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THE PHYSIOLOGY TEACHER
Randy Olson: the Claude Bernard Distinguished Lecturer
The highest honor within the Teaching of Physiology Section is to be selected to present the Claude Bernard Lecture during the Experimental Biology Meeting. The 2008 recipient was Randy Olson (Fig. 1), PhD, who currently is President of Prairie Starfish Productions in Hollywood, CA, after academic appointments at Brown University, the University of New Hampshire, and the University of Southern California.
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After receiving his PhD in evolutionary biology at Harvard University in 1984, Dr. Olson accepted an academic position at Brown University and was responsible for teaching Introductory Ecology to undergraduate students. Four years later, he accepted a professorship at the University of New Hampshire, where he taught Introductory Biology and Introductory Ecology to undergraduate students and Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography to graduate students. He also became recognized as an authority on the larvae of marine organisms, had >20 manuscripts published in peer-reviewed journals, and was an active member of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology and of the American Society for Limnology and Oceanography.
Although a popular and effective teacher and a tenured professor of marine biology, his desire to inform and educate through an audiovisual medium prompted his resignation in 1994 from the University of New Hampshire and an enrollment in film school at the University of Southern California. Besides pursuing and perfecting the profession of film making at the University of Southern California, he taught classes in Introductory Biology and in Marine Biology. In fact, his most memorable teaching experience was teaching Introductory Biology to 550 freshman in an auditorium with a large screen and using audiovisual material from his marine biology experiences. Although film making has become his career, he still is associated with academia and each year conducts a workshop for graduate students at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in the art and science of using videos for educational purposes.
Before becoming acclaimed for the Flock of Dodo film, Dr. Olson's educational creativity was recognized in "Barnacles Tell No Lies" (the sex life of barnacles), "Lobstabs," and "Salt of the Earth" (about men who catch lobsters). While at the University of Southern California's Cinema School, he produced " You Ruined My Career," which was shown at the Telluride Film Festival and selected as one of the Top 100 Student Films in the history of the school. Later, he produced the film "Talking Science" (skills in science communication) and coproduced a film entitled "Rediagnosing the Ocean" (on coastal ecosystems). Recently, he produced the documentary "Sizzle: a Global Warming Comedy" to stimulate action on this important environmental problem. After a successful Hollywood premier, it was shown at the Woods Hole Film Festival, where it received an enthusiastic response.
Besides being recognized by the American Physiological Society for his educational achievements with film, Dr. Olson was recently selected by Pennsylvania State University to present the acknowledged Johnson Lecture at their featured Science Seminar.
In response to "what advise you would give to teachers," Dr. Olson responded that he was passionate on the intelligent use of video in the classroom in that it was most effective when used in short segments to augment, rather than replace, the lecture.
Penelope Ann Hansen: the Arthur C. Guyton Physiology Educator of the Year
At the 2008 Experimental Biology Meeting, the prestigious Arthur C. Guyton Physiology Educator of the Year was presented to Penelope Ann Hansen (Fig. 2), PhD, Professor of Physiology, at the Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. Johns, NL, Canada.
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In 1982, Prof. Hansen was appointed as an Assistant Professor of Physiology in the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University and, during 1995, was promoted to the rank of Professor of Physiology, a position she currently holds. Over the years, she has been responsible for teaching all subject matter topics in physiology to undergraduate science, nursing, and medical students; homeostasis, growth and repair, and hematopoiesis to graduate students; and renal physiology to nephrology residents and fellows. She has served as the Program Coordinator of select physiology courses for first- and second-year medical students and has been responsible for a lecture and laboratory course in Human Physiology for undergraduate majors in Biology and Biochemistry. She has taught principles of curriculum design, teaching evaluation and preparing teaching portfolio to graduate students in pedagogy, and, since 1994, has included pedagogy in the professional education programs for residents and faculty members.
At the administrative level, Prof. Hansen was the founding Director of Memorial's Centre Collaborative Health Professional Education, served as the Director of Academic Development for the Memorial University Faculty of Medicine, and was Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Medical Studies for the Faculty of Medicine.
Prof. Hansen is a "master teacher" whose teaching has been recognized with honors by medical students, medical faculty, and the President of Memorial University. She is one of a few medical pedagogy scholars whose research and writings have had a national and international impact on medical education. Harvard University awarded her a fellowship for promoting human health and reforming medical education, and 10 different universities located in Canada, Germany, the United States, and in the Caribbean have offered visiting professorships to promote curriculum development, faculty development, or effective teaching activities for their academic personnel.
Prof. Hansen has served the American Physiological Society well in that she has served on eight societal committees, including the Education Committee, and was Chair of the Teaching Section. In addition, she has been a member of the Editorial Board, an Associate Editor, and the Editor of Advances in Physiology Education. Her contributions to the International Union of Physiological Sciences have been demonstrated by serving a co-chair of its Education Committee and helping to organize workshop on teaching physiology.
In North America, Prof. Hansen has served on the committee concerned with Educating the Future Physicians of Ontario, as Chair of the Undergraduate Committee for the Canadian Association for Medical Colleges, as President of the Canadian Association of Medical Education, on the Group on Educational Affairs for the Association of American Medical Colleges, and as a member of Liason Committtee on Medical Education Accreditation groups, which conducted site visits at three medical schools in the United States and four medical schools in Canada. Beyond North American, Prof. Hansen has conducted extensive teaching workshops, participated in educational symposia, and lectured on educational principles to professionals located in Africa, Chile, Costa Rica, Hungary, Japan, and New Zealand.
