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THE PHYSIOLOGY TEACHER
Dee U. Silverthorn: the 2006 Claude Bernard Distinguished Lecturer
The highest honor bestowed by the Teaching of Physiology section is to be selected to present the Claude Bernard Distinguished Lecture during the Experimental Biology Meeting. This year, the recipient was Dee U. Silverthorn, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer (Fig. 1), of the Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX. Her presentation, "Teaching and learning in an interactive classroom," will published in the December issue of The Physiologist.
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Her teaching includes an Experimental Physiology Laboratory; an upper-division lecture course entitled Vertebrate Physiology II, which covers all the systems except those pertaining to muscle and nerves; a Dean’s Scholars Seminar, a course for select freshmen that discusses social, political, and economic aspects of medicine; a seminar listed as Teaching Biology, which is intended for newly arrived graduate teaching assistants on how to teach; and a course on body functions for nonmajors that is listed as The Human Body. Additionally, Dr. Silverthorn developed and implemented a laboratory curriculum for a two-semester Nursing and Allied Health class entitled Physiology and Functional Anatomy. She has been awarded a Texas Excellence Teaching Award and The College of Natural Sciences Teaching Excellence Award as well as the American Physiological Society (APS) Guyton Educator of the Year in 2001.
Consistent with the title of her Claude Bernard lecture, Dr. Silverthorn evaluates her teaching effectiveness using the electronic methodology of the interactive classroom. Her national and international recognition as an educator is due, in part, to the widespread use of her textbook, Human Physiology: an Integrated Approach, now in its fourth edition, and her laboratory manual entitled Laboratory Experiments in Physiology. Her recognition has also been enhanced by her authorship of articles in peer-reviewed educational journals and by her editorials and leadership as the Editor of Advances in Physiology Education.
Professionally, she has served as Chair of the Teaching Section of APS and was recently elected by the membership to serve on its council. She is also a member of the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society and serves on the Education Committee of the International Union of Physiological Sciences.
When asked to comment on what APS should do to enhance the importance of teaching to its members, she responded by stating that "APS already does a fabulous job of supporting the teaching missions of its members" while reminding our readers that in 2003 the APS Staff received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Mentoring. To Dr. Silverthorn, "APS has something to offer everyone" regardless of whether they are undergraduate, graduate, or medical students or students enrolled in grades K–12. She mentioned the availability of the list of professional skills needed by graduate students, the courses for the writing of grants and for reviewing papers, the curriculum objectivities for medical students, the summer research fellowships that have been offered to undergraduates, and the numerous materials and resources that are suitable for use by elementary and higher-level students.
Daniel R. Richardson: the Arthur C. Guyton Physiology Educator of the Year Award
At the 2006 Experimental Biology Meeting, the prestigious Arthur C. Guyton Physiology Teacher of the Year award was presented to Daniel R. Richardson, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Physiology, of the Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY (Fig. 2). The article associated with the award is "Respect: a key to facilitating learning" and will be published in a future issue of The Physiologist.
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In the 36 years he has been affiliated with the University of Kentucky, he has taught physiological and health science courses (35 courses) in six different colleges that have included elementary and high school students; undergraduate, graduate, and medical students; and health care professionals. Many were courses that he planned, developed, and implemented. On several occasions, he has been honored with teaching awards and, in 2004, received the coveted University Provost Award for Outstanding Teaching at the University of Kentucky. Prof. Richardson has not confined his teaching to only the Lexington area as he taught physiology as a visiting professor to students at the University of Transkei in Transkei, South Africa, and to nursing students at the Mary Breckenridge School of Frontier Nursing in Hayden, KY.
His favorite courses were two taught to freshman and senior students. Both had small numbers, were in the College of Arts and Sciences, and were organized around student discussions. He found them challenging because he taught physiological concepts concerning bodily functions to students whose mental processes "were not actively wired for science." He enjoyed teaching them because they utilized a large measure of psychosocial considerations of body functions that Walter Cannon termed the "body politic" and that Penny Hansen mentioned in her "recondite curriculum" article as published in Advan Physiol Educ 26: 1–4, 2002. He also selected these courses because they used examinations to determine final grades.
