The recipients of the 2024 Penn Nursing teaching awards will be recognized at the Student, Alumni, and Faculty Awards event on Friday, May 17, 2024, from 4-5:30 p.m. in the Ann L. Roy Auditorium.

Dean’s Award for Distinguished Teaching–Undergraduate

Antonio Dávila is the laboratory director of the Penn Acute Research Collaboration (PARC) at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. Dr. Dávila collaborates with Penn physicians and scientists to design and conduct clinical research and clinical trials on emergent and trauma patients. As the course director for Biologically-Based Chemistry, Dr. Dávila takes a practical approach by relating textbook chemistry material with real-world clinical and research situations, using videos and guest lectures presented by working nurses and nurse scientists. Students are encouraged to engage in clinical or community research as an integral part of their academic career. Dr. Dávila has mentored undergraduate and graduate students and supports student trainees in his laboratory and field research. Through his innovative approach to education, he has helped his students to feel confident and passionate about topics that will help them continue to excel within the nursing community.

Inaugural Dean’s Award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

is a senior lecturer and the director of the women’s health and gender-related nurse practitioner program. Her steadfast dedication to advancing DEI in the women’s health/gender-related nurse practitioner and midwifery programs has been an inspiration to all, fostering a more inclusive and equitable learning environment for both students and faculty alike. As a longstanding member of WECARE (White Educators Committed to Anti-Racism and Equity), she has dedicated her time to advancing DEI values and principles and ensuring its continued presence among our students and faculty. Ms. Harbison has been a leader among the faculty, helping them to prioritize and create an evidence-based curriculum that addresses bias in many forms and across all semesters. Through her approach to DEI community values, she always centers populations that are marginalized and never shies away from addressing difficult topics, both in and out of the classroom.

Dean’s Award for Exemplary Professional Practice

Colleen Rauchut Tewksbury is an assistant professor in nutrition science at Penn Nursing and a senior research investigator at the Perelman School of Medicine. Dr. Tewksbury is an exceptional professional with a passion for promoting health and wellness through evidence-based nutrition practices. Dr. Tewksbury’s extensive clinical and research background in bariatrics contributes immensely to developing successful nursing professionals, and her exceptional communication skills have played a vital role in enhancing the nutritional knowledge of those she serves. Her leadership of nutrition societies and her scientific contributions to professional practice are widely acknowledged. Additionally, her remarkable creativity in designing innovative clinical nutrition lectures and courses serves as a testament to her true passion for dietetics and nutrition and showcases her dedication to advancing the field of nursing.

Dean’s Award for MS-MSN-DNP Scholarly Mentorship

Christina Salemo is a senior lecturer in the DNP program and vice chair of the department of biobehavioral health sciences. She is an evidence-based practice leader with experience in teaching, quality improvement, and people management. With a great passion for teaching, Dr. Salemo exhibits extraordinary mentorship in both scholarly and clinical nursing, inspiring her students and mentees to become devoted nurses, researchers, educators, and leaders. With a passion for developing the next generation of nurses, Dr. Salemo’s mentorship approach truly enriches each DNP scholar’s potential for learning, progressive development, and scholarly productivity. Her capacity to establish boundaries is meticulously balanced by her adeptness in setting limits, ensuring that the relationship maintains mutual respect while appropriately guiding its direction. Within this context, Dr. Salemo creates a mentorship environment that supports our DNP scholars to push beyond their assumed boundaries and fully excel as practice leaders and scholars.

Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence-Graduate/Doctoral Level

Angelarosa DiDonato is the associate program administrator of the DNP nurse anesthesia program. Through this program, she integrates the real world and innovative science into the classroom. Dr. DiDonato is a clinical expert who understands the priorities of her students and creates a collaborative and non-judgmental environment for them to discuss important topics and ideas together. As the co-creator and co-host of the Amplify Nursing podcast, supported by the Pinola Fund for Innovation in Nursing, she highlights the breadth and depth of nursing influence on society. By amplifying nurses who push boundaries and break down barriers, she shares impactful nursing contributions, is a thoughtful advisor to students, and provides a platform for the nursing community to thrive. Through her innovative teaching methodologies, tireless support for her students, and genuine passion for advancing the field of nurse anesthesia, Dr. DiDonato has made an indelible impact on the educational experiences of countless students.

Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence-Graduate

Holly Harner is the Afaf I. Meleis Director of the Center for Global Women’s Health, director of the women’s health/gender-related nurse practitioner track, and a practice professor of women’s health in the family and community health department. Her scholarship addresses gender-related health disparities, with a specific emphasis on women’s mental health and violence against women. Dr. Harner applies a multitude of teaching techniques to cater to her students’ different learning styles, mentoring students in classes such as Nursing of Women and Infants and Comparing Health Care Systems in an Intercultural Context, a study abroad course. She actively engages in the subject matter she teaches, demonstrating an expert level knowledge of global women’s health concepts. She has a national reputation as a clinician, educator, and champion of women’s health, with a longstanding commitment to improving the health status of vulnerable women. She serves as inspiration to her students and mentees.

Dean’s Award for Undergraduate Advising and Student Nurses at Penn Award for Undergraduate Teaching

Dalmacio Dennis Flores is an assistant professor of nursing in the department of family and community health. In the six years that Dr. Flores has been on the faculty, he has had a pronounced positive impact on undergraduate students and their understanding of nursing research, mentoring students in classes like LGBT Health and Psychological and Social Diversity in Health. He creates an inclusive, engaging classroom environment that places great value in a dynamic, student-centered approach to learning. As the principal investigator for research initiatives pertaining to parent-child sex communication, Dr. Flores has demonstrated exceptional leadership in mentoring students who possess a distinct interest in pursuing the research field. Particularly, he exceeds students’ expectations by making certain that everyone can undertake various endeavors in this discipline. His ability to build a mutually rewarding relationship with his students, both inside and outside of the classroom, speaks to Dr. Flores’ embodiment of an ideal mentor and teacher.

Dean’s Award for Undergraduate Scholarly Mentorship

Laura Starbird is an assistant professor of nursing in the department of family and community health. Dr. Starbird’s research seeks to eliminate barriers to engaging in healthcare for women who are marginalized in society, particularly women who use drugs. Dr. Starbird is an inspiration and pivotal figure among her students and for the overall mission of the department. Her hands-on approach to nursing research, providing guidance and support to students, and her unwavering commitment to her research does not go unnoticed. Dr. Starbird’s mentoring style, which balances challenging her mentees to push beyond their comfort zones with consistent support and guidance, serves as a model for other faculty to help foster undergraduate growth and learning. Her combination of approachable intelligence, capable integration of undergraduate students into her study team, and advocacy for underserved women through her research exemplifies her character and commitment to others.

Barbara J. Lowery Faculty Award, Doctoral Student Organization

Stephen Bonett is an assistant professor of nursing in the department of family and community and health. Dr. Bonett’s pioneering research in public health service delivery focuses on implementing systems-level changes through community-driven initiatives within a health equity framework. With a background in public health nursing, his collaborative approach targets structural barriers to accessing HIV prevention, aiming to enhance care environments and promote health equity. His work underscores the role of healthcare systems in perpetuating disparities and advocates for a nurse-led transformation toward inclusive health systems. As an educator, he empowers students to understand statistical methodologies and social diversity’s impact on health. Dr. Bonett’s research partnerships, including the Philadelphia Community Engagement Alliance, exemplify his commitment to addressing systemic health disparities, notably during the COVID-19 pandemic.