As commencement nears, the University of Utah Health wants to recognize the accomplishments of their faculty. U of U Health is pleased to announce this year's recipients of teaching, career and distinguished professor awards.
Distinguished Teaching Award
David Morton, PhD, lecturer in neurobiology and anatomy, was recognized for his achievements in teaching and education. Morton uses active learning to guide his students through clinical application questions that challenge their problem-solving skills. His immersion into education earned him an election to the University of Utah's Academy of Health Science Educators and Board of Directors for the American Association of Anatomists.
Kristen Keefe, PhD, professor in pharmacology and toxicology, was recognized for her mentorship that provides her students with hands-on research training while seamlessly deploying multiple teaching styles that translates complex pharmacology concepts into manageable language accessible to her students. Keefe led the task force to completely overhaul the curriculum for pharmacy students, ensuring the inclusion of active learning and interdisciplinary training experiences in the new learning strategy.
Gretchen Case, PhD, assistant professor in internal medicine, was recognized for her teaching style that melds the arts and humanities, especially as they intersect with medical education and training. Her scholarly projects often combine communication, performance, disability theory, cultures of medicine, oral history and ethnography. She currently leads the Literature and Medicine Affinity Group of the American Society of Bioethics and Humanities.
Timothy Brusseau, PhD, assistant professor in health, kinesiology and recreation, was recognized for his teaching that is steeped in the latest research and focused on student learning and success. Brusseau directly oversees the university's undergraduate kinesiology teaching program, as well as the masters and doctoral programs with an emphasis in sport pedagogy and pediatric physical activity. His work touches the lives of more than 1,000 university students every year.
Distinguished Professor
Wesley Sundquist, PhD, professor and co-chair of the Department of Biochemistry, was honored for his internationally recognized research discoveries on the replication of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and fundamental processes in cell biology. In particular, his work has focused on the role of the Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport (ESCRT) pathway, which mediates the release of HIV from infected cells. His work has transformed the understanding of the architecture, assembly and budding of HIV, which is leading to new, potentially transformative strategies for HIV therapies. Sundquist has mentored 21 graduate students and 19 postdocs, who have successfully secured careers in academia and industry. He has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences. Earlier this month, Sundquist was honored with the Rosenblatt Prize for Excellence, the U's most prestigious faculty award.
