On April 29 second year medical and dental students gathered together in the Academic Rotunda to present their annual awards honoring their 2026 outstanding faculty.
At the Second Year Awards Ceremony the following honors were bestowed:
Dr. Heiko Schmitt is the winner of the 2026 Excellence in Teaching UConn CLIC Preceptor Award. This award is presented to an internal UConn Health Affiliated Teaching Faculty who has been precepting in the CLIC program for a minimum of 5 years. Students submitted nominations for CLIC preceptors who felt their CLIC preceptor exemplified the mission of the program and has gone above and beyond as a CLIC preceptor. During their first three years of medical school, UConn students are given the unique opportunity of working side by side with physician preceptors throughout the state as part of the CLIC program – a cornerstone of the curriculum.
Dr. Jeffrey Goldberg is the winner of the 2026 Excellence in Teaching Community CLIC Preceptor Award. This award is presented to a Community Affiliated Teaching Faculty who has been precepting in the CLIC program for a minimum of 5 years. Students submitted nominations for CLIC preceptors who felt their CLIC preceptor exemplified the mission of the program and has gone above and beyond as a CLIC preceptor.
Dr. Parvathy Madhavan is the winner of the 2026 Outstanding New CLIC Preceptor Award. This award is presented to a new CLIC preceptor who has been involved in the CLIC program for less than 4 years. Students submitted nominations for CLIC preceptors who felt their CLIC preceptor exemplified the mission of the program and has gone above and beyond as a CLIC preceptor.
Clinical Reasoning course Co-Directors Dr. Yvonne Grimm-Jorgensen, Dr. Dan Henry, and Dr. Darlene Oksanen and Course Administrator Ryan Allen are winners of the C.A.M.E.L – Committee Award for Meritorious Educational Leadership. They were selected for promoting a stimulating learning experience and, in its organization, presentation of material and overall level of teaching, has afforded the students an invaluable opportunity to learn and understand the Basic Medical Sciences.
Dharamainder Choudhary, Ph.D. is the winner of the 2026 Charles N. Loeser Award for his ability to evoke in students an enthusiasm for learning, and a desire to emulate their own attributes of scholarly curiosity, and give wholeheartedly of themselves to advance the welfare and education of their students.
In addition, the students chose faculty for 2026 Honorable Mentions for the Charles N. Loeser Award including:
- Meghan Herbst
- John Harrison
- Christopher Morosky
- Easwar Natarajan
- Jaclyn Olsen Jaeger
- Claire Stoudemire
Clinical Longitudinal Immersion in the Community (CLIC) Director Dr. Jaclyn Olsen Jaeger and Course Administrators Nicole Szwelicki and Rasy Mar are the winners of the 2026 Lynn Y. Kosowicz, MD Clinician Educator Committee Award. This honor is given annually by the second year class to the curricular content committee of a pre-clerkship clinical course, that students believe best promotes a stimulating learning experience and, in its organization, presentation of material and overall level of teaching, has afforded the students an invaluable opportunity to learn, understand, and integrate patient care, community, and the care team.
Dr. Jeffrey Pella is the winner of the 2026 Dan A. Henry, MD Clinician Educator Faculty Award. This award is given annually by the second-year class to a faculty member who teaches in the pre-clerkship clinical courses whom they believe best exhibits the ability to evoke in students an interest and enthusiasm for clinical care.
In addition, the students chose several faculty members for 2026 Honorable Mentions for the Dan A. Henry, MD Clinician Educator Faculty Award including:
- Alerte Anton
- Kirsten Ek
- David Ozimek
- Jennifer Ozimek
Congratulations to all the 2026 honorees!