The freshman course was listed as The Stability of Life in an Unstable World and used a variety of hands-on exercises, writing assignments, and numerous small-group or whole-class discussion sessions. The seniors were enrolled in a class known as the Environment and the Human Organism, which used problem-based learning as its main pedagogical method and was supplemented with class discussions. Grades in both courses were determined by writing assignments, in-class and out-of-class activities, and students’ participation in class discussions.
Prof. Richardson’s professional responsibilities included being Director of Graduate Studies and Director of Education for the Department of Physiology, the Director of Medical Physiology for the College of Medicine, and the Director of Doctoral Programs in Gerontology. At the national level, he served as Chair for the APS Teaching Section, was an Associate Editor for Advances in Physiology Education, and represented the interests of the Teaching Section in the APS International Committee. To date, he has more than 25 peer-reviewed articles on educational subjects that have been published in leading educational journals.
His recommendations on how APS could improve the teaching of physiology were to sponsor a Gordon Conference program on the latest advances in teaching, increase the funding to assist faculty members in becoming better teachers, and to sponsor either a speaking tour to departments by the Claude Bernard Lecturer or to distribute to departments the videos of the lecture so that faculty members could benefit from the wisdom within the presentation.
RECOGNITION
Mukul R. Banerjee: an Outstanding Teacher at Meharry Medical College
Before his change to Emeritus status in the Department of Physiology at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN, Prof. Banerjee received a special plaque from the South Asian Medical Student Association that recognized him for his Excellence in Teaching and Dedication to Students. Throughout his career, Prof. Banerjee has taught physiology to medical and dental students and, during the past 20 years, has been nominated for a teaching award every year while being the recipient of five distinctive awards.
Shu Chien: an Outstanding Teacher of the University of California
A Professor of Bioengineering and Medicine, Shu Chien was selected as the Tau Beta Pi Professor of the Year by student members of the Tau Beta Honor Society. This is a National Honor Society for Engineering that contains essentially undergraduate students. Each year, Prof. Chien teaches a course in Bioengineering Physiology to 
75 junior-level students. He also teaches an Introduction to Bioengineering course for 250 students, of whom the majority are freshmen.
Kurtish G. Cornish: an Outstanding Teacher at the University of Nebraska Medical Center
At the medical ceremony for the 2006 graduation class, Assoc. Prof. Cornish of the Department of Physiology and Biophysics received the Hirshmann Prize for Teaching Excellence. Prof. Cornish was selected by the class as the preclinical recipient of this prestigious prize for his innovative methods and for his dedication to the needs of the students.
Richard L. Hughson: an Oustanding Supervisor and Mentor of Graduate Students at the University of Waterloo
A Professor in the Department of Kinesiology, Dr. Hughson was selected to receive an Award of Excellence in Graduate Supervision by the Graduate Studies Office within the university. A highly respected investigator in exercise physiology who is recognized as a caring, critical, and rigorous mentor of graduate students, he was recommended for this award by current and former students, many of whom have become accomplished investigators at major institutions.
Donald Katz: an Outstanding Teacher at Brandeis University
Donald Katz, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Brandeis University, has the distinction of receiving two teaching awards in 2006. The first and the oldest teaching award was the Michael L. Walzer Award for Excellence in Teaching, which begins with student nominations that are sent to a student, faculty, and administrator selection committee to determine a single faculty recipient. The second award was the Brandeis Student Union Award, which also begins with student nominations but is decided by representatives from the Brandeis Student Union. Courses taught by Prof. Katz include the Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience and a Seminar on Chemosensory Perception and Learning. The former class had 110 freshmen students, whereas the seminar had essentially 15 graduate students.
