Faculty awards
The Faculty Senate recognizes faculty for meritorious teaching, service or mentoring at its annual meeting, which this year will be at 4 p.m. on April 20 in the Durham Research Center Auditorium.
Awardees are:
Outstanding Teacher Award
- Justin Mott, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor & medical assistant director, biochemistry and molecular biology, College of Medicine;
- Diego Torres-Russotto, M.D., associate professor, neurological sciences, College of Medicine;
- Catherine Binstock, instructor, College of Nursing-Omaha Division; and
- Dawn Venema, Ph.D., assistant professor, physical therapy education, College of Allied Health Professions.
Outstanding Faculty Mentor of Graduate Students Award
- Corri Hanson, Ph.D., associate professor, medical nutrition education, College of Allied Health Professions
Outstanding Faculty Mentor of Junior Faculty Award
- Iraklis Pipinos, M.D., professor, surgery-general surgery, College of Medicine
- Bernice Yates, Ph.D., professor, College of Nursing-Omaha Division
Catherine Binstock, instructor, College of Nursing-Omaha Division, will receive the Outstanding Teacher Award at the April 20 annual faculty meeting.
- Name: Catherine Binstock
- Title: Nursing instructor at the College of Nursing, Omaha
- Joined UNMC: 31 years ago
- Hometown: From Omaha, but now I live in Wahoo, Neb.
What are the greatest rewards of teaching?
Teaching is the best of both worlds! I love what I do and I work with great people while teaching nursing students and taking care of patients. Teaching makes me a better person. I feel very fortunate to work at UNMC in such a rich learning environment.
Describe a moment in your career when you realized you had picked the right occupation?
I realized at a young age that I wanted to be a nurse and I have always enjoyed teaching. I was a volunteer at a hospital observing nurses care for patients and helping on the unit. I also became involved in the leadership part of this organization and knew that nursing was a great profession.
What are the biggest challenges you face as a teacher?
Keeping the students engaged in learning while handling the overload of information. Finding ways to empower and challenge students to think holistically. Utilizing technology resources to enhance the learning experience.
How do you know when you’ve been successful as a teacher?
Seeing students walk across the stage at convocation knowing that their career as a nurse is just beginning. It is also rewarding to see my former students providing quality care to patients and families.
Congratulations to Cathy! A very well deserved award!!!
Congratulation, Cathy! Wonderful to see our CON faculty being recognized for their excellent teaching abilities!!
Congratulations Cathy! You are an amazing instructor and I feel very fortunate to have been taught by you. Very much deserved!
Congratulations, Cathy! You have taught me so much being one of your students and I hope to be the nurse you are. You deserve this recognition. 💕
Cathy, Congratulations and thank you for providing phenomenal teaching experience . I have enjoyed all the lectures throughout the curriculum.