Chere L. Stewart, M.D., has been awarded the 2023 Dean's Excellence Award Winner for her outstanding work and accomplishments as an educator in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Stewart has been a faculty member of the UAB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology since 2009 and has served as the medical student clerkship director of the UAB OB/GYN for nine years. She has led the Student Advisory Council for the department since 2015. She is also a board-certified physician in the Division of Women’s Reproductive Health.
Stewart is a dedicated clinician and educator. She has been recognized for her outstanding patient care by the UAB Health System and has received multiple awards for her excellence in teaching. She has also served as a mentor to many medical students, residents, and fellows over the years. She has been directly associated with 15 Argus Award Nominations and received an Argus Award in 2015 for Best Lecturer and in 2016 for Best Clerkship/Clinical Department. The department has been nominated or received an Argus Award every year that she has been involved with the medical students. She has also received an Excellence in Medical Student Education award from the Department of OBGYN every year since she became a faculty member.
Warner K. Huh, M.D., chair of the UAB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, praised Stewart's contributions to the field:
"Over the last five years under her leadership, we have seen a marked uptick in the interest in women’s health from the UAB students,” said Huh. “In fact, we set a record number of interested students this past year with a total of 26 interested students, which is certainly in the top two standard deviations for any medical school in the United States. I very much credit Dr. Stewart and her leadership for this upswing in interest. In full disclosure, this is a major strategic priority for me as Chair of the department, and she has been able to execute this and promote women’s health as a career choice.”
The Dean's Excellence Award is given annually to UAB faculty members who have made exceptional contributions to research, teaching, and patient care. Stewart's accomplishments as an educator and clinician make her a worthy recipient of this prestigious award.