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Dr. Uday Kompella, Ph.D., left, receives the Distinguished Teaching Award from College of Pharmacy Dean Clarence Ueda, Pharm.D., Ph.D. |
Four years as a faculty member at the Auburn University School of Pharmacy, though, sparked a passion for teaching, a passion that continues for Dr. Kompella in his sixth year as a UNMC faculty member in the College of Pharmacy.
“When I graduated from USC, I never knew that I would like teaching,” said Dr. Kompella. “Now, if I did only research, I don’t think I would be happy. I find teaching the students very rewarding.”
For his outstanding performance in the classroom, Dr. Kompella was selected as the 2003 recipient of the College of Pharmacy Distinguished Teaching Award. The award is presented annually to a faculty member to recognize his or her teaching excellence and dedication to student learning. The Dean’s Student Advisory Council, which is composed of the College’s elected UNMC Student Senate representative and the president of each pharmacy class and student organization, selects the award recipient from nominations received from the respective classes and organizations.
Dr. Kompella is the coordinator of the Pharmaceutical Science I course, which deals with various aspects of biopharmaceutics and drug delivery. He also lectures in other courses in the professional program. He opens the semester with a dialogue about the course, and is open to feedback if students have suggestions for change. A common theme in Dr. Kompella’s nomination for the award was his concern and care for students.
“I certainly do care about the students a lot,” he said. “I want all of them to learn and perform well in the classroom, as well as the real world. If the contact time is long enough in class, the students will definitely realize this.”
He holds the students accountable for learning weekly materials through weekly quizzes and “pop-up questions,” which are followed by peer discussion.
“My purpose is to make them think and to stimulate discussion amongst themselves,” Dr. Kompella said.
He also conducts traditional examinations, and he requires students to write papers and present findings in class. He encourages students who are struggling to visit with him for further explanation of the covered materials.
“I am most satisfied when such students work with me to improve their learning strategies over the course of a semester,” said Dr. Kompella, a native of India who came to the United States in 1989 to begin his doctoral education. “And if they improve their performance, that is most satisfying to me.”
Dr. Kompella also strives to improve his teaching. Routinely, he revises handout materials, his presentation style, worksheets, quiz formats and exams to provide a better learning opportunity for the students.
“I am willing to change on a continuous basis, based on student feedback and based on what I think will better enable them to learn,” Dr. Kompella said.
Based on the comments from the students’ nominating letter for the Distinguished Teaching Award, Dr. Kompella is succeeding in being an outstanding teacher. Some of their comments included:
- Dr. Kompella is very generous with his time with the students, which fosters the instructor/student relationship;
- He is passionate about what he does and enjoys sharing it with the students, which stimulates the learning environment;
- He encourages students to ask questions during lectures to ensure that everyone can benefit from further explanation of the material being covered;
- He is effective because his lectures are amply supplemented with real life, everyday examples;
- He teaches a difficult subject in a way that is understandable;
- He is a positive role model for students.
Dr. Kompella’s research interests are in the areas of biopharmaceutics and pharmacokinetics, especially ocular and respiratory drug delivery. In the Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program, he is the research adviser for seven doctoral students. Dr. Kompella said he enjoys his research, teaching and service activities, and he calls it “truly an honor” to be the recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award.
“I owe it to the wonderful students at the College of Pharmacy and the exemplary colleagues and administrators who strive for excellence in teaching,” he said. “Based on this award, it is refreshing to realize that the students know that I do care about their learning and performance.
“At a personal level, this gives me utmost satisfaction and initiative to spend more time in improving my teaching abilities.”