FEATURE

Gladys Fernandez MD, Manager of Baystate Simulation Center, Wins 2007- 08 Zucker Clinical Teaching Prize for Innovation

Dr. Gladys Fernandez Working with Medical Students in Skills Lab

The 2007-2008 Milton O. M'30 and Natalie V. Zucker Clinical Teaching Prize for Innovation was awarded to Gladys Fernandez, MD, Manager of Baystate Simulation Center. The prize, which is accompanied by a $2,500 unrestricted award from the Zucker endowment fund for teaching recognition, was presented to Dr. Fernandez by Dr. Michael Rosenblatt, Dean, Tufts University School of Medicine.

Zucker Clinical Teaching Prizes Promote and Honor Excellence in Clinical Teaching

The two Zucker Clinical Teaching Prizes, one for Innovation and one for Accomplishment, were established in 1998. They are awarded annually to clinical teaching faculty for the purpose of:

• Rewarding and recognizing specific faculty for outstanding innovation, accomplishment, and ability to motivate students.

• Encouraging all faculty to review those attributes needed to be an effective teacher.




“I accepted this prize from Dean Rosenblatt with much pride and joy, and promise to extend it to all of the wonderful individuals who have influenced me and helped make me worthy of this award.”

Fernandez was surprised and honored to receive the prize saying, "Receiving such commendation and support from individuals who have educated me, mentored me and helped me become who I am today, as well as from the Zucker family’s established annual award for excellence in teaching, was truly humbling and remarkable."

 

Prize Committee Seeks Balance Between Past Accomplishments and Promising Innovations

Nominations for the Zucker Prizes are solicited from department chairs, division chiefs, and other members of the faculty. The Curriculum Committee reviews the nomination materials and votes on the nominees. The Zucker Clinical Teaching Prize Selection Committee, which consists of the Dean of the Medical School, the Dean for Educational Affairs and Dean for Students, the Curriculum Committee Chair , and the Core Collaborators Committee, reviews the Curriculum Committee's votes and selects the winners.




Dr. Fernandez, who is also Director of Surgical Simulation Programs and assistant professor for Tufts University School of Medicine, was nominated for this prestigious award by Dr. Neal Seymour, Director of Baystate Simulation Center and Chief, General Surgery Division.