School of Public Health News

Congratulations to Dr. Kitaw Demissie, Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology, UMDNJ-School of Public Health, Member, UMDNJ Stuart D. Cook, MD, Master Educators’ Guild.

UMDNJ-School of Public Health Associate Professor Kitaw Demissie, MD, PhD, was one of twelve UMDNJ faculty members inducted into the UMDNJ Stuart D. Cook, MD, Master Educators’ Guild at the 22^nd Annual UMDNJ University Day, which was held on the UMDNJ Stratford Campus at UMDNJ’s School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford, New Jersey on Tuesday, September 19, 2006. The Guild recognizes selected faculty members for their long-term commitment to excellence in education, scholarship, creativity, and their ability to motivate students and garner the respect of their peers.

We at the UMDNJ-School of Public Health congratulate and honor Dr. Demissie on this occasion, and we also congratulate the other inductees, identified below, for this esteemed recognition.

Robert J. Del Tufo, Esq., chair of the UMDNJ Board of Trustees, welcomed faculty, students, and staff to the annual celebration.

Interim President Bruce C. Vladeck, PhD, delivered his State of the University address, in which he outlined the University's accomplishments in research, clinical care, and education during the past year. He outlined a series of steps and controls put into place since March to restore and reinvigorate the University and five strategic priorities as UMDNJ moves forward.

(The following is the introduction to the induction of 12 individuals into the UMDNJ Master Educators’ Guild on University Day by David M. Gibson, EdD, dean, UMDNJ-School of Health Related Professions.)

The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. These are the words of William Arthur Ward, author, editor, pastor, teacher, 1921-1994.

If a university is a place of learning and research, then foremost it must be a place of teaching. The students who come to our programs of education are in reality the raison d’être of our enterprise. Our responsibility to students extends well beyond their learning skills of our various professions. It extends to their hearts and to their souls. And great teachers touch the hearts, souls, and imagination of their students. They inspire, that is, they breathe into the souls of their students a love of learning, of inquiry, and of discovery.

During the past decade, we have seen dramatic changes in how we learn, whether in the workplace, the classroom, or in our own home. We have seen a paradigm shift from the authoritative lecture, when we were told what we should know based on someone else’s expertise or authority, to where now we are told to ask questions, find information, use reasoning, make evidenced-based decisions. It has been said that now our educators must be mentors and facilitators. This may be true, but today, despite the new technology and changing pedagogy, we still recognize outstanding educators. They are creators. They are, in fact, artists.

For this reason, six years ago, the University established the Stuart D. Cook Master Educators’ Guild. Designation as a master educator acknowledges a significant contribution to our students. It recognizes a true gift of teaching, whether in the classroom, the research laboratory, or in a clinical setting. We have inducted 71 members to the Guild since 2001. Today, we welcome 12 faculty members as the newest inductees of this prestigious organization, which is focused on learning and leading the continuous improvement of teaching and learning across the University. Members were chosen by their deans from nominations by their peers, students, faculty, administrators, and department chairs. Now, it is my very deep honor to present this year’s candidates.

As I call your name, you will come forward to receive the medallion, signifying your membership in the Dr. Stuart D. Cook Master Educators’ Guild.

• Gloria Bachman, MD, professor, Department of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School;
• Anita Chopra, MD, professor, Department of Medicine, UMDNJ-School of Osteopathic Medicine;
• Kitaw Demissie, MD, PhD, associate professor, Department of Epidemiology, UMDNJ-School of Public Health;
• Richard Feinberg, PhD, associate professor, Department of Opthamology, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School;
• Céline Gélinas, PhD, professor, Department of Biochemistry, UMDNJ-Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences;
• James Giudice DO, professor, Department of Medicine, UMDNJ-School of Osteopathic Medicine;
• Deborah Heller, MD, professor, Department of Pathology, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School;
• Nancy Kirsh, PhD, associate professor, Department of Developmental and Rehabilitative Sciences, UMDNJ-School of Health Related Professions;
• Kerry O’Rourke, MLS, adjunct associate professor, Department of Medicine, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School;
• John Reeves, PhD, professor, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, UMDNJ-Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences; and
• Frances Ward, PhD, RN, NP, C, founding dean of the UMDNJ-School of Nursing, professor, UMDNJ-School of Nursing.

My congratulations.

David M. Gibson, EdD, Dean, UMDNJ-School of Health Related Professions

Again, we at the UMDNJ-School of Public Health congratulate and honor Dr. Demissie and all inductees for having been selected as members of this prestigious organization.

Related links:

To view a pdf file of the University Report and a video of the event, please visit:

http://www.umdnj.edu/about/news_events/releases/06/uday.htm

To view the press release about University Day, please visit:

University Day Celebration

To view Interim President Bruce Vladeck, PhD, University Address, please visit:

http://www.umdnj.edu/presweb/president/desk/uday_address.htm