Two CDIB Faculty Receive Awards during 2018’s Faculty Awards Convocation

In recognition of, “life-changing research, outreach, instruction, and creative scholarship,” UAB presented 16 faculty members with its highest honors at the Faculty Awards Convocation Monday, October 22, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Birmingham. These awards honor some of the institution’s most innovative teachers, researchers and scholars for their unique and distinguished contributions to advancing the university’s mission to inspire students, patients, the community and the global need for discovery, knowledge dissemination, education, creativity and the application of groundbreaking solutions.

Two of these coveted honors went to well-deserving CDIB faculty members, Drs. William, “Will” Brooks and J. Michael Wyss. After the welcome and opening address by Provost Pam Benoit, the 2018 Faculty Senate Chair, Jamey Worrel, addressed the audience. President Ray L. Watts then presented recipients with their awards. Following the closing remarks by Provost Pam Benoit, award receipts and their families posed for pictures prior to a reception in their honor. Chair Brad Yoder and

Vice Chair for Research and Faculty Development, Jim Collawn, were present in support of CDIB’s award winning faculty members.

The President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching at UAB identifies full-time regular faculty members who have demonstrated extraordinary accomplishments in teaching. Recipients are selected from the College of Arts and Sciences and from each of the schools and the Joint Health Sciences. This year’s recipients of the 2018 President’s award for Excellence in Teaching included our own Will Brooks. Will, who joined CDIB in 2015, also has a secondary appointment in UAB’s Dept. of Medical Education. During his CDIB tenure, Will has previously received five Argus Awards for Best Educator. In addition to nominations for the coveted Dean’s Excellence Award in Teaching and the Caduceus Club Award for Excellence in Preclinical Education, he received the School of Medicine Dean’s Research Award in 2007. Will’s enthusiasm and dedication epitomizes CDIB’s goal to provide exceptional education as well as our commitment to excellence in biomedical education.

The President’s Award for Excellence in Support of UAB and Shared Governance is given annually to a UAB faculty member, staff member, or student who exemplifies and embodies the UAB core value of unity of purpose through shared governance, which propels our institution to achieve excellence in all parts of its mission. Shared governance is best defined as a professional practice model founded on the keystone principles of partnership, equity, accountability, and ownership that form a culturally sensitive and empowering framework, enabling sustainable and accountability-based decisions. CDIB’s Michael Wyss, PhD received this year’s Award for Excellence in Support of UAB and Shared Governance. Wyss, who joined UAB in 1979, has been the epitome of a UAB Trail Blazer for almost four decades. James Worrell, PhD, chair of the UAB faculty senate says Wyss, “…has consistently demonstrated that he has both aptitude and willingness to serve [UAB] in a variety of roles.” His laudable service to science education is evident by his successful directorship of the Center for Community OutReach Development (CORD). Wyss has been honored for his service to Alabama’s science education beyond UAB accolades, receiving the Friend of AMSTI award in 2016. The Friend of AMSTI title is awarded to individuals that have demonstrated continued service and support of the Alabama State Department of Education’s flagship Math, Science and Technology initiative. Wyss’s service to UAB and science demonstrates the value of “unity of purpose.” We are honored to have him in our department.