Faculty Recognized for Outstanding Teaching

Medical students and leadership at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix recognized the hard work and dedication of faculty through a virtual awards ceremony video. The video celebrated the commitment of faculty in teaching the next generation of physicians during the 2019-2020 academic year.

The awards ceremony, which typically takes place in-person, was forced to be hosted online due to the coronavirus pandemic. Awards were chosen by each class of students on the downtown Phoenix campus under criteria set by the medical school.

Watch the Awards Ceremony

“The College of Medicine – Phoenix is student-centric; we encourage students to be actively engaged in their learning, and we value their input,” Steven Lieberman, MD, senior associate dean of Academic Affairs said. “Each year, students select faculty and housestaff who demonstrate excellence in teaching, serve as an exemplary role model and go above and beyond in supporting their education.”

The Stuart D. Flynn, MD, Master Educator teaching excellence award, which recognizes extraordinary accomplishments in all aspects of education over all four years of medical school, was given to Maricela Moffitt, MD, MPH. Dr. Moffitt is director of the Doctoring Course. This is her fourth time receiving the award, which was given by fourth-year medical students from the Class of 2020.

Students from the Class of 2020 also nominated Robert Raschke, MD, director of the Critical Care Selective, for the Excellence in Clinical Teaching on an Elective or Selective award. This honor is given to a director of a fourth-year elective who inspires and trains individuals to become exemplary physicians.

“Dr. Raschke was extremely supportive throughout this rotation,” a Class of 2020 student said. “His knowledge of critical care management and physiology was incredible, and he was a fantastic teacher. He went above and beyond in addressing ethical issues and the art of medicine — two components of critical care that are essential and so important in that setting.”

The Class of 2020 awarded outstanding teaching honors to house officers of the clerkship areas. Those named in the video were as follows:

• Family Medicine: Hillary Tamar, MD, U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix.
• Internal Medicine: Venkat Subramaniam, MD, Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
• Pediatrics: Aaron Silver, MD, Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
• Psychiatry: Michael Stoddard, MD, Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix.
• Surgery: Eric Petersen, MD, Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix.
• Sub-Internship: Natalie Hale, MD, Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

Third-year medical students from the Class of 2021 awarded the Excellence in Teaching by a Clerkship to the Surgery Clerkship, which is directed by Natasha Keric, MD. The award recognizes superior teaching and professionalism across the sites that support students.

“Dr. Keric was extremely organized and enthusiastic throughout this rotation,” a Class of 2021 student said. “She truly made an attempt to connect to every student, whether they intended to do surgery or not. She made this clerkship into an awesome experience.”

Students from the Class of 2021 awarded outstanding teaching honors to house officers of the clerkship areas. Those named in the video were as follows:

• Family Medicine: Corey Steinberg, MD, Mountain Park Health.
• Internal Medicine: Mohamed Abdelhabib, MD, Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix.
• OB/GYN: Elizabeth Harper Juanillo, MD, Valleywise Medical Center.
• Pediatrics: Yahya Nomaan, DO, Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
• Psychiatry: David Koven, MD, Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix and Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
• Surgery: Robert Maher, MD, Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix.
• Neurology: Daniel Gonzalez, MD, Barrow Neurological Institute.

Second-year students from the Class of 2022 selected Brenda Shinar, MD, for the Educator of the Year award. Dr. Shinar is director of Transitions and a clinical professor in the Division of Hospital Medicine. The award is given to a faculty member who has positively impacted the growth of medical students.

“She (Dr. Shinar) dedicated herself to making Transitions the best possible experience for us that will prepare us to be better clinicians,” a Class of 2022 student said. “She took time to get to know each of us individually when Transitions became a virtual experience in which she wouldn't be able to see us in-person. She worked quickly to adapt the curriculum in the unprecedented circumstances, and was responsive to student feedback as to how to make the course as engaging as possible.”

There was a tie between the oncology block and the community clinical experience for the honor of Excellence in Teaching by a Block or Course, given by the Class of 2022. The award was presented to Neha Dahiya, MD, and Kelly Luba, DO. This award recognizes the block or course that inspires students of all abilities to extraordinary achievement.

First-year medical students from the Class of 2023, selected Mark Fischione, MD, an associate professor of Pathology, with the Educator of the Year award. This honor is given to an educator for their communication with students, organization, enthusiasm and exemplary professionalism.

“Dr. Fischione is such a wonderful human who does an amazing job of keeping us learning and reviewing what we know,” a Class of 2023 student said. “He is truly an amazing professor and I feel we are all blessed to have him.”