Her views on promoting and enhancing the teaching of physiology in schools and universities will be published in a future issue of The Physiologist.
RECOGNITION
Reem Rachel Abraham: an Outstanding Teacher at Melanka Manipal Medical College
Dr. Abraham, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiology of Melanka Manipal Medical College (Manipal, India), received a "Teaching Career Enhancement Award" to attend the course entitled Research in Essential Skills in Medical Education, which is sponsored by the Association of Medical Education in Europe and taught in the Czech Republic.
Robert W. Baer: an Outstanding Teacher at A. T. Still University
An Associate Professor of Physiology within Kirksville College of Osteophathic Medicine, Dr. Baer received the 2008 A. T. Still Award for excellence in teaching. His teaching responsibilities include lectures in cellular and respiratory physiology, body fluid balance, and cardiac function to 170 first-year medical students and 12 graduate students while presenting laboratory sessions and workshops to smaller groups. He also teaches BioStatistics to graduate students.
Carmine D. Clemente: an Outstanding Teacher at the University of California-Los Angeles
A retired Professor of Neurobiology, Dr. Clemente received the Alpha Omega Alpha Robert J. Glazer Distinguished Teacher Award from the American Association of Medical Colleges during their meeting in Seattle, WA. This prestigious award includes the largest financial stipend given for teaching in the world!
Stephen T. Devor: an Outstanding Teacher at The Ohio State University
Previously, Assoc. Prof. Devor of the Health and Exercise Science Program, with joint appointments in Physiology and Cell Biology and in Nutrition, was recognized with the Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching. Associated with the award was an impressive medal, an adjustment to his base salary, and a honorarium. During the year, he teaches a Kinesiology course to 85 sophmores, Introductory Exercise Physiology to 50 undergraduate majors, Advanced Exercise Physiology to 50 undergraduate majors, Graduate Exercise Physiology to 12 MA candidates, and a course in Skeletal Muscle Structure, Function, and Plasticity to 8–10 PhD candidates.
Ronald J. Korthusis: an Outstanding Teacher at the University of Missouri-Columbia
As in 2007, Dr. Korthusis, The George L. and Melna A. Bolm Distinguished Professor in Cardiovascular Health, was recognized in 2008 for excellence in teaching by being appointed to the Order of Socrates of the College of Medicine. The Order of Socrates was created to recognize the best teachers and individuals associated with the implementation of a medical student problem-based learning curriculum. The essence of the system is the organization of students into groups of eight, who then become exposed to eight blocks of case-based instruction for 8 wk. He was a faculty member assigned to a specific group for mentoring and tutoring purposes throughout the designated period. In addition, Dr. Korthusis lectures to 96 students on the physiology of the coronary circulation and inflammation.
Curtis J. Kost, Jr.: an Outstanding Teacher at the University of South Dakota
In the Sanford School of Medicine, Assoc. Prof. Kost, Jr., was selected by first-year medical students (54 individuals) to receive the 2008 Golden Apple Award and by second-year students (52 individuals) to receive the 2008 Basic Bioscience Educator of the Year. He is responsible for teaching renal physiology to first-year students and for lecturing on diuretics and antihypertensive agents to students during their second year.
Johnny R. Porter: an Outstanding Teacher at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
At the Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, LA, Prof. Porter was selected to receive the Allen A. Copping Excellence in Teaching Award, an award determined by input from faculty members and students. As Course Director of Physiology for Dental Students and of Physiology for Dental Hygienists, he is responsible for >100 students. In addition, he team teaches pathophysiology to >150–200 undergraduate and core nurses and to pharmacy undergraduates enrolled at nearby Xaivier University. Finally, he presents physiology lectures to Allied Health and Physiology graduate students (30–40 students) and to biomedical engineers enrolled at nearby Tulane University.
Jack A. Rall: an Outstanding Teacher at The Ohio State University
A Professor of Physiology in the College of Medicine, Dr. Rall in 2008 received an Excellence in Teaching Award from the college. Known as a dedicated teacher at The Ohio State University for 35 years, he was also acknowledged for his innovative lectures and for his willingness to offer new courses within the physiology curriculum. In recent years, his responsibilities have included team teaching in a graduate course on Organ System Physiology (respiratory physiology to 200 students), Dental Physiology (respiratory physiology to 110 students), and a course for undergraduate students entitled Principles of Human Physiology (renal physiology to 225 students).
Jean C. Strahlendorf: an Outstanding Teacher at Texas Tech University Health Science Center
In 2008, Prof. Strahlendorf, a member of the Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics, received two separate awards for excellence as a teacher of medical students and as a teacher and mentor of graduate students enrolled at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. The former was the Dean's Basic Science Teaching Award for her effectiveness in teaching the Integrated Neuroscience course to 140 second-year medical students, while the latter was the Outstanding Faculty Award presented by the Student Senate of Texas Tech University for her leadership and performance in the Human Physiology course with 15 graduate students.
M. Victoria Velarde: an Outstanding Teacher at Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
In Santiago, Chile, Prof. Velarde was recognized with a Teaching Award by the Biological and Medical Section of the university for excellence in teaching physiology to second-year medical students, second-year chemistry and pharmacy students, and graduate students. In addition, she is responsible for a physiology course offered to third-year students majoring in Biology and Biochemistry.
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