The results of this year’s Faculty-to-Faculty Awards have been announced. The award recipients, who were named in July, included David Riddle, PhD, Thomas Flynn, MD, Lisa Leininger, PsyD, and Laura Bauler, PhD.
The Faculty-to-Faculty Awards, which are handed out by the medical school’s Office of Faculty Affairs, recognize faculty who were nominated by their peers for significant professional achievements, as well as contributions and service to Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed) and the wider community.
Dr. Riddle, professor and chair in the Department of Biomedical Sciences and assistant dean for Foundations of Medicine, received the Lifetime Achievement Award. The award recognizes a faculty member who is nearing retirement and who has made significant contributions to one or more areas of WMed.
In their letter nominating Dr. Riddle for the Lifetime Achievement Award, 14 faculty members from the Department of Biomedical Sciences highlighted his “tremendous impact on medical education and faculty mentorship, which has set up our department and the preclinical education program for long-term continued success.”
The group noted Dr. Riddle’s calm demeanor and outstanding leadership, including the calculated approach he exhibited during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to “seamlessly transition our medical education program to virtual learning over a single weekend.”
“His calm and calculated approach continued throughout the pandemic, and he tirelessly modeled to both students and faculty how to adapt to innumerable changes and challenges,” the faculty members said. “Furthermore, Dr. Riddle successfully guided the department through a pivotal transitional period, during which nearly half of the current faculty were recruited, bringing new perspectives and valuable expertise to the team. He provided all the tools and opportunities for new faculty to quickly integrate into the department and continue improving the high standard of education our medical students expect and demand.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Flynn, who serves as assistant professor in the Department of Medicine and division chief for the Division of Infectious Diseases, received the Distinguished Service Award. The award recognizes a faculty member who has provided significant service to WMed, the community, and the medical community at the local, regional, national, and international levels.
Dr. Flynn was nominated for the award by Department of Medicine faculty members Joanne Baker, DO, Susan Bannon, MD, Theo Gomes, DO, and Diane Peirce, MD.
In their nomination letter, Drs. Baker, Bannon, Gomes, and Peirce lauded Dr. Flynn for his commitment to service at the medical school and his outstanding support of medical students, residents, and patients during a career that has spanned more than 25 years at WMed and the MSU Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies (MSU/KCMS), the predecessor to WMed.
“Throughout his career at WMed, Dr. Flynn has exemplified an extraordinary commitment to service,” Drs. Baker, Bannon, Gomes, and Peirce said. “Dr. Flynn is a gifted clinician … His greatest gift to Kalamazoo is his patient care. He is a walking encyclopedia of knowledge and he is routinely sought out by other clinicians for difficulty, tricky cases, unusual presentations and undiagnosed dilemmas.”
Dr. Leininger, who is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry, and Dr. Bauler, associate professor in the departments of Biomedical Sciences and Medical Education, received the Hal B. Jenson, MD Outstanding Faculty of the Year Award (Clinical) and the Hal B. Jenson, MD Outstanding Faculty Award (Non-Clinical), respectively. The awards recognize a faculty member whose work exemplifies the mission and values of WMed.
In their letters nominating Dr. Leininger, Emily Standish, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry, and Vitaliy Voytenko, PhD, associate professor in the departments of Psychiatry and Medical Ethics, Humanities, and Law, said Dr. Leininger has made significant contributions to the Department of Psychiatry that “have significantly strengthened our sense of community and collegiality, making her an invaluable asset to our team.”
“Dr. Leininger has a reputation for integrity and professionalism – both in her clinical work with patients and her interactions with colleagues and trainees,” Dr. Voytenko said. “She is known for her honesty, consistency, and utmost professionalism … Everyone within our department knows that if they approach Dr. Leininger, they would be listened to, empathized with, and validated. She is universally recognized within our department as a person of deep compassion and as a servant leader.”
In her letter nominating Dr. Bauler, Maria Sheakley, PhD, associate dean for Student Affairs and professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, said Dr. Bauler exudes excellence across the domains of teaching, administrative duties, scholarship, service, and mentorship.
That level of commitment, Dr. Sheakley said, is evident within Dr. Bauler’s work as chair of the medical school’s Medical Student Performance Committee (MSPC) and her numerous years of collaboration with more than 50 medical students and guiding them through the process of composing and publishing case reports. That work, in particular, has resulted in the presentation of case reports at more than 40 regional conferences, six national conferences, and the publication of more than 20 case report manuscripts.
“Dr. Bauler simply is an outstanding colleague, stepping up and stepping in when and where needed and always bringing wisdom, creativity, and incredible dedication to everything she does,” Dr. Sheakley said. “Her reputation and achievements as a medical educator, colleague, and leader are top notch.”