UF honors faculty and students during Medical Education Week; society inducts new teaching scholars

Outstanding University of Florida College of Medicine faculty and students were honored May 16 during a banquet, held as part of the college’s first Medical Education Week.

Lynn Romrell, associate dean of medical education and a professor of anatomy and cell biology, and Dr. Elisa Zenni, a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics, were inducted as the two new members of the Society of Teaching Scholars. Romrell and Zenni join the eight charter members who were named last year.

The society is designed to acknowledge and reward faculty for leadership, innovation and excellence in teaching. Romrell and Zenni were selected by society members based on the teaching portfolios they submitted. UF is one of only a handful of medical schools that have established such a program.

The new members received a medallion, lapel pin and $5,000. They also are eligible to receive $2,000 a year to support educational activities.

The society also named its first honorary members: Dr. Robert Watson, senior associate dean of educational affairs, and Sheila Chauvin of Tulane University School of Medicine. Chauvin, who pioneered the creation of a Society of Teaching Scholars, presented the keynote address at the banquet.

Medical Education Week offered a variety of presentations on topics such as residents as teachers, building an academic career and funding medical education, evaluation of instruction, as well as faculty and medical student educational presentations.

Students, residents and basic science educators were recognized at the banquet, as well as course directors and members of the various education-related offices. Winners of the education-focused research competition also were announced at the banquet.

Class of 2001 student Cindy Brooks, won the student poster competition for her research on picture archive and communication systems to supplement medical education. Erin Dunbar, also Class of 2001, and second-year medical student Carroll Browd received the runner-up award for their efforts. Zenni won the faculty poster competition for her analysis of teaching pediatric residents in the community.

Ravi Bissessar, Class of 2001, won the computer-based competition for his research on how to best teach information about the autonomic nervous system. Second-year medical student Michele Lossius received the runner-up award. Dr. Scott Klioze, an assistant professor of radiology, won the faculty computer-based competition for his presentation “History and technology – a patient education video project.”

Second-year medical student Emily Weber won the student oral presentation competition for her project “Money, morals and medicine: untying the knot,” and Mary Ann Burg, an associate professor of community health and family medicine, won in the faculty division for her reflections on piloting an interdisciplinary course for medical, nursing and pharmacy students.