GSM Faculty Awards
The sixth annual UT Graduate School of Medicine Faculty and Research Awards were presented by James J. Neutens, PhD, Dean, Graduate School of Medicine, to the following recipients during the Residents' and Fellows' Welcome and Faculty Awards Reception July 1 at UT Conference Center.
Spirit of the Graduate School of Medicine Award
Henry S. Nelson, Jr., MD
Professor, General Surgery
Dr. Nelson has significantly impacted patient care and education in Surgery during his 32-year tenure with the Graduate School of Medicine. He led the development of minimally invasive surgery at the medical center. Dr. Nelson also has been instrumental in spearheading teaching efforts in the Graduate School of Medicine Simulation Center. He consistently receives superior feedback from residents and medical students for his teaching efforts, with comments including, "When it comes to being an attending at a teaching institution, it doesn't get any better than Dr. Nelson."
Mitchell Goldman, MD, Professor and Chair, Surgery, said, "Dr. Nelson is part of the backbone of the Department of Surgery's education program."
Excellence and Leadership in Basic Science Research Award
Valerie Berthelier, PhD
Assistant Professor, Medicine
Director, Conformational Diseases and Therapeutics Research Laboratory
Dr. Berthelier recently received a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for medical research that will improve the study of and search for a cure for Huntington's and other neurological disorders. Her research will also improve methods for using radioisotopes in nuclear medicine. Dr. Berthelier currently has a grant with the National Institutes of Health for $318,000 and a contract with UT Battelle/Oak Ridge National Laboratory for $103,000. Dr. Berthelier and her staff are currently focused on two amyloid-like diseases: Huntington's and Occulopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy.
Dean Neutens, said, "Dr. Berthelier has been aggressive in her efforts to support therapeutics research, creating partnerships and searching for answers that could have a profound effect on quality of life for people throughout the world. She has demonstrated tremendous leadership at the Graduate School of Medicine."
Excellence and Leadership in Clinical Research Award
David Cassada, MD
Associate Professor, Surgery Division of Vascular/Transplant Surgery
Dr. Cassada specializes in the field of thoracic outlet syndrome and vascular diseases of the shoulder area. As a result of his superior clinical work and outcomes, the University of Tennessee Medical Center was chose as one of five centers in the U.S. to be sponsored by the National Institutes of Health to determine the causes, diagnosis and therapeutic interventions of thoracic outlet syndrome. Dr. Cassada currently has a patent pending for a pain relieving device.
Mitchell Goldman, MD, Professor and Chair, Surgery, said, "Dr. Cassada is the consummate clinical scientist, taking a clinical disease and studying it intensively, being involved in translational research and carrying his research endeavors to the clinical arena, both locally and nationally."
Excellence in Teaching Award
Anton Allen, MD
Associate Professor and Assistant Program Director, Radiology
Dr. Allen has demonstrated excellence in teaching not only to Radiology residents, but also to Internal Medicine and Family Medicine residents, providing lectures for radiology. Dr. Allen also coordinates the education of medical students. He is noted for providing one-on-one teaching sessions with residents at the imaging workstation and designing a program that incorporates the American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria for ordering imaging exams that he has used to educate physicians to improve utilization of imaging.
J. Mark McKinney, Chair and Associate Professor, Radiology, said, "Dr. Allen is the complete package for an excellent educator."
Excellence in Teaching Award
O. Lee Wilson, DMD
Associate Professor and Program Director, General Dentistry
Dr. Wilson began his career with the UT Graduate School of Medicine as a resident and has been a faculty member since graduating the program. He is credited for bringing innovative teaching techniques to his residents, such as coordinating the Forensic Dentistry curriculum in conjunction with Murray Marks, PhD, Associate Professor. During a Commission on Dental Accreditation site visit, the team chief commented on the uniqueness of the model Dr. Wilson has created and expressed interest in incorporating this model into his own program.
In nominating Dr. Wilson, Joe Rainey, DDS, Instructor of Dentistry and Board of Visitors member, said, "His ability to create an environment for learning encourages self-development and analytical thinking. He is always accessible to residents, staff and faculty. I cannot express enough admiration for his intelligence, compassion and skill as an educator."
Excellence in Teaching for Volunteer Faculty Award
David J. Harris, MD
Clinical Associate Professor, Surgery Division of Ophthalmology
As a volunteer faculty physician, Dr. Harris is the Surgical Specialties Clerkship Coordinator for fourth-year medical students. He leads the Ophthalmology Surgical rotations, which is considered one of the most outstanding rotations at the Graduate School of Medicine. Dr. Harris's students continually provide positive feedback, including, "Dr. Harris was one of the best attendings I have had in medical school," and, "Dr. Harris really took the time to teach."
Mitchell Goldman, MD, Professor and Chair, Surgery, said, "Dr. Harris receives continuous positive feedback in his teaching. He is a great asset to the Graduate School of Medicine in his teaching of the fourth-year medical students, and I believe he is an excellent candidate for the Excellence in Teaching Award for Volunteer Faculty."
