Dean Steven G. Gabbe, center, sits with Dr. John S. Sergent at the Spring Faculty Meeting on Tuesday. Gabbe was formally introduced to the faculty at the meeting. (photo by Dana Johnson)
Great teachers recognized
at Spring Faculty Meeting
Vanderbilt University Medical Center and School of Nursing faculty members were honored Tuesday at the Spring Faculty meeting for outstanding accomplishments and contributions in teaching and research.
“There is probably no more meaningful recognition of excellence than that awarded by one’s peers,” said Dr. Harry R. Jacobson, vice chancellor for Health Affairs. “Last year we launched a tradition with the award of 11 prizes to faculty of the School of Medicine for achievements in teaching and research. We continue and expand the tradition today by awarding 13 prizes, including three to faculty of the School of Nursing.”
Recipients of the Faculty Teaching Awards were:
•Dr. Terence S. Dermody, associate professor of Pediatrics and assistant professor of Microbiology and Immunology, for mentoring graduate and/or medical students in research setting.
•Dr. Corey M. Slovis, professor and chair of Emergency Medicine and professor of Medicine, for teaching medical or graduate students or practicing physicians in the lecture setting.
•Dr. Mark R. Denison, associate professor of Pediatrics and assistant professor of Microbiology and Immunology, for teaching medical or graduate students or practicing physicians in the small group setting.
•Dr. W. Anderson Spickard III, assistant professor of Medicine, for teaching medical students, residents, and/or fellows in the clinical setting.
•Virginia L. Shepherd, Ph.D., professor of Pathology and Medicine and associate professor of Medicine and Biochemistry, for innovation in education programming that has proven to be effective.
Dr. Steven G. Gabbe, dean of the Vanderbilt School of Medicine, presented the awards and was formally introduced to the faculty. “I’m very excited to be at Vanderbilt,” he said. Gabbe emphasized that the extraordinary work being done by the Vanderbilt faculty was a determining factor in his decision to relocate here.
“You win with people and I think we have the people here to win,” he added.
Recipients of the Faculty Research Awards were presented by Lee E. Limbird, Ph.D., associate vice chancellor for Research. “It truly is a considerable recognition to be nominated by the faculty,” she said. “This is quite significant.”
They awards include:
•The Charles R. Park Faculty Research Award – Dr. Daryl K. Granner, Joe C. Davis Professor of Biomedical Sciences and director of the Vanderbilt Diabetes Center, for basic research findings revealing insights into physiology and pathophysiology.
•The Grant W. Liddle Faculty Research Award – Dr. Nancy J. Brown, associate professor of Medicine and Pharmacology, for excellence in clinical research.
•The Sidney P. Colowick Faculty Research Award – Dr. L. Jackson Roberts II, professor of Medicine and Pharmacology, for excellence in research that serves as a platform for discovery in diverse research areas.
•The Stanley Cohen Faculty Research Award – Dr. John H. Exton, professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics and of Pharmacology and investigator in the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, for research bringing diverse disciplines, such as chemistry or physics, to solving biology’s most important fundamental problems.
•The Ernest W. Goodpasture Faculty Research Award – Dr. Noel B. Tulipan, professor of Neurological Surgery, and Dr. Joseph P. Bruner, associate professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, for collaborative or multidisciplinary research to address important biological problems and their role in disease pathogenesis.
The School of Nursing Excellence in Teaching Awards were presented to:
•Margaret M. McGill, CNM, MN, instructor in the practice of Nursing, for teaching students in the lecture or small group setting.
•Joan E. King, BSN, Ph.D., associate professor of the practice of Nursing, for teaching students in the clinical setting.
•Donna B. McArthur, RN, Ph.D., assistant professor of the practice of Nursing, for educational innovation that has made a significant contribution to excellence in teaching and learning.
Prior to the presentation of awards, the financial strategies were discussed, as well as the overall forecast of the medical center.
Norman B. Urmy, executive vice president for Clinical Affairs, outlined the 2001-2002 financial issues of the hospital and clinic. They include improving TennCare payments; continued success in contracting; managing expenses; and funding capital and development needs.
Urmy praised the faculty for a dramatic increase in volume growth, citing a 35 percent increase in emergency room visits in the last four years and a 14 percent hike in admissions in the last three years. He also labeled the growth of VMG as “strong” as it jumped 35 percent since 1997.
“Our big challenge for next year is how to keep growing and get the occupancy rate to 90 percent,” he said. “The challenges are great, but I’m optimistic.”
Dr. John S. Sergent, chief medical officer of VMG, discussed contracting, billing and collections, the VMG retreat, front end redesign, and parking.
Sergent focused on the renegotiations of contracts with insurance providers, primarily Blue Cross/Blue Shield. “We’ve had very good meetings with them and I’m very optimistic about the renegotiations,” he said.