Paul Larsen, M.D., professor of pediatrics and neurological sciences at the University of Nebraska Medical Center has received the Alvin M. Earle Outstanding Health Sciences Educator Award, the only teaching award initiated and given by UNMC students.
The Alvin Earle Award is presented annually to an instructor who demonstrates sincere interest in his or her discipline, excellence in the quality of instruction and strong involvement with students. Dr. Larsen, who also serves as division chief for pediatric neurology, was recognized for creating an environment that invites attention, enthusiasm, exploration and learner confidence.
Some of the comments made by students who nominated Dr. Larsen included:
"His class is very dynamic. He gives us real cases and helps us decipher the diagnosis. Dr. Larsen has developed an online neuroscience tutorial, which is probably the coolest thing that his students have seen in a long time. He gives examples with pictures and videos of everything that is covered in the lecture. He is considered among his students as a top caliber educator. Dr. Larsen should be considered one of the best professors at UNMC."
Dr. Larsen said he simply enjoys his work.
"I have a passion for neuroanatomy," he said as he accepted the award and thanked Dr. Earle’s widow, Adah, who attends the ceremony annually. "There’s a kinship I feel with Dr. Earle and I appreciate his legacy," said Dr. Larsen, who came to Omaha in 1990 as division chief of pediatric neurology, for UNMC, Creighton University and Children’s Hospital with his primary appointment at Creighton. In 1998 his primary appointment changed to UNMC when he was named professor of pediatrics and neurological sciences.
Dr. Earle joined UNMC in 1968 and taught neural sciences to students in five colleges.
He received numerous teaching awards. When he retired in 1994, the UNMC Student Senate established the award in his name to recognize outstanding teaching and mentoring. He died in 1996.
The Alvin Earle Award comes with a $500 honorarium and recipients have their name added to the Alvin M. Earle plaque in the Wittson Hall lobby at UNMC.
UNMC is the only public health science center in the state. Its educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution. Through their commitment to education, research, patient care and outreach, UNMC and its hospital partner, The Nebraska Medical Center, have established themselves as one of the country’s leading centers in cancer, transplantation biology, bioterrorism preparedness, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, genetics, biomedical technology and ophthalmology. UNMC’s research funding from external sources now exceeds $80 million annually and has resulted in the creation of more than 2,400 highly skilled jobs in the state. UNMC’s physician practice group, UNMC Physicians, includes 513 physicians in 50 specialties and subspecialties who practice primarily in The Nebraska Medical Center. For more information, go to UNMC’s Web site at www.unmc.edu.
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