Cindy Colpitts admitted to getting a little teary-eyed.
Colpitts, the residency program coordinator in the UNMC Department of Pediatrics, was honored with the UNMC Interprofessional Academy of Educators’ Catalyst for Education Award in August at the annual Premier Education Banquet.
Also being honored were Craig Harrison, clinical education coordinator at Nebraska Medicine, who received the Nebraska Medicine Office of Health Professions Education (OHPE) Exemplar in Collaboration Award; and Shireen Rajaram, Ph.D., associate professor in the UNMC College of Public Health, who received the UNMC Office of Faculty Development’s Visionary Educational Leader Award.
Colpitts attended the event thinking her supervisor was receiving an award.
“I felt very honored, when I later heard how many of my pediatric faculty had nominated me, I felt even more honored,” she said. After 17 years at UNMC, she said, it’s “nice that these faculty members still think of me and recognize me.”
Nominators called Colpitts “an indispensable member of the educational mission at UNMC, not only through her service to our learners and faculty but also in the excellence with which she represents us on the national stage.”
Harrison called himself “honored and humbled” by the award, especially, he pointed out, in the face of the experience and accomplishments of his fellow nominees.
“It’s nice to be recognized,” he said.
Nominators said Harrison “is always searching for a better way to do things and implementing ideas to improve the patient and staff experience. He makes sure to consult our opinions, as staff, about new ideas to get a global perspective on things before implementation.”
Dr. Rajaram called the award a great honor and privilege.
“It inspires me to do even more for our students and to challenge and guide them to the level of excellence of which I know they are capable.”
She was excited to be nominated for the award and did not realize she won until they called her name at the banquet.
Nominators said Dr. Rajaram “is a great teacher, researcher and advisor. Most importantly, she is someone students see as an ally and advocate, holding them to very high standards and encouraging them to face challenges head-on with respect and resilience.”
Congratulations!!!!