Kemper Awards Recognize KUMC's Top Teachers

Aug 29, 2008

Academic medical centers are usually packed with teaching talent, as recruiting efforts attract some of the best minds in medicine. It can be hard, then, to single out just a few in recognition of teaching prowess.

Executive Vice Chancellor Barbara Atkinson, MD, did just that on August 27 when she surprised Wanda Bonnel, RN, PhD, and Won Choi, PhD, with the William T. Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence. This award, established to recognize University of Kansas and University of Kansas Medical Center professors who demonstrate superb skills in teaching and advising. The Kemper Award includes a $5,000 prize and an in-class presentation.

“One of the best parts of my job is recognizing the outstanding talent we have at the Medical Center,” Dr. Atkinson said. “It's very special for me to be able to shine the spotlight on outstanding professors like Dr. Bonnel and Dr. Choi. The Medical Center is very fortunate to count them as members of our team.”

Michael Fields, Executive Director of the Kemper Foundation, accompanied Dr. Atkinson in presenting the awards and said the group was honored to support excellence in teaching.

Dr. Bonnel is a renowned teacher in the areas of geriatric nursing and nursing education, where she has pioneered projects in e-mentoring and online coursework. Her efforts in the KU School of Nursing Virtual Classroom have won wide acclaim, and her work in the Nurse Educator Certificate Program earned the 2004 Sigma Theta Tau Regional Pinnacle Award for Computer-based Professional Education Technology.

“The Kemper Award highlights the need for positive faculty role models for our students and I am honored to receive it,” Dr. Bonnel said. “I'm so grateful for the many opportunities I've received at the Medical Center, and I remain committed to promoting quality learning opportunities for our diverse students.”

Dr. Choi teaches in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, where his subject matter includes behavioral epidemiology and epidemiologic methods. One of his central research areas is the study of smoking cessation efforts, with a particular focus on the role of tobacco advertising and promotions.

“It was an honor to be one of the recipients of the Kemper Teaching Award this year, and I was quite surprised to start my class with a visit from Dr. Atkinson,” Dr. Choi said. “I appreciate the chance to work with students and all my colleagues in the department.”