Romrell named UF College of Medicine’s Basic Science Teacher of the Year

Lynn Romrell, a professor of anatomy and cell biology at the University of Florida College of Medicine, has been selected by the medical students as Basic Science Teacher of the Year for 1999-2000.

This marks the third time he has received this high honor.

Romrell, who also is associate dean for medical education, teaches gross anatomy to first- and fourth-year medical students. With 29 years of experience in the field of teaching, he says that teaching is the most rewarding thing he does in his daily life.

“Nothing has the immediate reward of teaching a student and seeing them get excited about the subject area you teach and then watching them grow to love your subject area just like you do,” Romrell said. “I don’t need to wait to see what the evaluations are at the end of the course, I know as soon as I share something that excites them. They show their appreciation by getting excited about the subject area.”

Romrell said the most rewarding part of teaching is seeing the success of his students through medical school and their career. Through his senior elective course, he is able to see his students mature as they progress through medical school.

“When I am teaching the senior elective I can go in and talk with them at a very advanced level about what they are learning,” he said. “And not only can I share information I know, but I learn from them because they bring back things that they learned clinically.”

Romrell, who joined the UF faculty in 1975, is an eight-time co-recipient of the Golden Apple Award for Outstanding Basic Science Course and has been recognized by the UF American Medical Women’s Association with the Gender Equity Award for promoting a fair environment for the education and training of women physicians. He currently directs the Anatomical Board of the State of Florida and the College of Medicine Education Center. He also serves as a representative on the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam Step 1 Anatomy Test Committee for the National Board of Medical Examiners.