HSF to honor faculty members with awards
Three faculty members will receive the 2002 Health Sciences Foundation Teaching Excellence Awards during Fall Convocation on Tuesday, Aug. 27.They are being announced now for the benefit of faculty and graduating students who nominated 40 candidates for the three categories of awards.
Chosen from those nominees, this year's recipients are Jerome K. Burik, MHS; Melisa M. Holmes, M.D.; and Kenneth Jackson Thomas, Ed.D.
Jerome K. Burik
Jerome K. Burik, MHS, will receive the 2002 Developing Teacher award
for teaching excellence by a junior faculty member with fewer than four
years of teaching experience.
Burik,
an occupational therapist, joined the faculty of the Department of Rehabilitation
Sciences in the College of Health Professions in 1999.
He teaches a variety of courses in the department and acts as
the clinical fieldwork coordinator for the occupational therapy program.
Burik came to the faculty with a love of his discipline and excellent experiences as a clinician, two attributes he has effectively woven into his teaching. He states that “providing real-life experiences and active learning opportunities within the community, in addition to training students in specific techniques, forms the foundation for my philosophy of teaching.”
He describes as his teaching goal to create a greater
awareness and appreciation of the needs of clients, prepare empathetic
and compassionate clinicians and develop in his students a tolerance for
individual differences, beliefs and attitudes.
Burik's nominators verify that he has been effective in meeting his goals. His excellent relationships in the community have led to more opportunities for students to interact with patients, families, and clinicians. J.R. Thorpe, a physical therapy student, speaks to an interdisciplinary project Burik developed using patients from the community. “The level of organization and communication he applied toward this event proved his dedication and genuine interest in the patients, students, and the occupational therapy profession.”
His chair, Becki Trickey, Ph.D., describes him as an excellent role model, allowing students to observe the meaningful relationships he establishes with patients and their families. She states that “he also makes sure that he makes the connection for students, by explaining what he did, why he did it, and what he was thinking—in other words—the clinical reasoning process.”
Student and colleague comments and evaluations repeatedly speak to his enthusiasm for teaching and learning, his interest in and concern for students, and his compassion. In his course evaluations, a student describes him as “one of the best teachers I have had. When he is finished with a lecture, you want to applaud him for doing such a wonderful job.” Apparently, from their comments, they did just that after his lecture on death and dying, described as heart-felt and enlightening.
As summed up by Courtney Gnau, an occupational therapy student, “Jerry
Burik is an amazing individual that has brought more than a letter can
express to MUSC, the community and his students.”
Melisa M. Holmes
Melisa M. Holmes, M.D., will receive the Educator-Mentor award for excellence in mentoring and role modeling.
An
associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and
the Department of Pediatrics, Holmes has been recognized four times as
one of The Best Doctors in America. She received the 1996 National Faculty
Award for Excellence in Resident Education from the Council on Resident
Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Holmes is actively involved in
pre-clinical and clinical education and has mentored a number of student
and resident research projects. To add to this, among other things, she
is the director of the East Cooper Women's Center, acts as a mentor for
the Buist Academy's shadowing program, is a host for the American Medical
Women's Association at MUSC, and is a tireless community volunteer.
As Holmes states in her teaching philosophy, some of her most profound lessons have come “from observing and studying the practices, values, and behaviors of my mentors. As an educator, I try to remain cognizant that I am constantly modeling behaviors and beliefs systems whether I intend to or not.” She mentions in particular an analogy she holds as a guiding principle—about the multiple balls we all juggle, all rubber except for the glass ball that represents family or self, which if dropped is broken. She has been successful at living by this principle and passing the power of the message to her students and colleagues.
Holmes received letters of support from colleagues Diana Vincent, Ph.D., and David Soper, M.D, student Mekeshia Bates and resident Amy Cooper, M.D. All speak to her skills as an active practicing physician, noting her kindness to patients and her holistic approach to patient care. They elaborate on her enthusiasm and joy for teaching and mentoring students and residents. In particular, they recognize how effectively she models her philosophy of balancing multiple demands while remaining effective in all of them. As Cooper states, “she inspires me to achieve and her example allows me to dream of medicine and family simultaneously. She is a role model I hope to emulate, which is the most compliment I am able to offer.”
As stated by her chair, Peter VanDorsten, M.D., “young women,
and particularly young medical students and residents want to be like Melisa.
They literally yearn to spend time with her in the doctor/patient relationship…
Melisa is something very special.
The Medical University is very fortunate to have her as a teacher,
as a role model, and as a mentor for our medical students and residents.”
Kenneth (Jack) Thomas
Kenneth Jackson (Jack) Thomas, Ed.D. will receive the Educator-Lecturer award for excellence in classroom teaching. Thomas is an associate professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences in the College of Health Professions. He was the 2001 Teacher of the Year in his college and has been nominated for the national level Outstanding Allied Health Educator Award this year.
Among
his classroom assignments, Thomas teaches anatomy to rehabilitation science,
physician assistant, and nurse anesthesia students and received nominations
from students in each of these programs. In past years some courses included
a distance education component for physical therapy students in Greenville.
Key to his approach to teaching is his belief in facilitating the conditions
for learning by knowing and developing a personal understanding of each
of his students. Despite the large classes he teaches, students and supporters
note that he remembers each student, even long after courses are completed.
He traveled to see his distant students to establish relationships with
them as well.
Descriptions of him as a person and a teacher are inspirational.
Cynthia Santoro, a nurse anesthesia student, speaks to his ability to teach a complex subject in a meaningful way by his use of “a variety of effective teaching methods suitable for adult learning such as graphics, models, self-directed laboratory time, and a thorough syllabus.”
The members of the Physician Assistant class of 2003 describe Thomas as “the most dedicated…and outstanding professor..whose love of anatomy and his students is made known through his teaching.” They describe him as “simply the best.” His classroom evaluations from students ring with praise for his skills as teacher and his willingness to help students learn. The peer evaluation system in the college yields a report that describes his superb interpersonal skills, professional demeanor, and well-organized course and observes the mutual respect he and his students have for each other.
His chair, Becki Trickey, Ph.D., describes Thomas as having “the unique capacity not only to teach the content, but to also let students know that he cares about each of them individually and is invested in their learning.” One of the comments in his classroom evaluations probably says it best: Dr. Thomas is “one of the best teachers I've ever had, and one of the best people I've ever met.”
All three recipients deserve our highest praise for the contributions they have made and continue to make to our educational mission.
They are obviously wonderful people who's love of their work and talents as professionals have allowed them to touch the lives of innumerable students and serve as positive role models to their colleagues.
They will be formally recognized in August at the Fall Faculty Convocation and receive a cash award of $3,000 and certificate. In honor of their accomplishments and as a continual recognition of their contributions, they will also receive a special medallion to be worn with their academic regalia at this and future commencements.
Valerie T. West, Ed.D.
Associate Provost for Educational Programs