The Zoetis Distinguished Teacher Award
The Zoetis Distinguished Teacher Award is the most prestigious teaching award in veterinary medicine. It is presented annually to a faculty member at each college of veterinary medicine in the US. Its purpose is “to improve veterinary medicine education by recognizing outstanding instructors, who, through their ability, dedication, character and leadership contribute significantly to the advancement of the profession.” This year’s recipient at Penn is Dr. Erika Krick.
“Dr. Krick is the kindest doctor in the hospital. She constantly has a smile from ear to ear when working with students and she causes a similar reaction with her students and clients. Dr. Krick is a stupendous role model.”
Dr. Krick graduated from Penn’s School of Veterinary Medicine in 2002. After one year of general practice she returned to Penn to complete a one year rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery and a three year medical oncology residency. Dr. Krick is a board-certified veterinary oncologist and is currently an assistant professor of oncology, clinician educator track at the Penn School of Veterinary Medicine. Her primary research interests are feline oncology and mast cell tumors in dogs. She is specifically interested in cancer cachexia in cats and strategies to improve the quality and length of life for cats with cancer. Her primary teaching interest is client communication skills and increasing student exposure to this topic in the vet school curriculum.
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The Boucher Teaching Award
Dr. Michelle Abraham, a native of New South Wales, Australia, began her career at New Bolton Center with Dr. Jon Palmer, as a fellow in the neonatal intensive care unit during the spring of 2009. Her love of foals was fostered in Kentucky, USA, and Newmarket, UK, prior to veterinary school at Murdoch University, AUS. Dr. Abraham honed her skills under the eye of Penn residency-trained Dr. Jane Axon at Scone Equine Hospital in Australia as an intern following her NICU fellowship. Dr. Abraham returned to New Bolton Center as a medicine resident in the fall of 2010 and immediately dove into both her clinical training and teaching career. Dr. Abraham and her fiancee, a fellow equine veterinarian, have two dogs and two cats. Dr. Abraham enjoys running, cooking, and gardening in her spare time. Winning the Boucher Award was made even sweeter when Dr. Abraham accepted the award from one of her mentors, Dr. Ray Sweeney.
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Class of 2013 Philadelphia Campus Teaching Award
Dr. JD Foster graduated from Penn’s School of Veterinary Medicine in 2007. After spending one year in general practice followed by an internship at a VCA specialty hospital in Norwalk, Connecticut, he was accepted into a small animal internal medicine residency at the University of Wisconsin. During his residency, Dr. Foster developed a strong interest in nephrology and sought training in hemodialysis. After completing his residency training, Dr. Foster returned to PennVet as a lecturer within the small animal internal medicine service. At Penn, he restarted a hemodialysis service, which quickly grew to become one of the busiest veterinary dialysis centers in the nation.
“I spent some serious quality time with Dr. Foster during a dialysis case while on medicine, and I have to say that he is one of the most down to earth clinicians whose passion for teaching is undeniable. Not only did I learn so much from him, but he made overnight dialysis sessions entertaining and fun. He is by far one of the best clinicians at Penn Vet.”
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Class of 2013 New Bolton Center Teaching Award
Dr. Mary Lassaline Utter received her veterinary degree from Michigan State University, followed by an internship in equine medicine and surgery at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, and a residency in comparative ophthalmology at University of Florida in Gainesville. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. She worked in private veterinary ophthalmology practice in Texas and Connecticut prior to joining the faculty at University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center (NBC). She has a PhD in cognitive psychology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Her research interest is equine corneal disease.
“She is one of the most friendly and approachable clinicians out at NBC. She always goes out of her way to make sure you are learning and always takes the time to get to know each of us.”
“Dr. Utter is a fantastic teacher. She goes above and beyond to create opportunities for students to learn in a fun and hands on way. When our castration lab on equine surgery fell apart, Dr. Utter happily put together a bonus lab for us with the dissecting microscope which was one of the best parts of the rotation.”
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Class of 2014 Philadelphia Campus Teaching Award
Dr. Jeffrey J. Runge graduated from Dickinson College and then received his DVM from Ross University. Following his internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York, Dr. Runge went on to do his surgical training at Penn Vet, which included a one year fellowship and a three year small animal surgical residency. Dr. Runge is currently a lecturer of small animal surgery at Penn Vet. He focuses primarily on laparoscopic and thoracoscopic minimally invasive surgery, and has lectured on single port and multiport laparoscopic surgery alike. Through ongoing collaboration with leading human laparoscopic surgeons, Dr. Runge and Penn Vet have become one of the leaders in veterinary reduced port surgery.
