stritch-physicians-in-training-honor-faculty-staff
Stritch Physicians-in-Training Honor Faculty, Staff
By Marena Keci
“Dr. Murdoch has hands down been the best professor I have encountered at Stritch…and she single-handedly made anatomy an amazing experience,” said a member of the Stritch class of 2026, who honored Murdoch with the Educator of the Year Award.
Annually, Stritch physicians-in-training recognize faculty and staff who have had the most significant influence on their medical education.
Murdoch, along with Kamran Mirza, MD, PhD, were awarded the Educator of the Year award and five members of faculty and two staff members were recognized at the 11th Annual Faculty Awards Reception on October 16.
Every September, Stritch physicians-in-training nominate faculty and staff for various awards. Criteria include those who tested material in a fair manner and took the time to personally teach, help, and mentor students to ensure their understanding. Each of the M2-M4 class presidents manage the nomination process. The class board distributes a nomination form to members of each class and then compiles and distributes a slate of nominations for members of their respective class. Then, the M2-M4 class presidents tally the votes and determine the winners. The M2-M4 classes honor faculty with two Educator of the Year awards; other awards recognize a facilitator, Excellence in Student Support; Attending, Intern, Resident and Inter-professional Educator of the Year, and the OSR Humanism in Medicine Award. In addition, the Jack MacCarthy Service in Medicine Award will be awarded to class of 2014 alumna Jacqueline Korpics, MD, medical director of COVID-19 response, Cook County Department of Public Health, for her tireless efforts during the pandemic.
Eva Murdoch, PhD, Educator of the Year
Loyola alumna Murdoch, associate professor, Medical Education, received the Educator of the Year award from the Class of 2026. Murdoch began teaching at Stritch in the fall of 2021. While she always had a passion for Biology and Medicine, she developed an interest in teaching when she was a Biomedical Sciences graduate student.
“I expanded this interest to teaching Anatomy and Physiology at the college level and my interest and experience translated well to my role at Stritch,” said Murdoch.
“My favorite part of teaching is working one on one with students, especially in the laboratory, but also in small group case discussions as part of other courses,” she said. When notified of the award, Murdoch said, “I am humbled because I don’t feel that I do anything beyond what is expected by me or my peers.”
Kamran Mirza, MD, PhD – Educator of the Year
Mirza, associate professor of Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, medical director of the Masters in Medical Lab Science, MHD's co-director, and the Hematopathology Fellowship Program director, received the Educator of the Year award from the class of 2026. Mirza received his MD at Aga Khan University Medical College in Pakistan and completed his residency at the University of Chicago Hospitals. He began teaching at Stritch during his first year of practice in the fall of 2015. Mirza embarked on a career in academic medicine because of his profound passion for the field. Throughout his career, he has been fortunate to have professors that encouraged him to pursue a clinical as well as an academic medicine career. “Teaching and healthcare go hand in hand,” he said. “I try to involve every learner no matter what their background is.” When asked what this award means to him, Mirza said, “It is incredibly humbling, and I am honored to receive it because it means that my efforts of educating students are recognized, and there is no greater honor than being recognized by my students.”
A common theme among nominators was Mirza’s skill as an educator: “Dr. Mirza is truly such an amazing teacher. Whether it’s in or outside the classroom, it’s clear that he cares about our education and conceptual understanding of important topics and supporting us throughout medical school and our professional journey. We really value his commitment to our learning.”
The class of 2024 recognized four individuals:
- Monica Edwards, MD - Attending of the Year
- Tooba Ghous, MD - Intern of the Year
- Caressa Chen, MD - Resident of the Year
- Donna Quinones, CHSE - Interprofessional Educator of the Year
The class of 2023 recognized two individuals:
- Chelsea Gertze, MD - Facilitator of the Year
- Tina Marino-Misura, MA - Excellence in Student Support
OSR Representative
Nominated by Stritch student representatives of the Association of American Medical College’s Organization of Student Representatives (OSR).
- Camilla Larsen, MD - Humanism in Medicine Award
Congratulations to all of the awardees for their extraordinary commitment to educating the next generation of physicians.
