School of Medicine Executive Dean's Distinguished Mentoring Awards

2008 Recipients

The 2008 Awards will be presented September 19, 2008 at the Annual Faculty Retreat.  Nominations are being accepted now for the 2008 awards. 

2007 Recipients

Lifetime Achievement in Mentoring Award "The Jayhawk" Curtis Klaassen, PhD "The Jayhawk" Lifetime Achievement in Mentoring Award

Excellence in Mentoring Award Matthew Mayo, PhD  9 years as a SOM Faculty member

 

2006 Inaugural Award Recipients

On September 29, 2006 at the Faculty Retreat the two Inaugural Junior Faculty Mentoring Awards were presented by Barbara Atkinson, MD, the Executive Dean and Vice Chancellor for Clinical Affairs, KU School of Medicine.

Leone Mattioli, MD
Professor of Pediatrics, Cardiology Section

The first recipient of the Executive Dean’s Inaugural Mentoring Award “The Jayhawk,” has been dedicated to The School of Medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center for almost 40 years.  His nominees and supporters were consistent in the belief that due to his efforts they all became well-rounded practicing physicians with a commitment to life-long learning. This individual has been credited with influencing the careers of many junior faculty members who proceeded to pursue and excel in academic leadership positions.  Under his mentorship he challenged his mentees to explain the basis for medical decisions in a way that ensured their understanding would grow and their curiosity would be increased.  He focused not only on technical skills, but on ethics, humanism, and professionalism as part of the make-up of an outstanding physician. His influence, when described by those supporting his nomination, created a trickle down effect in this institution spanning 40 years – His mentees have tried to follow his lead and pay the same attention to detail that he does in the their practice of medicine, and then to pass the same mentoring on through their teaching of students, residents and their own junior colleagues. 

What seemed to be valued most by his mentees was his level of integrity and commitment to excellence.  He has helped his mentees in all aspects of their academic careers. In an academic health sciences center, having a mentor that takes the time to help his junior scholars with their teaching presentations and scholarly activities deserves recognition.  Sometimes mentoring means simply, helping a mentee find balance in her/his life and our honoree has also contributed in that way.

This recipient came out of his "retirement" from patient care recently to provide clinical support, for nearly a year, during a time when the division and the department was short-staffed and needed his expertise for the care of patients and the reading of ECGs and echocardiograms. The recruitment of three superb junior faculty this past year can be summed by the statement made by one, “that the opportunity to learn from this individual was a major factor in her decision to join KU Pediatrics. This mentor is in a league of his own. After nearly 40 years of dedicated service to KU School of Medicine, he is as active and enthusiastic as our most energetic junior faculty, and he shows no signs of letting up. He is a mentor who every day lives out what this award seeks to honor. “

In honor of a lifetime achievement in the selfless acts of mentoring, launching and refining many young careers here at The School of Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Dr. Leone Mattioli – Professor of Pediatrics, Cardiology Section, was presented “The Jayhawk” on September 29, 2006 by Barbara Atkinson, MD, the Executive Dean and Vice Chancellor for Clinical Affairs,
KU School of Medicine.

 

Elizabeth “Betty” C. Penick, PhD
Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science

The second recipient of the Executive Dean’s Inaugural Mentoring Award “The Jayhawk,” has been dedicated to not only the KU School of Medicine for over 26 years, she has mentored over 50 to 75 residents in addition to a long list of our junior faculty members.  Support provided for this nomination stated that our recipient, with steadfast commitment and resolve, would introduce multiple individuals each year to clinical research and then supportively mentor them to develop excellence in their careers on a national and international level.  Appreciated most clearly by all of those supporting this candidate was her enthusiasm in teaching, guidance, warmth, feedback, always approachable style and consistency, providing the “right amount of push and distance simultaneously, enabling the mentee to grow.” 

Our recipient embodies the concept of a multidisciplinary team leader showing her commitment to KU and service for the institution in research.  She possesses a rare combination of tenacity, talent and dedication that drives her to excel professionally. Her pace at juggling clinical, teaching and research responsibilities is astounding. She adds to her juggling act the selflessness of always giving her time to mentor young clinicians and researchers alike. 

As stated so eloquently by her chair, Dr. William Gabrielli, “A very large portion of this candidate’s effort has gone to unselfishly assist and promote the professional development of junior faculty members, resident physicians, medical students and psychology post-docs, interns, and students.  I have seen the fruits of this mentor’s day to day efforts through the careers that have been launched, research appetites whetted, teaching skills honed, and clinical needs met.  She has guided and nurtured research projects, scholarly works, and grant applications.  She sets high standards for the faculty members and others to whom she mentors, expecting them to excel in their own pursuits. It is always comforting to be able to count upon this individual to be there to “ferment” to excellence the great capacity found in the “fruit” of our department – our junior faculty members.”

Each and every individual that submitted documents of support for this recipient’s nomination, expressed with great admiration how she helped them find “their own niche,” one that each of them feel their pursuit with passion and vigor is due to their mentor’s selfless efforts.  In honor of a lifetime achievement in the selfless acts of mentoring, launching and refining many young careers in The School of Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Dr. Elizabeth “Betty” C. Penick – Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, was presented “The Jayhawk” on September 29, 2006 by Barbara Atkinson, MD, the Executive Dean and Vice Chancellor for Clinical Affairs, KU School of Medicine.