Education Day

Education Day celebrates excellence in education

The College of Veterinary Medicine held its second annual Education Day on May 23 in the Pomeroy Student-Alumni Learning Center. The day was a chance to celebrate and experience the expertise and excellence in teaching within the College. The keynote address, "Transforming Education in the 21st Century," was given by Dr. Debra Olson, associate dean, School of Public Health, and faculty attended breakout sessions on 21st-century graduate student mentoring, curriculum revision, the use of handheld devices in health sciences education, and more. Faculty members also presented posters, demonstrations, and computer presentations related to education and innovative teaching methods, from the development of a new course in critical scientific reading to teaching camelid anatomy.

Education Day concluded with the presentation of awards to faculty and staff who demonstrate excellence in education. Awards included:

Pfizer Distinguished Teacher Award
Dr. Leslie Sharkey
The College's most prestigious faculty teaching award, the Pfizer Distinguished Teacher Award is sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health. The recipient is selected by the veterinary students.

Mark of Excellence Award
Dr. Sandra Godden
Presented annually to a faculty member who has generated new knowledge related to the veterinary profession that has been shared with others by way of publication or presentations at scientific meetings or other methods of dissemination. This award is rotated among the collegiate departments on a yearly basis.

Excellence in Course Coordination Awards
Year 1: Dr. John Collister
Year 2: Dr. Sheila Torres
Year 3: Dr. Erin Malone
Year 4: Dr. Kelly Tart
Presented to a faculty member in recognition of outstanding contributions to student learning through excellence in course coordination.

James O. Hanson Continuing Education Award
Dr. Lorna Reichl
Presented to a veterinarian who has left practice to return to the College of Veterinary Medicine as an intern or resident to continue their education and expand their knowledge, or to a CVM intern who is staying on to continue his or her education through a residency program at the CVM

Veterinary Medical Center (VMC) Technician Teaching Awards
Marie Bodin, Small Animal Hospital
Jennifer Olson, Large Animal Hospital
Presented to two VMC technicians, one from the Small Animal Hospital and one from the Large Animal Hospital. The award recipients are selected by fourth-year students as having contributed significantly to their clinical year.

Veterinary Clinical Sciences (VCS) Teaching Award
Dr. Jane Quandt
Presented to the VCS faculty member selected by third-year students as the most outstanding teacher during their first three years of veterinary school

Veterinary Clinical Sciences (VCS) Clinical Teaching Award
Dr. Jane Quandt
Presented to the VCS faculty member selected by fourth-year small animal track students as the most outstanding clinical teacher during their fourth year of small animal clinical rotations

Veterinary Clinical Sciences (VCS) Clinical Teaching Resident Award
Dr. Elizabeth Orcutt
Presented to the VCS resident selected by fourth-year small animal track students as the most outstanding clinical teacher during their fourth year of small animal rotations

Veterinary Population Medicine (VPM) Teaching Award
Dr. Erin Malone
Presented to the VPM faculty member selected by fourth-year students as the most outstanding teacher during their first three years of veterinary school

Veterinary Population Medicine (VPM) Clinical Teaching Award
Dr. Jeremy Schefers
Presented to the VPM faculty member selected by fourth-year large animal/mixed track students as the most outstanding clinical teaching during their fourth year of large animal rotations

Veterinary Population Medicine (VPM) Clinical Teaching Resident Award
Dr. Luis Mendonca
Presented to the VPM resident selected by fourth-year large animal /mixed track students as the most outstanding clinical teacher during their fourth year of large animal clinical rotations

Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences (VBS) Teaching Award
Dr. Christina Clarkson
Presented to the VBS faculty member selected by students as the most outstanding teacher during their first three years of veterinary school

Also recognized at the Education Day awards program were Dr. Peggy Root Kustritz, who received the University of Minnesota Award for Outstanding Contributions to Post-Baccalaureate, Graduate, and Professional Education in April 2011, and Dr. Leslie Sharkey, who was inducted into the Acadmic Health Center Academy for Excellence in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in September 2010.

The University of Minnesota Award for Outstanding Contributions to Post-Baccalaureate, Graduate, and Professional Education was established in 1999 to recognize contributions to post-baccalaureate, graduate, and professional education. Recipients are chosen for excellence in instruction; involvement in students’ research, scholarship, and professional development; development of instructional programs; and advising and mentoring of students. This is the most prestigious award for teaching at the University of Minnesota.

The Academic Health Center (AHC) Academy for Excellence in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning serves as the highest recognition of excellence in the AHC educational mission. Those selected have contributed to a culture of learning by demonstrating a sustained and recognized commitment to teaching and student learning through innovation, creativity, and dissemination of scholarly works and are known nationally and/or internationally for their expertise in health-related fields.