Stephen A. Katz: an Outstanding Teacher at the University of Minnesota
Minnesota was the site where Assoc. Prof. Stephen Katz of the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology was selected by a faculty committee of the Medical School for the Outstanding Medical School Teacher Award. He received this award for teaching first-year medical students.
James R. Klinger: an Outstanding Teacher at Brown University
At an awards ceremony scheduled at Brown University, Assoc. Prof. Klinger of the Division of Pulmonary received the Beckwith Family Award for Teaching within the College of Medicine. He was selected because of his "superb teaching" as determined from nominations submitted by students, residents, physicians, and course directors. Associated with this award was a cash prize and a plaque.
Tomoyuki Kuwaki: an Outstanding Teacher at Chiba University School of Medicine
Of 1,270 teachers, only 12 were designated to receive awards. Prof. Tomoyuki, of the Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, was one of those selected to receive the coveted The Best Teacher Award. He was nominated by students and faculty members who were aware of his excellence in teaching physiology to >100 third-year medical students.
Roberto Refinetti: an Outstanding Teacher at the University of South Carolina
In May of 2006, the Board of Trustees of the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC, announced that Prof. Roberto Refinetti of the Department of Psychology had been selected to receive the Carolina Trustee Professorship Award. This recognition, which is only for tenured full professors, is for demonstrated excellence in teaching, outstanding research, and meritorious community service. Within the department, Prof. Refinetti teaches the Introduction to Psychology, Physiological Psychology, Human Sexuality, and Research Methods.
Thomas C. Resta: an Outstanding Teacher at the University of New Mexico
An award entitled Faculty Excellence in Teaching was presented to Assoc. Prof. Resta of the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology by the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program of the College of Medicine at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM. He was recommended for the award by students and faculty members within the Biomedical Sciences Program. This year, Prof. Resta served as Course Director and lectured on topics in cardiovascular physiology. In addition, he taught a graduate physiology course to 12 first-year M.S. and Ph.D. students, a Pulmonary Physiology class to senior students, and an Advanced Topics in Cellular and System Physiology to 7 students.
Janet E. Steele: an Outstanding Teacher at the University of Nebraska
Each year, the University of Nebraska selects a faculty member to represent their campus for the University of Nebraska System Outstanding Teaching and Instructional Creativity Award. They choose Prof. Steele from the Department of Biology for this honor because of her impressive record of teaching effectiveness with students interested in careers within the health sciences. Her major teaching responsibility is a two-semester sophomore-level lecture-laboratory course in human anatomy and physiology that has 100–200 students/semester. Using a comprehensive final exam developed and distributed by the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society, Prof. Steele found that the class yearly average has increased markedly since her arrival and now ranks within the top 30% of national scores.
Shawn Stover: an Outstanding Teacher at Davis-Elkins College
At their annual Honors Convocation in Elkins, WV, the faculty members at Davis-Elkins College selected Asst. Prof. Shawn Stover of the Department of Biology to receive the prestigious Lois Latham Award for Teaching Excellence. At the college, Prof. Stover teaches courses in Human Physiology, Vertebrate Physiology, and Neuroscience. Enrolled in her courses are 80 allied health majors, 6–10 biology majors, and 10–12 students with an emphasis in psychology.
Jaqadeeshan Sunderram: an Outstanding Teacher at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
The internal medicine residents at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersy-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, NJ, selected Asst. Prof. Sunderram of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Department of Medicine, to receive their Excellence in Teaching Award. Approximately 75 residents participated in the selection of Prof. Sunderram for this honor.
Richard C. Vari : an Outstanding Teacher at the North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Science
An Associate Dean for Medical Education and a Professor of Physiology, Dean Vari received from the School of Medicine and Health Sciences the William Crozier and Edith Magwood Fawcett Enhance Award Acknowledging Excellence in Teaching Research as well as the Outstanding Block Instructor Award. This impressive record was due, in part, to his effectiveness in teaching cardiovascular, renal, and body fluid physiology to first-year medical students.
