Dr. Newsome appointed an ad hoc committee charged with the task of researching, developing, and implementing new teaching awards. The committee reviewed the biomedical and education literatures, interviewed administrators of nine medical schools, and researched existing teaching awards. Two awards, established in the early 1990s, the Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence and the Whitby Award for Clinical Teaching were incorporated in the award program. The committee s yearlong effort cumulated in a teaching awards program held on October 4, 1999. The awards event occurred in conjunction with a day long New Faculty Orientation.
Awards fall into three categories.
The School of Medicine recognizes individuals and, sometimes, groups. Each category is based on the method used to nominate and select an award candidate and to document teaching competencies. Multiple kinds of documentation support evidence of superior teaching abilities. The second type of recognition is the Outstanding Teacher Awards in Undergraduate Medical Education. Student evaluations are an important element in the selection of these recipients.