Distinguished Educator and Leader Award

The objective of this award is to create a formal mechanism for recognizing the highly talented members of our faculty for excellence in teaching and leadership across the continuum of education. Nominations in any category or multiple categories are welcomed.  The nominator must specify whether the nominee should be honored for excellence in undergraduate, graduate, or clinical teaching; or more than one of these categories. Recognizing the importance and distinctiveness of basic science education and clinical education, there will be awards to honor excellence in each of these areas. Each faculty may nominate one junior and one senior faculty member in this category. This award is focused on education and leadership across the continuum of education.

Nominations for the 2024 Distinguished Faculty Awards cycle have closed.

Awardees

    • One Junior Faculty Award: Instructors, Assistant Professors, early Associate Professors (4 years or less)
    • One Senior Faculty Award: Late Associate (more than 4 years) or Full Professors

Previous Award Winners

2024

James Woodruff, MD Professor of Medicine

Krysta Wolfe, MD Assistant Professor of Medicine

2023

Fuad Baroody,MD Professor of Surgery

James Ahn, MD Associate Professor of Medicine, Section of Emergency Medicine

2022
Stacie Levine, MD, Professor of Medicine

Daniel Golden, MD, Associate Professor of Radiation and Cellular Oncology

2021
  • A. Murat Eren, PhD, Medicine (GI)
  • Maryellen Giger, PhD, Radiology
2011 - 2020
2020

  • Lucy Godley, MD, PhD, Medicine
  • Hae Kyung Im, PhD, Medicine
  • Manyuan Long, PhD, Ecology and Evolution

2019

  • Demet Araç-Özkan, PhD, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  • Matthew Stephens, PhD, Human Genetics and Statistics

2018

  • Jane Churpek, MD, Medicine
  • Stefano Allesina, PhD, Ecology and Evolution

2017

  • D. Allan Drummond, PhD, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
  • Joy Bergelson, PhD, Ecology and Evolution

2016

  • Marcus Kronforst, PhD, Ecology and Evolution
  • Michael Rust, PhD, Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology
  • Thomas Gajewski, MD, PhD, Medicine, Pathology and the Ben May Department for Cancer Research

2015

  • Sliman Bensmaia, PhD, Organismal Biology & Anatomy
  • Paul Sereno, PhD, Organismal Biology & Anatomy

2014

  • Dezheng Huo, MD, PhD, Public Health Sciences
  • Jonathan Staley, PhD, Molecular Genetics & Cell Biology
  • Joseph Piccirilli, PhD, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Chemistry

2013

  • David Freedman, PhD, Neurobiology
  • Nancy Cox, PhD, Human Genetics and Medicine

2012

  • Joel Collier, PhD, Surgery
  • Ernst Lengyel, MD, PhD, Obstetrics and Gynecology

2011

  • Juliane Bubeck Wardenburg, MD, PhD, Pediatrics and Microbiology
  • Molly Przeworski, PhD, Human Genetics and Ecology & Evolution
  • Donald F. Steiner, MD, Medicine and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Eligibility

  • Candidate must be a current member of the employed (non-voluntary) faculty at the University of Chicago and hold their primary appointment in a BSD department.
  • The educational achievements for which the candidate is to be considered must have taken place while the person was a faculty member at the University of Chicago.
  • Current elected members of the Faculty Advisory Committee are ineligible; see list of members here.

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Nomination Requirements

    • Nominee’s CV Highlighted with activities and achievements that are relevant to this award
    • Two Nomination Letters (250-500 words each)

1. Faculty Member Nomination Letter

(250-500 words) describing why the person is being nominated, including the extent of their teaching (learner level, teaching frequency and duration, quality of teaching, as well as educational scholarship or leadership)

2. Student or Trainee Nomination Letter (250-500 words) 

Nominating faculty member must solicit a second letter from a student or trainee and submit on their behalf. Nomination letters from trainees or students who are no longer at the University of Chicago will be accepted as long as the statement speaks to training done at UChicago.  This letter should include the extent of their teaching (learner level, teaching frequency and duration, quality of teaching, as well as educational scholarship or leadership), and any comments on educational leadership/scholarship if known.

Nominating faculty member is responsible for submitting the Nomination Letter from a student or trainee.

Nomination Submission Process

  1. Complete the Google form to notify us of your nomination HERE https://forms.gle/DyNAKH2DPyq5SgZ58
  2. Upload all required materials to BOX, HERE https://uchicago.app.box.com/f/0e2dcf68c4e6497689357768e8ba6cf3