Created in 1996, the Argus Awards give medical students the chance to honor their mentors, professors, courses and course directors for outstanding service to medical education. Faculty members are nominated by course evaluations, and students vote to select award winners in each category.
Argus Award recipients and nominees were honored at a reception on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017.
Winners of the 2017 Argus Awards are:
Pre-Clinical Awards
Best Educator: Patient, Doctor & Society
Michael Saag, M.D., Medicine
Best Educator: Fundamentals of Medicine
Teresa Wilborn, Ph.D., Pharmacology & Toxicology
Best Introductory Module
Fundamentals of Medicine. Module Director(s): Laura Fraser, Ph.D., Cell, Developmental & Integrative Biology
Best Educator: Cardiovascular
Harish Doppalapudi, M.D., Medicine
Best Educator: Pulmonary
Kevin Leon, M.D., Medicine
Best Educator: Gastrointestinal
James Willig, M.D., Medicine
Best Educator: Renal
Vineeta Kumar, M.D., Medicine
Best MS1 Organ Module
Cardiovascular. Module Director(s): Silvio Litovsky, M.D., Pathology; Harish Doppalapudi, M.D., Medicine
Best Educator: Musculoskeletal & Skin
William Brooks, Ph.D., Cell, Developmental & Integrative Biology
Best Educator: Neurosciences
Victor Sung, M.D., Neurology
Best Educator: Hematology/Oncology
Lawrence Williams, M.D., Pathology
Best Educator: Endocrine Systems
Shawn Galin, Ph.D., Medicine
Best Educator: Reproductive Systems
Jennifer Gordetsky, M.D., Pathology
Best MS2 Organ Module
Neurosciences. Module Director(s): Robin Lester, Ph.D., Neurobiology; Victor Sung, M.D., Neurology; Michael Lyerly, M.D., Neurology; Vineeta Yalamanchili, M.D., Psychiatry; Tobias Martinez, M.D., Psychiatry
Clinical Awards
Caduceus Club Award for Excellence in Clinical Education on the Birmingham Campus
Winter Williams, M.D., Medicine
Best Resident Educator, Birmingham
This is a new award for 2017. The Best Resident Educator Award recognizes the important contribution residents make to medical student training. Each campus manages its own selection process and submits the name to the Argus Society.
Zachary Pacheco, M.D., Emergency Medicine
Best Community-Based Educator, Birmingham
Michael Chandler, M.D., Family Medicine
Best Clinical Department: Birmingham Campus
Internal Medicine
Best Clinical Educator: Huntsville Campus
Tarak Vasavada, M.D., Psychiatry
Best Resident Educator, Huntsville
Justin Pruitt, M.D., Family Medicine
Best Community-Based Educator, Huntsville
Jitesh Kar, M.D., Neurology
Best Clinical Department: Montgomery Campus
Internal Medicine
Best Clinical Educator: Montgomery Campus
Gregory Waller, M.D., Obstetrics & Gynecology
Best Resident Educator, Montgomery
Rasmi Vattamparambil, M.D., Internal Medicine
Best Community-Based Educator, Montgomery
Matthew Phillips, M.D., Obstetrics & Gynecology
Best Clinical Department: Tuscaloosa Campus
Pediatrics
Best Clinical Educator: Tuscaloosa Campus
Heather Taylor, M.D., Pediatrics
Best Resident Educator, Tuscaloosa
Blake DeWitt, M.D., Family Medicine
Best Community-Based Educator, Tuscaloosa
Julia Boothe, M.D., Family Medicine
Best Clinical Department: Huntsville Campus
Internal Medicine
Other Awards and Recognitions
Recognition of Excellence in Mentoring
- Introduction to Clinical Medicine Clinical Skills Scholars
- Learning Communities Faculty Lead Mentors
This award, named for the late Dale Benos, PhD, recognizes a basic science faculty member who makes an overall contribution to medical education. Students must submit nomination letters to the Argus Society, who make the selection. The Department of Cell, Developmental & Integrative Biology has donated a cash prize to be associated with the award.
2017 Winner: Laura Fraser, Ph.D., Cell, Developmental & Integrative Biology
Award for Medical Student Support
This award is new for 2017. Faculty and professional staff who are primarily in a student support role are eligible for this award. Students must submit nominations letters to the Argus Society, who make the selection.
2017 Winner: Jason Noah, Medical Education