About Us
The UTMB Academy of Master Teachers, established in 2007, is an honorary service organization to recognize Master Teachers and to provide an array of faculty development opportunities for all UTMB Faculty, including an annual Faculty Development Day, annual Education Symposium, education grand rounds, journal club, innovation grants, mentoring and consultations. Membership is by application and selection against a set of standards. Members serve five-year terms and may be honored with the designation as University of Texas Distinguished Teaching Professors.
Mission Statement
The Academy of Master Teachers is an inter-professional community serving UTMB through the promotion of educational excellence.
Vision Statement
The Academy of Master Teachers will propel UTMB to a national and global reputation for excellence in Biomedical and Health Professions education.
Announcements
Welcome and Congratulations 2019 New Members
Dr. Marie Dawlett, Dr. Lynne Hughes, Dr. Monique Ferguson
Dr. Cristiana Rastellini, Dr. Shari Mohamed, Dr. Sifrance Tran
Dr. Jianzhi Zhang, Dr. Cara Pennel, Dr. Sharron Forest
Congratulations to Dr. Era Buck
Dr. Buck’s term as Director-Elect began on September 1, 2019 in anticipation of assuming the AMT Director
position for a three year term beginning September, 1, 2020. I look forward to working with Dr. Buck over the coming year as she joins our AMT Executive Team.
2019 Lifetime Achievement Award
Mary O'Keefe, PhD, JD, RN
Professor
School of Nursing
It is with great pleasure to announce the AMT's 2019 Lifetime Achievement recipient.
Dr. O’Keefe is a tenured professor in the School of Nursing and has participated in nursing education for over 40 years. She has taught students at all levels in nursing: baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral. She has also taught medical students as part of an interdisciplinary court visitor program and internationally in a biomedical mediation course with Shantou University in China. Her elective course on legal and ethical issues of leadership was so highly regarded by students that became a required course. She has been innovative in her approach to teaching. She quickly adapted her courses to an online format when the School of Nursing moved all graduate programs online. Her outstanding teaching has been previously recognized by being selected as a member of the Academy of Master Teachers and the Kenneth I. Shine Academy of Health Sciences Education, and a recipient of the Regents Outstanding Teaching Award. She has been described as an enthusiastic educator who is innovative, collaborative, and supportive of students and colleagues with a career devoted to education.
We will honor Dr. O'Keefe at the AMT's New Member Induction on October 15, 2019.
Educator of the Month - October 2019
Congratulations to Thomas Smith, PhD for being nominated as AMT Educator of the Month for October 2019.
"Dr. Smith is not only an effective educator who diligently works to make improvements to the curriculum of the
BBSC course, but he also works to improve the molecular biophysics courses. Dr. Smith is also an exceptional
mentor. He goes above and beyond the call of duty to make sure students have the tools they need to be
successful.”
“His expectations were clear, his teaching was clear, and he told interesting anecdotes that added to the class
material.”
“Dr. Smith is an exceptional educator. He presents information that is applicable across disciplines. He’s a
testament to good scholars as well as good educators.”
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Smith for this well-deserved honor.