“Dr. Runge learned everyone’s name the first week of class. He held a laparoscopic surgery Olympics that was the most fun lab we’ve ever had. We have a lot of awesome professors here, but honestly, Dr. Runge stands out. He cares so much and wants us to succeed, and he knows his craft so well. Dr. Runge is reason enough alone to take small animal block.”
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Class of 2014 and Class of 2015 New Bolton Center Teaching Award
Dr. Ray Sweeney earned his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and graduated from Penn Vet in 1982, followed by an internship and residency at Penn Vet’s New Bolton Center. He has spent his entire 30-year career at New Bolton Center, where he is currently professor of medicine and chief of the section of medicine and ophthalmology at New Bolton. Dr. Sweeney’s clinical specialty is internal medicine of large animals, and his research work is focused on paratuberculosis and other infectious diseases of cattle. He teaches in all four years of the veterinary curriculum, including lectures, hands-on laboratories, and clinical instruction of fourth-year students. Dr. Sweeney has been a four-time winner of the Carl Norden-Pfizer Distinguished Teacher Award, was a recipient of the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching, and in 1992 was awarded the North American Outstanding Teacher Award by the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges.
“Nothing makes it easier to show up for a 9 a.m. class than Dr. Sweeney and a few of his trademark jokes. His calm demeanor and great sense of humor make his lectures the rare and much-appreciated relief in an otherwise grueling second year schedule.”
“In addition to his dedication to teaching, Dr. Sweeney’s encouragement to develop a work-life balance makes him a great mentor to his students.”
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Class of 2015 Philadelphia Campus Teaching Award
Dr. Roberta Di Terlizzi received her DVM in Italy in 1999 and had a residency at Kansas State University in veterinary clinical pathology ending in 2007. As a clinical instructor at Iowa State University, she worked in educational research as well as developing and implementing new tools in the classroom to improve student learning abilities. She is the clinical pathology course director who has implemented new approaches with the integration of team-based learning, turning point clickers response and case-based learning. At Penn Vet since 2009, she finds teaching very rewarding; it makes her feel accomplished in participating in students’ lives and as they grow toward becoming great doctors. She also enjoys working in the clinical lab, and in this role as diagnostician she is also able to teach residents and fourth-year veterinary students.
“There is simply no one in the school as enthusiastic and fun-loving as Dr. Di Terlizzi. She also happens to be an excellent professor and is constantly working to improve education at Penn Vet and around the world. Her passion for teaching is clearly evident in the classroom, where she is able to take complicated clinical pathology concepts and explain them in a simple, easy-to-understand way.” |
Class of 2016 Lecture Teaching Award
Dr. Olena Jacenko received her undergraduate degree from Columbia University, majoring in biology and Russian. She earned a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania and was a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Jacenko is currently professor of Biochemistry at Penn Vet, where she also oversees faculty affairs and diversity. Dr. Jacenko is very active in teaching, serving on most departmental and School teaching curriculum committees, and has been instrumental in implementing modifications in Penn Vet’s teaching policies and curriculum. Her research is focused on skeletal development and blood cell differentiation, and she developed transgenic mouse models that are being used to define the skeleto-hematopoietic stem cell niche. Dr. Jacenko has been honored with a teaching award by the students three times prior, and a Dean’s award for leadership in basic science education.
“Dr. Jacenko was one of our professors last semester, and she was definitely a wonderful teacher to have when first starting vet school! She is an amazing lecturer, and it is easy to see her passion for science and teaching. We really appreciate everything she’s done for us!”
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Class of 2016 Laboratory Teaching Award
Dr. Peter Hand received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and graduated from Penn Vet in 1961. He earned his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in 1964. Dr. Hand is currently Emeritus Professor of Anatomy after a 35-year career at Penn Vet and continues to help out during anatomy labs.
“From coming in during his own free time to help us study for neuro lab, to joining us for monthly wine club tastings, Dr. Hand has always been a constant source of knowledge and reassurance. We truly couldn’t have done it without him.” |