School of Medicine faculty honored with education awards

During the School of Medicine’s annual Curriculum Colloquium in February, faculty members were honored for outstanding contributions to medical education.

The following are the winners of this year’s teaching awards:

Distinguished Service in Medical Education Award, the highest honor in medical education given by the Pitt School of Medicine, recognizes high educational achievement, significant administrative responsibilities, and dissemination of scholarship over many years: Melissa A. McNeil, medicine.

Kenneth E. Schuit Dean’s Master Educator Award, recognizing basic science and clinical faculty for education-related contributions to the School of Medicine curriculum: 

  • Bill Yates, otolaryngology

  • Peggy Hasley, medicine

Sheldon Adler Award for Innovation in Medical Education, recognizing individual achievement in innovation in medical education: Amar Kohli, medicine.

Donald S. Fraley Award for Medical Student Mentoring, recognizing individuals for their service as mentors to medical students: Allison Serra, obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences.

Clerkship Preceptor of the Year Award, recognizing faculty clinical preceptors who consistently provide outstanding clinical instruction in the clerkship setting for Pitt medical students: 

  • Daniel Bender, psychiatry

  • Sylvia Choi, pediatrics

  • Eric Hager, surgery

  • Laurie Knepper, neurology

  • Stefan Scholtz, surgery

  • Allison Serra, obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences

  • Alfred Shoukry, medicine

  • Ibrahim Sultan, cardiothoracic surgery

  • Lauren Trembley, emergency medicine

  • Jonathan Yadlosky, family medicine

William I. Cohen Award for Excellence in Clinical Skills Instruction, recognizing faculty who consistently provide outstanding clinical skills instruction:

  • Brianna Rossiter, medicine

  • Antoine Douaihy, psychiatry

Award for Excellence in Clinical Precepting, recognizing clinical preceptors who consistently provide outstanding clinical instruction in a community setting for Pitt medical students: 

  • Ali McGregor, obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences

  • Andrew Leuenberger, family medicine

Clinical Educator of the Year Award, recognizing individuals for their service as mentors to medical students in elective courses: 

  • Melissa A. McNeil, medicine

  • Neeta Shenai, psychiatry

  • Carl Furhman, emergency medicine

Award for Outstanding Professional Enrichment Course, recognizing faculty who volunteer their expertise to present a professional enrichment course for first- and second-year students: 

  • Raymond Sekula and Michael McDowell, neurosurgery

  • Evan Waxman, ophthalmology

  • Kristen Eckstrand and Morgan Faeder, psychiatry

  • Suzanne Templer and Eloho Ufomata, medicine

Social Justice Education Award, recognizing faculty who have demonstrated excellence in teaching social justice: 

  • Andrew McCormick, pediatrics

  • Thuy Bui, medicine

Outstanding Early Career Educator Award, honoring faculty who teach in clinical elective courses: John Szymusiak, pediatrics.

Excellence in Education Awards, chosen by the Class of 2022 for valued contributions and dedication to teaching of the organ systems:

  • Jenifer Lee, medicine, for course director;

  • Bill Yates, otolaryngology, for lecturer

  • Michael Mathier, medicine, for small-group facilitators

Excellence in Education Awards, chosen by the Class of 2023 for valued contributions and dedication to teaching of the basic sciences and organ systems:

  • Jack Schumann, neurobiology, for course director

  • Jack Schumann, neurobiology, for lecturer

  • Laura Lillien, neurobiology, for small-group facilitator