Faculty Teaching Awards
The faculty and courses of Cell Systems & Anatomy are among the most respected of the UT Health San Antonio campus and are frequently selected for special awards and recognition for both graduate and professional student training.
The teaching recognitions and awards received by the current professional teaching faculty are listed below. Not included are the numerous awards received by faculty who are now fully retired, but whose contributions are well remembered across the institution. Note that six faculty members have received a Minnie Stevens Piper Professorship, a statewide award given yearly to only ten educators in higher education. Thirteen of the faculty have received the Presidential Award for Teaching Excellence, which is the most prestigious institutional award bestowed yearly to 6 faculty representing all six schools on campus. Four faculty members have received the Graduate Dean’s Award for Exceptional Graduate Teaching and five have received Excellence in Teaching Awards from the Dental School Faculty Assembly. Others have received recognition from local and campus organizations, in addition to numerous student awards.
Alexander J.R. Bishop, Ph.D.
- CSA Excellence in Graduate Student Education – 2010
- Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching – 2015
- UT Health San Antonio Academy of Master Teachers – 2015
- UT System Ken Shine Academy of Health Science Education – 2017
Lizhen Chen, Ph.D.
- LSOM Rising Research Star Award – 2021
Lily Q. Dong, Ph.D.
- CSA Excellence in Graduate Student Education – 2008
- CSA Senior Research Award – 2021
- Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching – 2013
- UT Board of Regents “Distinguished Teaching Professor” – 2010
- UT Health San Antonio Academy of Master Teachers – 2010
Bess Frost, Ph.D.
- CSA Excellence in Graduate Student Education – 2022
- CSA Senior Research Award – 2022
Gang Huang, Ph.D.
- UT System Stars Award – 2022
Linda Y. Johnson, Ph.D.
- Academy of Educational Scholars Star Educator Award – 2022
- Assistant Marshall by Graduating Medical Class – 2015, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 1996, 1995
- Barbara Sanford Preclinical Teaching Award (AMWA) – 2001
- Excellence in Medical Education – 2011
- Gender Equity Award for Preclinical Medical Education (AMWA) – 1997
- Medical Student Award for Basic Science Education – 1995, 1993, 1990, 1986, 1985, 1984, 1983
- Outstanding Faculty Award, Graduating Medical Class – 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1986, 1983
- Outstanding Lecturer of First Year Curriculum – 2001, 1998, 1997
- Piper Professorship (Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation) – 1995
- Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching – 2004, 1994, 1985
- UT Board of Regents “Distinguished Teaching Professor” – 2007
- UT Board of Regents “Outstanding Teaching Award” – 2012
- UT Health Science Center Academy of Master Teachers – 2008
- UT System Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award– 2012
Rekha Kar, Ph.D.
- Academy of Educational Scholars Star Educator Award – 2022
- CSA Excellence In Health Professional Student Education – 2018
- LSOM Academy of Education Scholars – 2021
- Presidential Teaching Excellence Award in the Emerging Educator – 2022
Thomas S. King, Ph.D.
- Barbara Sanford Preclinical Teaching Award (AMWA) – 2002
- Gender Equity Award for Preclinical Medical Education (AMWA) – 1996
- Golden Apple Award (AMSA) – 1998
- Outstanding Faculty Award, Graduating Medical Class – 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 1992, 1989, 1988
- Piper Professorship (Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation) – 2015
- Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching – 1997
- UT Board of Regents “Distinguished Teaching Professor” – 2009
- UT Health San Antonio Academy of Master Teachers – 2008
- UT System Ken Shine Academy of Health Science Education – 2009
- UT System Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award– 2013
Erzsebet Kokovay, Ph.D.
- CSA Excellence in Graduate Student Education – 2018
Ellen Kraig, Ph.D.
- CSA Excellence in Graduate Student Education – 2017
- Graduate Dean’s Award for Exceptional Graduate Teaching – 2000
- Inaugural Deputy Chair for Faculty Development – 2022
- Piper Professorship (Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation) – 2019
- Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching – 1996
- UT Board of Regents “Distinguished Teaching Professor” – 2007
- UT Health San Antonio Academy of Master Teachers – 2008
- UT System Ken Shine Academy of Health Science Education – 2006
- UT System Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award – 2018
Pamela L. Larsen, Ph.D.
- Academy of Educational Scholars Star Educator Award – 2022
Robin J. Leach, Ph.D.
- CSA Perseverance Award – 2014
- Graduate Dean’s Award for Exceptional Graduate Teaching – 2001
- Piper Professorship (Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation) – 2017
- Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching – 2001
- UT Board of Regents “Distinguished Teaching Professor” – 2010
- UT Health San Antonio Academy of Master Teachers – 2008
- UT System Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award – 2016
Jim Lechleiter, Ph.D.
- CSA Excellence in Graduate Student Education – 2015
- Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching – 2017
Haley Nation, Ph.D.
- Academy of Educational Scholars Star Educator Award – 2022
- CSA Excellence In Health Professional Student Education – 2020
- Professor of the Year Award (Dental Class of 2022) – 2019
Annette Occhialini, M.D.
- Academy of Educational Scholars Star Educator Award – 2022
- CSA Excellence In Health Professional Student Education – 2017
- Presidential Award for Teaching Excellence-Emerging – 2020
- UT Systems Regent’s Outstanding Teaching Award – 2021
Babatunde O. Oyajobi, MBBS, Ph.D., MBA
- CSA Excellence in Graduate Student Education – 2013
- Inaugural Deputy Chair for Education and Training – 2022
- Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching – 2018
- UT System Ken Shine Academy of Health Science Education – 2021
Omid B. Rahimi, Ph.D.
- Academy of Educational Scholars Star Educator Award – 2022
- Assistant Marshall by Graduating Medical Class – 2015, 2010, 2020
- Barbara Sanford Outstanding Medical Professor Award – 2011
- Barbara Sanford Preclinical Teaching Award – 2008
- CSA Excellence In Health Professional Student Education – 2010
- Excellence in Medical Education – 2011
- Outstanding Faculty Award, Graduating Medical Class – 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007
- Presidential Award for Teaching Excellence-Sustained – 2020
- Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching – 2008
- UT Board of Regents “Distinguished Teaching Professor” – 2010
- UT Health San Antonio Academy of Master Teachers – 2008
- UT System Academy of Health Science Education – 2011
- UT System Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award – 2015
Alan Y. Sakaguchi, Ph.D.
- Academy of Educational Scholars Star Educator Award – 2022
- Barbara Sanford Equity in Teaching Award – 2009
- CSA Excellence In Health Professional Student Education – 2013
- Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching – 2013
- UT Health San Antonio Academy of Master Teachers – 2014
- UT System Academy of Health Science Education – 2015
- UT System Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award– 2016
Luzhe Sun, Ph.D.
- CSA Excellence In Graduate Student Education – 2014
- CSA Senior Research Faculty Award For Research Accomplishments – 2019
- Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching (Sustained) – 2019
- LSOM Master Research Award, Distinguished Mentor – 2021
Kristine S. Vogel, Ph.D.
- Academy of Educational Scholars Star Educator Award – 2022
- CSA Excellence in Health Professional Student Education – 2007
- Presidential Award for Teaching Excellence – 2014
- UT Board of Regents “Distinguished Teaching Professor” – 2010
- UT Health San Antonio Academy of Master Teachers – 2008
Habil Zare, Ph.D.
- CSA Junior Research Award – 2021
Peng Zhang, Ph.D.
- CSA Junior Research Award – 2022