Ruth Bohan Teaching Professorship

The Ruth Bohan Teaching Professorship is the most prestigious award for teaching in the School of Medicine. The award recognizes excellence in teaching and seeks to continue the tradition of outstanding education in the Medical School.

History

Dr. Peter T. Bohan was Professor of Medicine from 1914 till 1945 and renowned for his clinical and teaching achievements. His dedication to teaching was legendary and his contributions to the academic life of the medical school left a lasting impression on the institution. Even before his retirement, Dr. Bohan established trusts to provide continued support for the educational mission of the Medical School. These trusts sustain the Peter T. Bohan Chair in Medicine, the Peter T. Bohan Medical Scholarships, and the Bohan Visiting Professorships.

Dr. Bohan's wife, Ruth Harris Bohan, was a distinguished artist. Her works may be found in many galleries, including the Nelson-Atkins Gallery, but she bequeathed many of her own paintings and much of her private collection to the Medical School and University. A dedicated supporter of her husband's educational and philanthropic endeavors, Mrs. Bohan confirmed and extended support of the Medical School's educational mission through the Ruth Bohan Trust.

Criteria For the Bohan Teaching Award

The award committee will review documentation of:

1. Exceptional quality of intellectual content
• Does the nominee challenge students to learn and stimulate lifelong learning and self-directed learning?
2. Innovation and quality of teaching practices
• Does the instructor plan for optimal use of the students’ time both in and outside of class?
• Has the instructor created any teaching methods that enhance the impact of student learning?
• Are students actively engaged in learning the material or skills?
• What opportunities, in or out of class, are there for students to practice the skills embedded in the course goals?
3. Depth and breadth of student understanding
• Is there any evidence that student learning iimproves their long-term problem-solving skills?
• Is there evidence that student performance results in improved performance in later courses?
4. Reflective consideration and development
• Does the instructor regularly examine her/his part of the curriculum, assess successes and difficulties, and make incremental adjustments that would promote better student learning in future iterations of the course/clerkship?
• What new teaching skills and methods has the instructor added to make teaching more effective?
• Is there a positive trajectory of teaching skills and outcomes for the nominee?
5. Exceptional dedication to students and to the profession
• Does the instructor commit time and energy to further the goals of education for the institution and the field?
• How does the nominee embody and express in her/his teaching practice and demeanor the scholarly, critical, and intellectual values professed?
• What actions by the nominee indicate dedication to the success of students and to the teaching of the field of study?

2007 Awardees

Belinda A. Vail, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Vice Chair and Residency Director, Family Medicine - Kansas City

V. Gustavo Blanco, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Molecular and Integrative Physiology - Kansas City

List of Previous Awardees

2006	John W. Calkins, MD, Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology – Kansas City Jacqueline S. Osland, MD, Associate Professor, Surgery – Wichita
2005	Allan R. Fleming, MD, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine – Kansas City Douglas E. Wright, PhD, Anatomy and Cell Biology – Kansas City
2004	James L. Fishback, MD, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine – Kansas City Stephen D. Smith, MD, Pediatrics – Kansas City
2003	Norberto C. Gonzalez, MD, Molecular and Integrative Physiology – Kansas City Daniel J. Stechschulte, Sr., MD, Internal Medicine – Kansas City
2002	Scott E. Moser, MD, Family and Community Medicine – Wichita Ruben D. Bunag, PhD, Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics – Kansas City
2001	Dianne Durham, PhD, Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery – Kansas City George Varghese, MD, Rehabilitation Medicine – Kansas City
2000	Richard L. Clancy, PhD, Molecular and Integrative Physiology – Kansas City Allen B. Rawitch, PhD, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology – Kansas City
1999	William Jewell, MD, Surgery – Kansas City Michael Parmely, PhD, Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology – Kansas City
1998	James Bergin, MD, Internal Medicine – Kansas City George Enders, PhD, Anatomy and Cell Biology – Kansas City
1997	Vincent Gattone, PhD, Anatomy and Cell Biology – Kansas City Norton Greenberger, MD, Internal Medicine – Kansas City
1996	Marvin Dunn, MD, Internal Medicine – Kansas City Robert Klein, PhD, Anatomy and Cell Biology – Kansas City
1995	Daniel Hinthorn, MD, Internal Medicine – Kansas City Norman Martin, MD, Radiology – Kansas City
1994	R. Neil Schimke, MD, Internal Medicine – Kansas City Louis Wetzel, MD, Radiology – Kansas City
1993	Barbara Lukert, MD, Internal Medicine – Kansas City Frederick Chang, MD, Surgery-Wichita – Kansas City
1992	Joseph Bast, PhD, Anatomy & Cell Biology – Kansas City Thomas Pazdernik, PhD, Pharmacology, Toxicology & Therapeutics – Kansas City

 

Nomination Process

Download the nomination packet here (Word), or contact Jo Halverson (8-5274).

Completed nominations must include

• submission form
• formal nomination letter by an eligible member of the School of Medicine faculty
• letters of support from at least three eligible members of the School of Medicine faculty
• letter of support from the chairperson of the nominees' department of primary appointment
• current curriculum vitae of the nominee
• evidence of evaluations of teaching by students and peers.

It is recommended that the packet also include letters of support from others who can attest to the nominee's excellence in teaching. Examples include

• colleagues who are not members of the School of Medicine faculty
• graduates and former students or residents
• current students

To the extent possible, all letters should address the five areas considered by the Advisory Committee and provide objective as well as subjective evidence of the nominee's achievements in education.

For further information contact Jo Halverson at 913.588.5274 or by email to jhalvers@kumc.edu.