School of Medicine recognizes excellence in teaching throughout the entire medical education journey. We are proud to recognize our faculty and students for their commitment to outstanding clinical education and mentorship.
Helen Wang, M.D., associate clinical professor in the Department of Pediatrics, received the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. Wang's commitment to teaching and mentorship is renowned among the pediatric residents and her peers reflect that her students become better clinicians after working with her. She co-directs the third-year clinical transitions week and serves as a leader and instructor in multiple programs within School of Medicine and the UC San Diego/Rady Children's Pediatric Residency Program. Her contributions to curriculum development are significant, all the more so because of the way that she engages active student and resident participation in these efforts.
Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching
The Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching recognizes one faculty or staff member each year who consistently excels in multiple facets of medical education, including excellence in teaching or mentorship, educational innovation and educational scholarship.
Geoffroy Noel, Ph.D., professor and chief for the Division of Anatomy in the Department of Surgery, is recognized with the Educational Scholarship Award for consistently demonstrating an unwavering commitment to advancing education in the medical field. Noel has a reputation for facilitating the exchange of knowledge and ideas and fostering a culture of continuous improvement in health profession/sciences education. His work not only enriches the educational experiences of current and future healthcare professionals but also advances the broader mission of improving health care delivery and outcomes worldwide.
Educational Scholarship Award
The Educational Scholarship Award recognizes one faculty or staff member each year who demonstrates an active role in health sciences education research; generates evidence-based teaching and learning practices to impact student learning outcomes; captures grant funding in medical education research; and disseminates scholarship of this research
Katharina Brandl, R.Ph., Ph.D., professor at Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, received the Award for Excellence in Curriculum or Educational Innovation. She is well known for her innovative and engaging teaching methods. School of Medicine students consistently recognize her commitment to helping them truly understand the why behind everything she is teaching them. Her Brandl’s Basics Pharmacology flashcards are beautifully illustrated and easy to understand. Brandl has also created a YouTube channel featuring Brandl’s Basics, a series of 175 videos utilizing learning glass technology, which provides interactive visual aids to explain complex concepts. In testimonials from students, Brandl is lauded for her clarity, creativity and commitment to student success.
Award for Excellence in Curriculum or Educational Innovation
The Award for Excellence in Curriculum or Educational Innovation honors members of the School of Medicine community who have developed innovative educational content, curricula or programs.
The Award for Excellence in Curriculum or Educational Innovation is an honor typically reserved for a faculty or staff member. This year, however, fourth-year medical student Shivani Mehta, is receiving a Special Recognition award in the category, along with her faculty mentor, Erik Viirre, M.D., Ph.D., adjunct professor in neurosciences. Mehta initiated the Aerospace Medicine Undergraduate elective course (NEU 234). The course provides an engaging and unique offering about the physical and medical aspects of human space flight and aviation medicine by covering topics including effects of weightlessness; aviation medicine concepts, including inflight emergencies; careers in aerospace medicine and even human design of space suits which includes an in-person demonstration of different suits. She also arranged for NASA astronaut and physician Serena Auñón-Chancellor, M.D. to speak to interested students.
Award for Excellence in Curriculum or Educational Innovation -Special Recognition
The Award for Excellence in Curriculum or Educational Innovation honors members of the School of Medicine community who have developed innovative educational content, curricula or programs.
Rodrigo Rubarth, M.D., from the the Internal Medicine residency program, is recognized with the Resident and Fellow Teaching Award. Students note that Rubarth creates a safe learning environment where he challenges students to think critically while remaining warm and inviting. His commitment to helping students grow and modeling compassionate care creates a supportive learning environment. Students also noted his daily efforts to find ways to connect with both his patients and their families, making him a “phenomenal leader.”
Resident & Fellow Teaching Award
The Resident & Fellow Teaching Award recognizes the trainee who displays excellence in the domains of teaching, engaging the learner and creating an environment that promotes intellectual curiosity and inquiry.
