School of Medicine faculty recognize their own

By Leila Ugincius

The VCU School of Medicine presented its ninth annual Faculty Excellence Awards at an Oct. 9 ceremony and reception. 

"We are first and foremost an educational institution," said Jerome F. Strauss, M.D., dean of the School of Medicine. "Nothing gives me greater pride than to preside over this celebration of teaching excellence."

Leslie S. Satin, Ph.D., received the school's highest teaching recognition — the Faculty Teaching Excellence Award, which honors extraordinary accomplishments in all aspects of education. Colleagues praise Satin, professor of pharmacology and toxicology, for his genuine passion for teaching.

"He is the best in his ability to engage the students and impart critical skills needed for biomedical research," said Billy R. Martin, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology.

The Irby-James Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching was awarded to Stephanie A. Call, M.D., in recognition of superior teaching in clinical medicine taught in the last two years of medical school and residency training — an increasingly complicated and challenging environment.

Call, associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, conducts multiple workshops nationally and recently consulted at the Weill Cornell School of Medicine in Qatar.

"She has demonstrated her skills as a hands-on teacher, as a house staff program director who has revitalized our internal medicine training program with innovative thinking, and … has taken all these skills to the national level where she teaches others fundamental teaching skills," said David F. Gardner, M.D., professor of medicine.

The Distinguished Mentor Award recognizes significant contributions to the career development of others, including colleagues, residents, fellows and students. This year's recipient, James M. Messmer, M.D., a professor in the Department of Radiology and senior associate dean of medical education, is known as much for his warmth and style as his commitment and expertise.

"His humor acts as a bridge to mentees, making them smile and relax, and establishing a personal bond," said Elizabeth Waterhouse, M.D., assistant dean for medical education. "It is much easier to absorb words of wisdom, and much more pleasant, when they are punctuated with humor."

The Educational Innovation Award went to a team led by Leanne M. Yanni, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine. The award was given for a novel program they developed to educate current and future medical professionals, creating Web-based teaching on the assessment and management of chronic nonmalignant pain.

"In a world of information overload, someone who can take a crucial, but oft-neglected topic, render it comprehensible, and offer a ready path to mastery certainly deserves our recognition," said John Urbach, M.D., associate professor of psychiatry.

Members of Yanni's team are Sarah Harrington, M.D.; Betty Anne Johnson, M.D., Ph.D.; Michael Weaver, M.D., from the Department of Internal Medicine; Elizabeth Micalizzi, B.A., Office of the Vice President of Health Sciences; Laura Morgan, Pharm.D., School of Pharmacy; John Priestley, M.A., and Chris Stephens, M.S., from Educational Technology; Jeanne Schlesinger, M.Ed., Instructional Development; and Carl Wolf II, Ph.D., M.S., Pathology.

The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award was given to Gita V. Massey, M.D. Presented by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, this award underscores the value of humanism in the delivery of care to patients and their families.

Massey, associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics, has been published widely and is a frequent guest lecturer.

"In her quiet demeanor, she is a great observant that can see through situations and agony beyond the physical needs of the patients," said Kamar Godder, M.D., chair of the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. "She sees the patient as a whole, combining superb medical care with empathy, consideration and compassion toward the family."

Two professors received Women in Science, Dentistry & Medicine Professional Achievement Awards, which recognizes strong role models and mentors for women. Aradhana Bela A. Sood, M.D., professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, and Sarah Spiegel, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Sood "never relies on what she has already accomplished but continually strives to do it better," said Nancy Doyle, R.N., nurse manager of the Virginia Treatment Center for Children. "She constantly encourages faculty to become better at what they do. She has set up departmental faculty meetings to assist us with research and achieving tenure. She brings in speakers continually to help us with each step in promoting our practice to a higher level. She is not only a great role model for the development of professional women, but everyone she supervises."

Spiegel brought the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology new talent, re-energizing existing staff and researchers.

"She has revitalized the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology," said Strauss.

Julia A. R. Nunley, M.D., was named the 2007 Distinguished Clinician. A professor in the Department of Dermatology for 18 years, Nunley is program director of VCUHS' Dermatology Fellowship.

"Dr. Nunley is the ultimate clinician, seeing the most complex and problematic patients referred by all of the primary and specialty services," said Lenore M. Buckley, M.D., professor of medicine and pediatrics. "She is an outstanding clinical resource for the nephrologists and transplant services. She coordinates statewide conferences for dermatologists and is highly respected in the community for her clinical dedication and expertise."

Nearly 100 Outstanding Departmental and Outstanding Teaching awards also were handed out during the ceremony.