Impact in Education: Devin Nickol, M.D.

Devin Nickol, M.D., is one of the recipients of the Office of Academic Affairs inaugural Impact in Education Awards.

• Name: Devin Nickol, M.D.
• Title: Associate professor, UNMC Department of Internal Medicine, Division of General Medicine
• Joined UNMC:
  • Medical school: 1992 – 1996
  • Residency: 1996 – 1999
  • Faculty 1999 – present
• Hometown: Lincoln

You are the recipient of the Interprofessional Education Scholar Award. Why is interprofessional education important in today’s health care fields?
Health care is increasingly team-based, and traditional educational models don’t adequately address many of the skills our graduates will need for success in their chosen fields. Interprofessional education can provide students with these skills by helping them to understand their own role on the health care team, as well as the roles of other team members. These high-functioning teams will work together to achieve the goal of better outcomes for patients and populations.

Describe your proudest moment as an educator.
I always enjoy it when former students tell me how they have used a particular concept or technique we discussed in practice. I wish I could bring them back to help convince their younger colleagues why these topics are important.

What advice would you give other faculty members who want to have an impact in education?
Pay attention to how others teach, and copy the good parts. Also, publish and present the results of your teaching experience.

Do you have a favorite quote or philosophy on teaching?
“It is much more important to know what sort of a patient has a disease than what sort of a disease a patient has.” — William Osler