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Excellence in Clinical Teaching Awards

Teaching in the clinical setting requires resident and fellow physicians to artfully integrate education into the patient care experience.  The Excellence in Clinical Teaching Awards honor resident and fellow physicians who skillfully teach and inspire other learners, including faculty, peers, medical students, clinical staff, patients and their families.  These awards are given on an annual basis.

2020 Excellence in Clinical Teaching Awards

Nominations were received for a total of 28 residents and fellows, with approximately one-third each of the nominations coming from medical students, peer residents/fellows and faculty.

The narrative comprising this wealth of nominations portrays a dynamic and skilled approach to clinical teaching, a deep appreciation for these physician-educators and high motivation to celebrate and recognize excellence.

After a rigorous nomination, review and selection process the Awards Sub-Committee chose four award winners (listed below).

All nominees and awardees received a letter celebrating their excellence in clinical teaching, along with narrative from their nominators.  These letters were also sent to their department chairs and program directors.

The four awardees received a glass trophy with their name engraved and a Certificate of Award which was presented by their program directors.

2020 Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award Winners

Steve Seyedin, MD
Radiation Oncology Residency Program
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
Program Director:  Carryn Anderson, MD

"Dr. Seydin displayed personal investment in my development as a clinician and a leader, went out of his way to communicate clearly and thoroughly in his teawching, held me and other group executives accountable to goals, and above all created a positive learning environment which was respoectful and supportive of my field of interest despite it not even being in his chosen field."

Dan Pelletier, MD

Pathology - Anatomic and Clinical Residency Program
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
Program Director:  Amani Bashir, MBBS

" Dan is a prime example of what a clinical teacher should be -- respectful, approachable, knowledgeable, open to feedback, and non-judgmental.  He has both a natural aptitude for teachign while also striving for improvement whenever possible.  And he has taken great initiative to improve the learning opportunities and resources for our department in ways that will last long after he has left the program."

Ice Ganapathiraju, DO
Internal Medicine Residency Program
UnityPoint Health - Des Moines
Program Director:  Tyler Schwiesow, MD

“Dr. Ganapathiraju is continually seeking and even creating opportunities to provide medical education to students and others. For instance, she took the initiative to approach Dr. Steve Craig, offering to start a new education session with the core clerkship students on the topic of diagnostic reasoning, and now leads that highly regarded session for every rotating cohort each six weeks.”

Albert Pai, MD
Thoracic Surgery (Integrated) Residency Program
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
Program Director:  John Keech, MD

“When I tell stories of excellent clinical teaching, especially in the operating room, to those on the residency interview trail and to junior medical students, I talk about my time with Dr. Pai.”

Nominees

  • Lama Abdel Wahed, MD, Neurology Residency
  • Nandita Agarwal, MD, Diagnostic Radiology Residency
  • Kristen Anderson, DO, Pediatric Residency
  • Elizabeth Batchelor, MD, Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship
  • Mohsan Chaudhry, MD, Internal Medicine Residency
  • Bryce Duchman, MD, Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship
  • Jacklyn Engelbart, MD, General Surgery Residency
  • Colette Gnade, MD, Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency
  • Oday Halhouli, MD, Neurology Residency
  • Tracy Halvorson, MD, Pathology- Anatomic and Clinical Residency
  • Derek Hupp, MD, Internal Medicine Residency
  • James Jackson, MD, Family Medicine/Psychiatry Residency
  • Catherina "Cat" Pinnaro, MD, Pediatric Endocrinology Fellowship
  • Kaila Pomeranz, DO, Emergency Medicine Residency
  • Edin Pujagic, DO, Infectious Disease Fellowship
  • Tyler Quist, MD, Ophthalmology Residency
  • Brittany Simmons, MD, Oculofacial Plastic, Orbit and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship
  • Matthew Smith, MD, Internal Medicine Residency
  • Katie Thompson, DO, Internal Medicine Residency
  • Conrad Tobert, MD, Urology Residency
  • Sarah Wernimont, MD, Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship
  • Jason Winward, MD, Internal Medicine Residency
  • Peige Zhou, MD, General Surgery Residency
  • Tyler Zahrli, MD, Psychiatry Residency 

2021 Award Sub-Committee

  • Julia Shelton, MD, Program Director, General Surgery
  • Marygrace Elson, MD, MME, CTC Chair, Vice Chair for Education, Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Gerald Wickham, EdD, MA, Director of Educational Initiatives, GME
  • Hillary Chappo, MHA, Associate Director of Education and Accreditation Initiatives, GME
  • Nikki Pothireddy, M2, Teaching Distinction Track, Carver College of Medicine

2020 Award Sub-Committee

  • Julia Shelton, MD, Program Director, General Surgery
  • Marygrace Elson, MD, MME, CTC Chair, Vice Chair for Education, Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Gerald Wickham, EdD, MA, Director of Educational Initiatives, GME
  • Hillary Chappo, MHA, Associate Director of Education and Accreditation Initiatives, GME
  • Hadeal Ayoub, M4, Teaching Distinction Track, Carver College of Medicine

GME Collaboratives