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MD Program Teaching Excellence Awards Policy

Professionalism Reporting

Policy Statement:

The Department of Medical Education will oversee the process and procedure of the “Student Recognition of Teaching Excellence Awards”.  Awards will be determined in the Fall of each year. Award certificates will be signed by the Vice Dean for Medical Education and forwarded to the awardee. The name of the awardees will be announced via multiple outlets through KSOM and the awardee’s primary department (department chairs, program directors and division chiefs) will be notified for distribution of the news and recognition within their own departments.

Faculty are only eligible to receive awards for the same teaching activity every 3rd year following the receipt of an award (i.e., 2-year exclusion).

Year 0 Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
Award given Ineligible Ineligible Eligible

Residents are eligible to receive an award every year.  There is no exclusionary period for residents.

Pre-Clerkship Phase Awards:

Structure:

Semester I  2 awards
Semester II  2 awards
Semester III  2 awards
ICM I/II  4 awards
ICM III  2 awards
HJSC I/II  2 awards
HJSC III  1 award
EPIC I/II  2 awards

Procedure:

  • Student evaluations of faculty will be used to determine award recipients.
  • Faculty must have taught in at least three sessions to be eligible for an award.
  • In the case of a tie, the final determination of award recipient will be made by the Assistant Dean for Medical Education.

Clerkship Phase and Post-Clerkship Phase Awards:

Required Clerkships: 23 awards total

Structure:

Family Medicine  2 Faculty members
Internal Medicine  2 Faculty members / 1 resident
Internal Medicine Sub-I  2 Faculty members / 1 resident
Neurology  2 Faculty members / 1 resident
OBGYN  2 Faculty members / 1 resident
Pediatrics  2 Faculty members / 1 resident
Psychiatry  2 Faculty members / 1 resident
Surgery  2 Faculty members / 1 resident

Procedure:

  • Required Clerkship awards will use the average ratings from students’ evaluations of faculty and residents.
  • Faculty must have at least two student evaluations to be eligible for an award.
  • Faculty at all clerkship sites are eligible for the award.

Electives: 3 awards total:

Procedure:

  • Year IV students will vote on outstanding teachers in elective courses awards during their Senior Sign-Out. Students will be asked to recommend up to three faculty members who taught in an elective course. The awards will be given out in the following Fall semester.

Master Teacher Designation:

After a faculty member receives at least one award in three different years they will be designated a Master Teacher:

  • A letter will be sent to the faculty member and the appropriate department chair.
  • Master Teachers will be eligible to receive other awards with the usual exclusions.

Reviewed and approved: October 4, 2023

Medical Education Executive Council (MEEC)