Craig Piquette, M.D., associate professor of internal medicine in the section of pulmonary, critical care, sleep and allergy medicine, is among the three UNMC faculty members who will receive Outstanding Teaching Awards at Wednesday’s Annual Faculty meeting.
Below, Dr. Piquette reflects on what it means to be a teacher.
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| Craig Piquette, M.D. |
- Name: Craig Piquette, M.D.
- Title: Associate professor of internal medicine in the section of pulmonary, critical care, sleep and allergy medicine
- Joined UNMC: May 1994
- Hometown: Omaha (because it feels like home.)
What are the greatest rewards of being a teacher?
The expression on students’ faces when you help them understand difficult concepts and when a former student expresses appreciation for your teaching.
Describe a moment in your career when you realized you had picked the right occupation.
Every time the above happens. I don’t only teach residents and students but patients as well and when they come back and tell me that they made behavior changes to improve their health based on my suggestions, it reminds me I have the greatest job in the world.
What are the biggest challenges you face as a teacher?
The biggest challenge is getting in front of a group of learners knowing that I may not have the answers to all of their questions and that I may not be the smartest person in the room. Teaching is a two-way street and I often learn as much as students do.
How do you know when you’ve been successful as a teacher?
When I see students later in their careers and remember the concepts I was charged with teaching them years before.
List three things few people know about you.
- I am proud to be a Unitarian.
- I grew up in Massachusetts and am a lifelong Red Sox fan.
- I love wilderness treks.