Impact in Education: Diego Torres-Russotto, MD

Diego Torres-Russotto, MD, is the recipient of the Visionary Leadership in Education Award. The award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated the ability to skillfully establish or administer an educational initiative or role at UNMC or a national organization.

• Name: Diego Torres-Russotto, MD
• Title: Adjunct faculty member who was professor and vice-chair for education, UNMC Department of Neurological Sciences
• Joined UNMC: 2009
• Hometown: Caracas, Venezuela

You are the recipient of the Visionary Leadership in Education Award, which is given for establishing or administering an educational initiative. Tell us about the benefits of the initiative you oversee.

I oversaw all aspects of the educational mission for neurosciences. This includes undergraduate, graduate and continual medical education as well as patient and community outreach. At the UNMC College of Medicine, I have been co-director for the Phase I Neurology block, director of neurology for phase II and III. I created the Movement Disorders Fellowship Program about 12 years ago, and we have trained and graduated many subspecialists, some of whom stayed in our state and are helping our community.

Describe your proudest moment as an educator.

There is not a single one. With every class that graduates, we educators get an immensely beautiful gift: The learners’ knowledge and skills will be used for the goodness of humanity. Seeing my students do well brings me joy and pride every time.

What advice would you give other faculty members who want to have an impact in education?

Follow your passion as an educator. It will be worth it.

Do you have a favorite quote or philosophy on teaching?

Beyond teaching complex and interesting concepts, we must teach operational definitions. Beyond knowledge, which is ubiquitous now, we must focus on clinical skills.