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Kern lands Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award — again

by Dick Peterson
Public Relations
First-year College of Graduate Studies students have again picked Michael J. Kern, Ph.D., associate professor of cell biology and anatomy, for the college’s Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award. This is his second in the three years the honor has been given.

Last year’s award was presented to Kevin Shey, Ph.D.

Dr. Michael J. Kern, left, receives the Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award from Dr. Perry Halushka.

“Of course, I’m flattered, Kern said, “and frankly a bit embarrassed that the award would come to me again.” Kern said that he was pulling for recently retired George Lindenmayer, M.D., Ph.D., to receive the award. 

Kern, who has been unit leader for first-year curriculum students with co-leader Steven W. Kubalak, Ph.D., said he will be shifting his teaching responsibilities to the College of Dental Medicine. He will become course co-director with Timothy Fitzharris, Ph.D., teaching the dental students histology in a course that also combines embryology and cell biology.

“The following year, I will be taking over as course director and Dr. Fitzharris will be co-director,” Kern said.

The Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award was initiated in 2002 by College of Graduate Studies Dean Perry Halushka, M.D., Ph.D., to encourage teaching excellence in the college. “That was the first year we could hold an event like this,” Halushka said. “It’s our common first-year curriculum that makes it possible.”

The college’s first-year curriculum has brought together the common elements of the full array of disciplines in the College of Graduate Studies and gives the students a chance to compare and choose where they wish to direct their graduate careers. Prior to 2002, the college’s courses were all department-based, which prevented a collegewide poll on teaching excellence.

“All 10 nominees, were truly outstanding teachers,” Halushka said. “I am particularly pleased that the College of Graduate Studies is in a position to recognize our outstanding teachers.  The teachers in the first-year curriculum play a pivotal role in providing our students with the core information and tools necessary to become outstanding scientists.”

Kern came to MUSC nine years ago from the University of Cincinnati. As a student he trained in microbiology-immunology and then moved into developmental biology as a post-doctoral fellow. His focus now is cardiac development.

“It’s really tough keeping a balance between research and teaching,” Kern said. “It’s more critical for me to bring in the money to do research, but teaching is what I enjoy. I really enjoy the interaction with the students, both one-on-one in the lab and getting in front of 20 or 40 of them in class.

“The award is tangible evidence that what I’ve been doing has been worthwhile,” Kern said. “It represents a group of people who said they got something out of it, and maybe learned a bit more because of the way I did it.”

The winner receives a personal plaque, their name on a plaque outside of the College’s office, $250 and a free parking space for a year.

Friday, July 9, 2004
Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.