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College of Medicine Dean John Gollan, M.D., Ph.D., presents Kurtis Cornish, Ph.D., with the College of Medicine Class of 1962 Basic Science Outstanding Teacher Award at last week’s AOA/Faculty Honors Convocation. Dr. Cornish has now received the award twice. |
The professor in the department of cellular and integrative physiology who has been at UNMC since 1979 uses the trusty study method to learn the names of each member of each medical school class before they even meet him.
The tactic has helped him to build strong bonds with many of his students. These bonds no doubt helped contribute to Dr. Cornish receiving several teaching awards, including the UNMC College of Medicine Class of 1962 Basic Science Outstanding Teacher Award, which he received Thursday. It’s the second time he’s won the award.
“Dr. Cornish has an uncanny ability to establish a rapport with students, quite unlike anyone I’ve ever seen,” his nominator said. “He goes out of his way to know each and every student.”
Dr. Cornish — who received this most recent award during Thursday’s AOA/Faculty Honors Convocation — also makes himself available nearly any time to assist students and he concocts unconventional tests that force the students to study in different ways, his nominator said.
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Dr. Cornish has been very involved with the department’s problem based learning segment, he directs the June term for the M3 class and he developed the basic science selective for M4 students.
He is a co-investigator on an NIH- funded short course in organ systems and integrative pharmacology — which was renewed this year.
The UNMC College of Medicine and Class of 1962 Basic Science Outstanding Teacher Award was created to inspire and foster continued excellence in classroom teaching and honor those who have contributed greatly to the education of aspiring medical students.
Other teaching awards Dr. Cornish has received include several Golden Apples and the Hirschman award.