Department Education Awards

These awards reflect the Department’s judgment that the honoree's contributions are exemplary. The Department takes into account the totality of the individual's work, professional conduct, ethics, and reputation. It expects those honored to embody highly professional and ethical conduct in their work and interactions with others during their careers.

Awards are presented annually in the spring at Education Day.

Questions? Please contact Katherine Vaughan.

Inspirational Educator Awards

The Department of Medicine honors and celebrates the valuable efforts of faculty and advanced practice provider (APP) educators who motivate and inspire others. These awards recognize those who display unparalleled energy, passion, and skill for educating students, residents and/or fellows. Recipients of this award are those who leave a lasting impression and impact on learners long after the learning experience has ended.

Award Consideration

Two educators will be honored in each of these educational settings:

  • Classroom instruction (synchronous and/or asynchronous) of any size with University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) residency and/or fellowships
  • Clinical instruction

Strong nominees are those who:

  • Create a supportive and inclusive learning environment
  • Model professional behaviors and attitudes
  • Effectively facilitate teaching sessions
  • Regularly commit to teaching opportunities
  • Role model exemplary skills and interactions with patients in the clinical setting
Eligibility for Nomination

Any faculty/adjunct faculty member, including VA faculty, or APP in the DOM who have at least a 50% appointment in the Department of Medicine and >0.5 FTE are eligible for nomination. Faculty/adjunct faculty members, APPs, or learners (student, resident, or fellow) can submit a nomination. An award may be conferred only once to a faculty mentor in the same clinical setting category (classroom or clinical setting). Self-nominations are not accepted.

Past Awardees 

2024:

  • Fahad Aziz, MD
  • Elyse Harris, MD
  • Jordan Kenik, MD
  • Ross Pinter, PA
  • Maryam Zamanian, MD, MSc

2023:

  • Christine Sharkey, MD
  • Zachary Goldberger, MD, MS
  • Laurel Romer, MD
  • Andrea Schnell, MD

2022:

  • Hannah Bell, MD
  • Eliot Williams, MD, PhD
  • Michael Richardson, PA-C, MS, MPAS

2021:

  • Maxfield Flynn, MD, PhD
  • Gregory Gauthier, MD
  • Sean O’Neill, MD
  • Tripti Singh, MD

Excellence in Education Mentoring Awards

The Department of Medicine recognizes faculty and APPs who are actively engaged in education mentorship of junior or peer educators. Mentors selected for this award exemplify extraordinary selflessness as they support and contribute to the education career development and advancement of junior or peer clinician-educators. They accomplish this through providing guidance for teaching skills (e.g., curricular design, teaching methods and learning and program assessments) and opportunities for the development of educational scholarship (e.g., writing abstracts, developing workshops and creating manuscripts from educational work). They serve as role models by maintaining high standards of excellence and professionalism.

Award Consideration

One mentor will be honored in each of the following categories:

  • Junior faculty (assistant professor) or APP
  • Senior faculty (associate or full professor) or APP
  • Bennet Vogelman Award: Senior faculty with career long dedication to mentoring

Strong nominees are those who:

  • Develop and foster a supportive environment for mentorship
  • Demonstrate a commitment to mentorship and establish a track record for successful mentorship
  • Advocate and guide administrative, organizational and professional matters for junior and peer clinician educators
  • Effectively sponsor mentees in the institution, regionally and nationally
Eligibility for Nomination

Any faculty/adjunct faculty member, including VA faculty, or APP in the DOM who have at least a 50% appointment in the Department of Medicine and >0.5 FTE are eligible for nomination. Faculty/adjunct faculty members, APPs or learners (student, resident or fellow) can submit a nomination. An award may be conferred only once to a faculty mentor at the same faculty appointment (junior or senior faculty). Self-nominations are not accepted.

Past Awardees 

BENNETT VOGELMAN EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION MENTORING AWARD

  • 2023: Mark Reichelderfer, MD
  • 2022: Nasia Safdar, MD, PhD
  • 2021: Michael Lucey, MD

EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION MENTORING AWARD    

2024    

  • Kelly Lavin, MD
  • Christine Sharkey, MD
  • Jessica Tischendorf, MD

2023    

  • Tiffany Lin, MD
  • Sandesh Parajuli, MD

2022

  • Maha Mohamed, MD
  • Daniel Shirley, MD, MS

2021

  • Amy Zelenski, PhD
  • Laura Maursetter, DO

Staff Excellence in Education Awards

The Department of Medicine honors and recognizes University or Academic staff who demonstrate extraordinary dedication to the growth and professional development of others. Staff selected for this award are actively engaged in supporting and promoting a culture of learning. They demonstrate a commitment to the professional growth of their peer and junior staff and consistently seek out new and innovative ways to promote learning for DOM learners, trainees and faculty.

Staff, faculty, learners, and trainees can nominate staff for this award. Staff are encouraged to nominate their peers.

Award Consideration

Two staff members will be honored. 

Strong nominees are those who:

  • Develop a supportive environment for learning and development 
  • Demonstrate a commitment to learning for self and others 
  • Participate in professional development networking opportunities and encourage others to do the same 
  • Contribute to the development and dissemination of innovative learning and educational improvement initiatives that result in increased educational value for learners, trainees and faculty 
  • Serve as a role model for their peers by maintaining high standards of excellence and professionalism 
  • Consistently demonstrate a respectful attitude and work collaboratively with learners, trainees, colleagues and/or faculty
Past Awardees

2024

  • Rachel Filipiak, MHA
  • Amanda Salm

Star Educator Honor Roll

This award recognizes Department of Medicine faculty, APPs, administrative staff, and support staff who:

  • Consistently teach, mentor, and support learners in educational and clinical settings
  • Are not typically recognized for their outstanding skills

Awards are presented annually at the DOM Summer Picnic.

All members of the department, including learners (students, residents, fellows) can make a nomination. Nominations are closed for 2024.

Past awardees [Box file]