The Educational Recognition Awards

Since 1999, the annual Educational Recognition Awards ceremony has been held as a means of reaffirming education as the founding and primary mission of the campus. The event is characterized by recognition of educational excellence in all three schools, a celebration of the collaboration among the three schools and pride in the dedication, passion and creativity of faculty. Recipients are nominated and chosen by their faculty colleagues.  Students also participate in the nominating process within the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing. The awards are presented by the deans of each school at an event held toward the end of the academic year.

2023 Recipients

Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing

Dean’s Award
James A. Fain, PhD, RN, BC-ADM, FADCES, FAAN

Distinguished Faculty Awards
Omanand Koul, PhD
Rachel Niemiec, DNP, FNP-C
Danielle Hebert, DNP, MBA, MSN, ANP-B

Teri Aronowitz, PhD, APRN,FNP-BC, FAAN

Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

Dean’s Award
Leslie Shaw, PhD

Faculty Awards
Elizabeth Shank, PhD
Amy Walker, PhD
Brian Kelch, PhD
Violeta Duran Laforet, PhD
Sean Ryder, PhD

T.H. Chan School of Medicine

Lamar Soutter Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Medical Education
Michael Fahey, MD

Educational Achievement (Star) Awards
Julia Rissmiller, MD 
Maria Barile, MD

Resident/Fellow Award for Excellence in Medical Student Education
Joseph Jabaily, DO, MD
Max Hazeltine, MD

Student Star Award
Bennett Vogt
Trent Taros

Administrative Staff Award
Melissa Puliafico, MBA

 The Last Lecture

Presentation of The Last Lecture by the recipient of the Chancellor’s Medal for Distinguished Teaching was added to the event program in 2011. Medal recipients are nominated by the faculty and selected by the Chancellor. Criteria for this honor describe having fostered students’ personal, intellectual and professional development.

The 2023 Last Lecture was given by

Melissa Fisher, MD, MEd