Improve Communication Skills in Conducting Late Goals of Care Discussions”  
• Dr. Animesh (Aashoo) Tandon, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Radiology, “Using Virtual Reality in Cardiac Anatomy Education”

Elected to UT Kenneth I. Shine, M.D., Academy of Health Science Education in 2018

• Dr. Kimberly Hoggatt Krumwiede, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs – School of Health Professions

• Dr. Mary Jane Pearson, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology

• Dr. Craig D. Rubin, Professor of Internal Medicine, Chief of the Division of Geriatric Medicine 

Inducted as SWAT Members

• Dr. Michael C. Morriss, Professor of Radiology

• Dr. Joyce J. Repa, Associate Professor of Physiology and Internal Medicine

• Dr. Kathie Trello-Rishel, Associate Professor of Psychiatry

• Dr. William W. Turner Jr., Professor of Surgery

• Dr. Alisa J. Winkler, Associate Professor of Cell Biology 

Class of 2021 Pre-Clerkship Teaching Awards

Class of 2020 MS2 Teaching Awards

2019 OME/SWAT Fellows

• Dr. Adriane M. dela Cruz, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry  

  Project: Neuroscience in Frontiers in Medicine and Brain and Behavior Courses  

   

• Dr. Karuna M. Raj, Assistant Professor of Radiology  

  Project: Online Radiology Modules for Residency Essentials Course 

Katherine Howe Muntz Award

• Dr. Gary Iwamoto,  Professor of Cell