Students honor medical faculty, residents

To show their appreciation for exemplary service in medical education, Washington University School of Medicine students recently presented the school’s faculty and house staff with the Distinguished Service Teaching Awards.

The awards were for the 2014-15 academic year.

Initiated by students and implemented with support from the Office of Medical Student Education, the awards honor educators who have made significant contributions to the training of future physicians at Washington University.

Each year, students finishing their first, second and third year of studies select the course masters, lecturers, clerkship directors, attendings and residents who distinguished themselves most in the education of medical students. The awards allow medical students to express their appreciation for their teachers’ efforts, dedication and patience.

Among those honored was David D. Limbrick, MD, PhD, an associate professor of neurological surgery and of pediatrics. He is the students’ nominee for the national Humanism in Medicine Award, which is presented annually by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). The award recognizes medical school faculty physicians who exemplify the qualities of a caring and compassionate mentor in the teaching and advising of medical students.

Limbrick’s areas of interest include pediatric neurosurgery, epilepsy surgery, neuro-endoscopy, hydrocephalus, pediatric brain tumors, deep brain stimulation, radiosurgery and pediatric spine surgery. In 2012, he was given an award for humanitarian efforts in Haiti from the American Association of Neurological Surgeon. Limbrick and Keith M. Rich, MD, a professor of neurological surgery at the university, have been traveling to Haiti every four to six months since 2009 to treat children with hydrocephalus. Over four or five days, the two perform about 25 surgeries.

Here are others honored at the awards ceremony Oct. 27 at the Eric P. Newman Education Center:

Class of 2016

Clinical Lecturer of the Year: Thomas M. De Fer, MD, professor of medicine

Clerkship Administrator of the Year: Patricia Werner, obstetrics and gynecology

Clerkship Director of the Year: Tammy S. Sonn, MD, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology

Clinical Department of the Year: Internal Medicine

Clinical Teachers of the Year:

• Martin Boyer, MD, the Carol B. and Jerome T. Loeb Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
• Richard D. Brasington Jr., MD, professor of medicine
• Angela L. Brown, MD, associate professor of medicine
• Camaryn Chrisman-Robbins, MD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology
• David I. Eisenberg, MD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology
• Mark D. Levine, MD, associate professor of emergency medicine in medicine
• L. Stewart Massad, MD, professor of obstetrics and gynecology
• Kenan R. Omurtag, MD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology
• Gregory M. Polites, MD, associate professor of emergency medicine in medicine
• Andrew J. White, MD, the James P. Keating, MD, Professor of Pediatrics

Residents of the Year

• Victoria L. Bedell, MD
• Lauren M. Bergeron, MD
• Alejandro C. Bribiesco, MD
• Matthew J. Burford, MD
• Paul M. Evans, MD, PhD
• Michael J. Glamore, MD
• Jared M. McAllister, MD
• Jennifer Stockburger, MD
• Willa Xiong, MD
• Rachel E. Zigler, MD

Class of 2017

Lecturer of the Year: William E. Clutter, MD, associate professor of medicine and associate director of the House Staff Training Program, Department of Medicine

Professor of the Year: Allyson R. Zazulia, MD, associate professor of neurology and of radiology, and associate dean for continuing medical education

Course Master of the Year: Steven C. Cheng, MD, associate professor of medicine

Practice of Medicine Preceptor of the Year: Megan E. Wren, MD, associate professor of medicine

Distinguished Service Teaching Awards:

• Richard D. Brasington Jr., MD, professor of medicine
• Erika C. Crouch, PhD, MD, professor of pathology and immunology
• Alan I. Glass, MD, assistant vice chancellor and director of the Habif Health & Wellness Center
• Seth Goldberg, MD, assistant professor of medicine
• Scot G. Hickman, MD, professor of medicine
• Ian S. Hagemann, MD, PhD, assistant professor of pathology and immunology and of obstetrics and gynecology
• Steven J. Lawrence, MD, assistant professor of medicine
• Nigar Kirmani, MD, professor of medicine
• Adrian Shifren, MD, assistant professor of medicine
• Megan E. Wren, MD, associate professor of medicine

Class of 2018

Stanley Lang Lecturer of the Year: Gregory M. Polites, MD, associate professor of emergency medicine in medicine

Professor of the Year: Jane E. Phillips-Conroy, PhD, professor of anatomy and of anthropology

Course Master of the Year: Glenn C. Conroy, PhD, professor of anatomy and of anthropology

Practice of Medicine Small Group Leader of the Year: Douglas M. Char, MD, associate professor of emergency medicine in medicine

Selective of the Year: Will R. Ross, MD, associate dean for diversity and professor of medicine

Teaching Assistant of the Year: Stephen W. Linderman, MD/PhD student

Distinguished Service Teaching Awards:

• Kari L. Allen, PhD, assistant professor of anatomy
• Amy L. Bauernfeind, PhD, assistant professor of anatomy
• Paul C. Bridgman, PhD, professor of neurobiology
• Alan I. Glass, MD, assistant vice chancellor and director of the Habif Health & Wellness Center
• Timothy E. Holy, PhD, associate professor of neurobiology
• Robert W. Mercer, PhD, professor of cell biology and physiology
• Heidi B. Miller, MD, instructor in clinical medicine
• Sabrina Nunez, PhD, assistant professor of medicine
• Linda J. Pike, PhD, professor of biochemistry and molecular biophysics
• Joseph L. (Joel) Price, PhD, DPhil, professor of anatomy and neurobiology
• David C. Van Essen, PhD, the Alumni Endowed Professor of Neurobiology

For more photos from the ceremony, follow this link.