Last week, the School of Medicine awarded the M.D. degree to 100 members of the Class of 2012.

May 2012

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students,

Last week, the School of Medicine awarded the M.D. degree to 100 members of the Class of 2012. The joy and pride of our graduates and their parents, family, and friends made for a memorable day.

In addition to celebrating the accomplishments of our graduates, we also recognized excellence among those who teach our students. Six highly coveted teaching awards were presented to seven faculty members, and one award was shared by two house officers:

The Charles W. Bohmfalk Prize for teaching in the basic sciences went to Lawrence Rizzolo, Ph.D., associate professor of surgery (gross anatomy) and of ophthalmology and visual science.

The Charles W. Bohmfalk Prize for teaching in the clinical sciences went to Lloyd Cantley, M.D., C.N.H. Long Professor of Medicine (nephrology) and professor of cellular and molecular physiology.

The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award went to David Hersh, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of pediatrics (hospitalist).

The Alvan R. Feinstein Award for outstanding teaching of clinical skills went to Margaret Drickamer, M.D., professor of medicine (geriatrics) and associate professor of nursing.

The Leah M. Lowenstein Award for excellence in the promotion of humane and egalitarian medical education went to Mark Mercurio, M.D., M.A., professor of pediatrics (neonatology).

The Francis Gilman Blake Award for outstanding teaching of the medical sciences was given to two faculty members: Andre Sofair, M.D., M.P.H., associate professor of medicine (general medicine) and of epidemiology (microbial diseases), and Cyrus Kapadia, M.D., professor of medicine (digestive diseases). The recipients of this award are chosen by the graduating class.

The Betsy Winters House Staff Award was shared by Nicholas Blondin, M.D., and Jason Prescott, M.D., Ph.D. The recipients of this award are also chosen by the graduating class, to honor house staff who have made the most significant contributions to the education of medical students.

Please join me in congratulating all of these outstanding winners of teaching awards. They represent the best of Yale School of Medicine through their devotion to educating the next generation of physician-scientists.

Dean Robert J. Alpern, M.D.

Ensign Professor of Medicine