Ariadne Nichol, MS3, is this year’s Student Teacher Award winner. Nichol created an elective on bioethics which has proven to be impactful and educational. By providing a unique perspective on bioethics, other students noted that the class has been valuable within clinical scenarios where there were not clear cut solutions. Knowing how to think about ethical considerations from different angles has enhanced the other students’ medical education.
Student Teacher Award
This award recognizes students who have demonstrated commitment and excellence in teaching and medical education.
Kaiser Permanente Excellence in Teaching selected by the MS1 class
Geoffroy Noel, Ph.D., has a reputation for facilitating the exchange of knowledge and ideas and fostering a culture of continuous improvement in health profession/sciences education. His work not only enriches the educational experiences of current and future healthcare professionals but also advances the broader mission of improving health care delivery and outcomes worldwide.
Kaiser Permanente Excellence in Teaching selected by the MS2 class
Jeffrey Gold, M.D., Ph.D., is a clinical professor of neurosciences with board certification in neurology. He is a child neurologist at Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego, specializing in the treatment of children with epilepsy. He is also the medical director of neonatal neurology at UC San Diego and Rady Children's.
Kaiser Permanente Excellence in Teaching selected by the MS3 class
As an assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences (OB/GYN), Juliana Cormano, M.D., instructs medical students and residents at UC San Diego School of Medicine. She is the third year UC San Diego Medical Student Clerkship Director for the OB/GYN rotation.
Kaiser Permanente Excellence in Teaching selected by the MS4 class
Michelle Wu, M.D., is the associate training director for the UC San Diego Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program. Wu has long been interested in decreasing the stigma that is associated with mental illness, and has a particular interest in promoting wellness and resiliency for medical trainees and professionals.
Kaiser Permanente Excellence in Teaching selected by the House Staff
Selected by third- and fourth-year medical students, Bell is recognized by the house staff for excellence in teaching. According to his peers, Bell has the ability to create calm, be an amazing doctor and makes a mean cup of tea.
Kaiser Permanente Excellence in Teaching selected by the House Staff
Selected by third- and fourth-year medical students, Sourus is recognized by the house staff for excellence in teaching. Sorus' peers describe her as a someone who helped them grow and an endlessly supportive friend.
The Whitehill Prize for Clinical Excellence is given on behalf of the UC San Diego Health Sciences Academy of Clinician Scholars (AoCS). This body of distinguished faculty recognized by their peers for exceptional clinical skills, their commitment to patient care, medical education, and the advancement of new medical knowledge creates a legacy of excellent healthcare delivery by fostering the continuous professional development of UC San Diego’s clinician scholars. Recipients from each department are chosen by the chief residents or their delegates, and given to an assistant or associate level faculty member as AoCS strives to recognize junior faculty.
Eric Tzeng, M.D.
Timothy Dang, M.D.
Casey Lee Smith, M.D.
Julia McPherson, M.D.
William Cameron McGuire, M.D.
Jessica Schulte, M.D., Ph.D.
Martin H. Pham, M.D.
Michelle Tang, M.D.
Catherine Y. Liu, M.D., Ph.D.
Joseph Mitchell, M.D.
Theresa Guo, M.D.
Vanessa Goodwill, M.D.
Rachel M. Marano, M.D.
Andrew Willeford, Pharm.D, Ph.D.
Julia Gleichman, M.D.
Paul Manning, M.D.
Chika Nwachukwu, M.D., Ph.D.
Laura Adams, M.D.
Juan Javier-Desloges, M.D.
Anesthesia
Dermatology
Emergency Medicine
Family Medicine
Internal Medicine
Neurology
Neurosurgery
OBGYN & Reproductive Science
Ophthalmology
Orthopaedic Surgery
Otolaryngology
Pathology
Pediatrics
Pharmacy
Psychiatry
Diagnostic Radiation
Radiation Oncology
Surgery
Urology