Graduating medical students select Ryerson for Hippocratic Award
For the fourth time, Gene G. Ryerson, M.D., has been chosen by graduating seniors from the University of Florida College of Medicine to receive the Hippocratic Award for teaching excellence.
The class of 2002 selected Ryerson as the faculty member who best represents the ideals of Hippocrates, the father of medicine, in compassionate patient care and inspirational teaching. The college's classes of 1983, 1986 and 1998 also chose him to receive this award-the highest honor bestowed by graduating seniors.
Ryerson, a professor of pulmonary medicine, holds a joint appointment at the Malcom Randall Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Gainesville. He joins Hugh �Smiley� Hill, M.D., retired associate dean for student and alumni affairs, as the only faculty members to receive the Hippocratic Award four times.
"Dr. Ryerson cares greatly for his patients and the students he teaches," said Timothy Jones, academic chair of the senior class. Jones presented the award May 2 at the Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute of UF.
"He takes complex medical concepts, breaks them down and makes them understandable," said Jones, describing Ryerson's teaching style.
"He's an amazing teacher," said Melissa Margo, another graduating medical student. "He really cares about his students."
Although this was Ryerson's fourth time winning the award, he was overcome with emotion.
"I am shocked and overwhelmed," he said, wiping tears from his eyes. "I didn't expect this at all."
Ryerson attended the ceremony to have his picture taken with other past recipients, not knowing he was the winner.
Since joining the UF faculty in 1979, Ryerson has received numerous teaching awards. He has been named teacher of the year eight times, and has won the Clinical Science Teaching Award six times and the Basic Science Teaching Award twice.
The Hippocratic Award, given annually, was established by the College of Medicine's class of 1969.
"Our class is very proud of this award, and the fact it has become the most prestigious honor bestowed by the graduating class," said Robert T. Watson, M.D., senior associate dean for educational affairs and a member of the award's founding class.
Watson, also a past winner of the Hippocratic Award, called Ryerson "an outstanding teacher."
Ryerson's wife of 32 years, Beverly, and one of his four sons, Britt, attended the ceremony.
Ryerson earned his bachelor's degree from Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pa., in 1967, and his medical degree from the New Jersey College of Medicine, Newark, N.J., in 1971. He came to UF's College of Medicine as a resident in 1973. After two years in the U.S. Air Force, he returned to UF in 1976 to complete a year as chief resident and instructor of medicine. He then received two years of special training as a pulmonary fellow.