2017 teaching awards include recognition of a community faculty member

The Department of Surgery annual teaching awards presentation after Grand Rounds on May 3 included recognition of many faculty and residents. The department excels in educational efforts, as demonstrated by consistent great reviews from residents and students. Each year, the department recognizes some faculty and residents for their outstanding contributions to the educational mission of the department, but we could easily recognize many more.

This year, the department initiated a special category for recognition of community faculty.  Dr. James Lynch, a general surgeon with Cave Run Surgical Specialists in Morehead, Kentucky, was included among the 11 faculty members recognized with a Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award.

In addition to Dr. Lynch, faculty members earning recognition this year included:

Back Row: Sandra Beck, MD and Dr. Lynch
Second Row: Jon Hourigan, MD; Ana Ruzic, MD; Nathan Orr, MD; Brian Tucker, DO.
Front Row: Melissa Newcomb, MD*; Cortney Lee, MD*; Cynthia Talley, MD.
Not Pictured: James Liau, MD; John Draus, MD; Sean Dineen, MD; Eric Ballert, MD.
*Recipients of the Ward O. Griffen Excellence in Teaching Award.

In addition to faculty, 13 residents received the Resident Excellence in Teaching Awards.

Back Row: Cheryl Richie, MD; Jennifer Harris, MD; Brent Hillard, MD
Second Row: Michael Totten, MD; Tong Gan, MD; Justin Peterson, MD; Tamera Cox, MD
Front Row: Shyanie Kumar, MD; Callie Dowdy, MD; Amaka Agochukwu, MD; Caroline Neff, MD.
Not Pictured: Sam Carmichael, MD; Maggie Higgins, MD

The Ward O. Griffen Surgery Teaching Award, which recognizes Excellence in Medical Student Education,
is awarded to Cortney Lee, MD and Melissa Newcomb, MD.

William Cavatassi, MD is the 2017 recipient of the
Ben Eiseman Surgery Teaching Award for Excellence in Resident Education.