October 2023
By Marena Keci
“Dr. Murdoch has hands down been the best professor I have encountered at Stritch…and she single-handedly made anatomy an amazing experience,” said a member of the Stritch class of 2026, who honored Murdoch with the Educator of the Year Award.
Annually, Stritch physicians-in-training recognize faculty and staff who have had the most significant influence on their medical education.
Murdoch, along with Kamran Mirza, MD, PhD, were awarded the Educator of the Year award and five members of faculty and two staff members were recognized at the 11th Annual Faculty Awards Reception on October 16.
Every September, Stritch physicians-in-training nominate faculty and staff for various awards. Criteria include those who tested material in a fair manner and took the time to personally teach, help, and mentor students to ensure their understanding. Each of the M2-M4 class presidents manage the nomination process. The class board distributes a nomination form to members of each class and then compiles and distributes a slate of nominations for members of their respective class. Then, the M2-M4 class presidents tally the votes and determine the winners. The M2-M4 classes honor faculty with two Educator of the Year awards; other awards recognize a facilitator, Excellence in Student Support; Attending, Intern, Resident and Inter-professional Educator of the Year, and the OSR Humanism in Medicine Award. In addition, the Jack MacCarthy Service in Medicine Award will be awarded to class of 2014 alumna Jacqueline Korpics, MD, medical director of COVID-19 response, Cook County Department of Public Health, for her tireless efforts during the pandemic.
Eva Murdoch, PhD, Educator of the Year
Loyola alumna Murdoch, associate professor, Medical Education, received the Educator of the Year award from the Class of 2026. Murdoch began teaching at Stritch in the fall of 2021. While she always had a passion for Biology and Medicine, she developed an interest in teaching when she was a Biomedical Sciences graduate student.
“I expanded this interest to teaching Anatomy and Physiology at the college level and my interest and experience translated well to my role at Stritch,” said Murdoch.
“My favorite part of teaching is working one on one with students, especially in the laboratory, but also in small group case discussions as part of other courses,” she said. When notified of the award, Murdoch said, “I am humbled because I don’t feel that I do anything beyond what is expected by me or my peers.”
Kamran Mirza, MD, PhD – Educator of the Year
Mirza, associate professor of Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, medical director of the Masters in Medical Lab Science, MHD's co-director, and the Hematopathology Fellowship Program director, received the Educator of the Year award from the class of 2026. Mirza received his MD at Aga Khan University Medical College in Pakistan and completed his residency at the University of Chicago Hospitals. He began teaching at Stritch during his first year of practice in the fall of 2015. Mirza embarked on a career in academic medicine because of his profound passion for the field. Throughout his career, he has been fortunate to have professors that encouraged him to pursue a clinical as well as an academic medicine career. “Teaching and healthcare go hand in hand,” he said. “I try to involve every learner no matter what their background is.” When asked what this award means to him, Mirza said, “It is incredibly humbling, and I am honored to receive it because it means that my efforts of educating students are recognized, and there is no greater honor than being recognized by my students.”
A common theme among nominators was Mirza’s skill as an educator: “Dr. Mirza is truly such an amazing teacher. Whether it’s in or outside the classroom, it’s clear that he cares about our education and conceptual understanding of important topics and supporting us throughout medical school and our professional journey. We really value his commitment to our learning.”
The class of 2024 recognized four individuals:
- Monica Edwards, MD - Attending of the Year
- Tooba Ghous, MD - Intern of the Year
- Caressa Chen, MD - Resident of the Year
- Donna Quinones, CHSE - Interprofessional Educator of the Year
The class of 2023 recognized two individuals:
- Chelsea Gertze, MD - Facilitator of the Year
- Tina Marino-Misura, MA - Excellence in Student Support
OSR Representative
Nominated by Stritch student representatives of the Association of American Medical College’s Organization of Student Representatives (OSR).
- Camilla Larsen, MD - Humanism in Medicine Award
Congratulations to all of the awardees for their extraordinary commitment to educating the next generation of physicians.
October 2023