VCU news

By Serwa Lee
University News Services

Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Medicine recently presented this year’s highest faculty honors for teaching and mentoring excellence.

Suzanne E. Barbour, Ph.D., associate professor in the departments of immunology, biochemistry and microbiology received the top honor -- the Faculty Teaching Excellence Award. The award recognizes extraordinary accomplishments in all aspects of education.

"Suzanne is making outstanding contributions to the development of 21st century biomedical scientists to the community at large," said Sarah Spiegel, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Biochemistry. "She has demonstrated that she is a gifted teacher truly committed to the next generation of scientists, medical doctors and other health professionals."

Robert Adler, M.D., clinical instructor and professor in endocrinology and preventive medicine, received the Irby-James Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching, which recognizes superior teaching in clinical medicine taught in the last two years of medical school and residency training.

“One of the things that makes Dr. Adler a great teacher is that he is an enthusiastic student,” said Lisa A. Aurand, M.D., endocrinology fellow. “He is constantly developing new research projects and is active in furthering medical knowledge through investigation and motivates others to do the same.”

The award for Distinguished Mentor went to George Leichnetz, Ph.D., graduate program director in anatomy. The award recognizes significant contributions to the career development of others — mentorship to faculty, junior faculty residents, fellows, medical students or other mentoring relationships.

"For each graduate student, Dr. Leichnetz has an individual mentor strategy based on the student's background and research interests as well as their ability," said Jiepei Zhu, M.D., Ph.D., former graduate student in anatomy and neurobiology assistant professor in the Department of Anesthesiology. "He has always tried to give every student the best opportunity and he hopes that every student obtains their greatest achievement.”

Edward Ishac, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, received the Educational Innovation Award, which recognizes instructors who incorporate modern technology into their teaching.

"What makes Eddy really a cut above all the other talented teachers is his ability to employ his considerable talent with computers and computer systems toward making his teaching even more effective," said Scientific Director George Kunos, M.D., Ph.D.

Although this is Ishac's first Educational Innovation Award, he already has won several Professor of the Year awards in his department.

More than 100 additional faculty members received awards. Eight were awarded for Outstanding Departmental Teacher in Health-Sciences Education; 43 received awards for “best teacher” and 60 were awarded for Faculty with High Evaluation.

Winners were chosen from among 1,100 faculty members in the School of Medicine and the McGuire Veteran Affairs Medical Center.

This is the sixth year the medical school has presented the awards.