VCU medical school rewards excellence in teaching

By Erin Lucero
Office of Development, School of Medicine

A new awards program in Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Medicine has honored half a dozen faculty members renowned for their abilities as teachers and mentors.

"This year’s award winners serve as role models for both medical students and faculty members," said Heber H. Newsome Jr., M.D., senior associate dean of the School of Medicine. "The nomination letters that we received – not only for our award winners but also for the others who were nominated – were testaments to our faculty’s dedication and talent."

This year’s top prize, the Faculty Teaching Excellence Award, went to physiology professor Linda Costanzo, Ph.D. A long-time favorite among students for her stimulating lectures and willingness to offer both educational and personal help, Costanzo is known for making even complicated physiological processes comprehensible.

Her educational reach extends beyond VCU’s walls as she is author of two physiology texts that are favored by students throughout the country and are being translated into four languages. Her publisher notes that the year after the publication of her first text – which is used by students to review for the physiology portion of their board exams – students’ physiology scores nationwide improved by approximately 10 points. Her second text is so highly regarded by a Temple University professor that it is required reading for his course, despite the fact that he has authored a competing book.

The award for educational innovation and research was shared this year by a trio of women: Joann Bodurtha, Ph.D.; Michelle Whitehurst-Cook, M.D.; and Rita Willett, M.D. The Whitby Award in Clinical Teaching was won by David Salter, M.D., and John Bigbee, Ph.D., associate professor of anatomy, claimed the Distinguished Mentor Award. (See attached for additional information on these winners.)

From among the faculty members who teach the medical student curriculum, 35 were recognized for their outstanding teaching in each course, and 43 were honored for receiving high evaluations. Three faculty received awards from the medical students in the classes of 2001 and 2002, and an additional four faculty were honored for their teaching in the school’s basic science departments.

The awards were presented at an Oct. 4 ceremony. The winners, chosen from the approximately 900 faculty members in the School of Medicine, were nominated by colleagues, medical students and alumni. The awards will be given annually.