Exceptional Medical Teachers Honored With Siegel Awards

The annual awards are the foremost means for University at Buffalo medical students to honor their professors, instructors and teaching assistants.

This year’s awardees are from eight departments: medicine, neurology, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, pathology and anatomical sciences, pediatrics, radiology and surgery.

The awards were presented during the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences’ Faculty Appreciation Day on April 13.

Honorees are listed below, along with nominators’ comments read at the awards ceremony, held in the atrium of the Biomedical Education Building.

• Christopher S. Cohan, PhD, professor of pathology and anatomical sciences

Students described Cohan as “inspirational,” “incredible” and consistently going “above and beyond.”

He was cited for the “many ways in which he went beyond the job description in order to tailor the material to each individual student — not an easy task.”

Commenters noted that despite having more than 100 students in a class, Cohan knew all of their names by the end of the first week.

Students pointed out that his “devotion to the art of teaching neuroscience permeated through the short period that they interacted with him.”

• Naz J. Zulqarni, MBBS, clinical assistant professor of pediatrics

One commenter described Zulqarni — known affectionately by her students as “Dr. Naz” — as “the most compassionate, caring, loving physician and person I have ever come across in my life.”

One student proclaimed: “She never shies away from the opportunity to be available and of service to those around her.”

“She is an exceptional teacher. She brought up topics on rounds to further enhance our learning, and she routinely asked if we understood things. If we didn't understand, she proceeded to explain thoroughly clinical findings, diagnoses and treatments.”

“Dr. Naz is the epitome of an outstanding physician who I would want to care for my own family members, and she is a teacher every medical student around the globe would be lucky to have.”

• Kenneth H. Eckhert, MD, surgery

“Dr. Eckhert always took the time to address a patient’s emotional, as well as physical, well-being.”

Reflecting back on their rotation, one student said “I knew ultimately he would be my safety net, but I enjoyed the amount of independence I was allowed in patient management.”

“Dr. Eckhert has left a lasting impact on the lives of both patients and students who are fortunate enough to learn from him. He clearly embodies the multitude of factors that make for an exceptional physician and teacher.”

• Edward E. Cho, MD, surgery

Chief surgical resident at Buffalo General Medical Center, Cho is noted for his patience and encouragement of trainees.

“Instead of correcting a wrong answer, he would ask follow-up questions to lead a student to the right answer. This served to help students understand how they arrived at answers and reinforce the correct answer.”

A Class of 2015 graduate named Cho “the best educator of my clinical years,” citing his constant effort to teach in a fun and effective way and a willingness to give honest career advice.

Recipients of honorable mention also were recognized at the ceremony. They are:

• Reid R. Heffner, MD, professor of pathology and anatomical sciences
• Alan J. Lesse, MD, senior associate dean for medical curriculum and associate professor of medicine
• Peter T. Ostrow, MD, associate professor emeritus of pathology and anatomical sciences
• Charles M. Severin, MD, PhD, associate dean for medical education and admissions and associate professor of pathology and anatomical sciences

• John R. Fudyma, MD, clinical associate professor of medicine and chief of general internal medicine
• Yellamraju R. Kumar, MD, medicine
• Philip C. Moudy, MD, clinical associate professor of radiology
• Ashkan Mowla, MD, clinical assistant professor of neurology

• Timothy M. Adams, MD, surgery
• Umberto Albanese, MD, ophthalmology

• Emily C. Battaglia, MD, medicine
• Nabeel Gul, MD, surgery
• Hakeem J. Shakir, MD, neurosurgery
• Karen L. Zinnerstrom, PhD, coordinator for training and evaluation, Clinical Competency Center