David L. Wilson: an Outstanding Teacher at the University of Miami
In Coral Gables, FL, Prof. Wilson of the Department of Biology received two teaching awards from the University of Miami. The first, an Excellence in Teaching Award, was determined by a university faculty committee and included a cash prize. The second was determined by a vote of the graduating seniors in Biology and was entitled The Outstanding Biology Educator. Both awards were for teaching undergraduate students, and 2006 was the second time that he had received both awards. This year, he taught General Biology to 220 majors, the Biology of Aging with 45 undergraduate and graduate students, and the Introduction to Neuroscience Research with essentially 15 undergraduates enrolled in the course.
Jennifer L. L. Iverson: Selected for an Award at Washington University
Each year at Washington University, the Chairman of the Department of Education and Primary Investigator of the National Science Foundation Grant for the Center for Inquiry in Science Teaching and Learning identifies a postdoctoral fellow for their contribution to the program. This year, Dr. William Tate selected Jennifer L. L. Iverson, Ph.D., as the Chair Choice for the Outstanding Post-Doctoral Fellow. Dr. Iverson’s responsibilities pertain to science communication and science education.
Nancy J. Pelaez: New Responsibilities at the National Science Foundation
An Assistant Professor of Biology in the Department of Biological Sciences at California State University in Fullerton, CA, Prof. Pelaez is to become a Program Director for the Division of Undergraduate Education at the National Science Foundation in Washington, DC. This rotational assignment will allow her to continue to serve as Secretary of the APS Teaching Section. She can be reached at npelaez{at}NSF.gov.
GRANT RECIPIENTS
Saint Joseph University: Integrating Biology and Statistical Education
James J. Watrous, Professor of Biology, was the Primary Investigator of a recently completed Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement Grant entitled Implementing Biology and Statisical Education. The funding agency was the National Science Foundation.
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School: Learning in Education
Nancy R. Stevenson, an Associate Professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, is the Primary Investigator of a grant entitled Development of a Laboratory/Conference Utilizing the Human Stimulator, V-Tel, and Team Learning. The funding is from the Educational Technology Grant Program and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Foundation. The current level of support is $15,000. She was also the Primary Investigator for a grant entitled Frontiers in Physiology: Local Outreach Team. The $15,000 grant was provided by APS with support from the National Center for Research Resources Science Education Partnership Award program.
Wake Forest University: Education and Training
Debra I. Diz, Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology, Professor within the Hypertension and Vascular Biology Center, served as the Director and Primary Investigator for Short-Term Training for Minority Students in cardiovascular physiology during the summer months. The funding was from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, and the support level was $70,490. She is also Director and Mentor of a Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program for Minority Students. The funding is from the National Institute of General Medical Services, and the current support level is $429,230. Dr. Diz is also Director of a United States-Brazil Student Exchange Consortium. The funding is from the Department of Energy, and the current support level is $205,340.
Mark C. Chappell, Associate Professor of the Hypertension and Vascular Biology Center, is the Primary Investigator and sponsor of a Minority Supplement. The funding is from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, and the current level of support is $200,000.
Ann E. Tallant, Associate Professor of the Hypertension and Vascular Biology Center, is the Primary Investigator of a Minority Supplement. The funding is from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, and the current level of support is $39,783.
West Chester University of Pennsylvania: Physiology Laboratory Curriculum Integration
Giovanni Casotti, Associate Professor, and Maureen Knabb, Professor, of the Department of Biology at West Chester University have a Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement Grant from the National Science Foundation to incorporate inquiry-based learning within their physiology laboratory curriculum. The amount of support is $112,049.
If you have been honored as a physiology educator or have received a grant for educational research and would like to submit an announcement for publication, please use the APS Central submission process (www.apscentral.org). Photographs to accompany announcements must be submitted as gif or tif files. For additional information about "The Physiology Teacher," contact the Associate Editor, Dr. Charles Tipton, at tipton{at}u.arizona.edu.
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