Recognizing Excellence in Our Educators

Excellence in teaching is the foundation of the Jacobs School’s mission to educate, inspire, and serve. Our educators lead by example — challenging minds, nurturing growth, and advancing the standards of medical and biomedical education.

This unified nomination process brings together the submissions for the Louis A. and Ruth Siegel Awards for Excellence in Teaching and the MEERI Moments of Excellence in Education: Recognition & Inspiration Program — to celebrate the outstanding individuals whose dedication to teaching enriches our entire learning community.

Note: Siegel Award Nominations

For the Siegel award, nominations will be accepted until February 16 at 11:59 p.m. Submissions received after Feb. 16, 2026 will be considered for the 2026-27 award cycle.

Please complete the form below to submit your nomination. You may nominate more than one inspirational educator (student, resident/fellow, foundational faculty and/or clinical faculty). If you would like to nominate multiple educators for consideration, please return to this page to submit one form for each individual.

Educator Information

Educator’s First Name

Educator’s Last Name

(Required)

If other, please describe

Please tell us your story of how this educator impacted you and your learning and why they deserve to be recognized. Please be sure to provide information about how they challenged and extended your knowledge or skills.

(Required)

Be thorough in your reason for nominating a particular individual. Include specific examples of how they enhanced your learning. Keep in mind that award and recognition decisions are based on the quality and not the quantity of nominations! See a sample nomination below:

"...Dr. X's hands-on teaching approach and willingness to go the extra mile in providing assistance, together, foster a sense of confidence and comfort among those he teaches and mentors. By actively engaging students in clinical procedures and decision-making processes, he not only enhances their practical competence but also instills a sense of autonomy and confidence in their abilities. In just four weeks, Dr. X was able to teach me everything there is to know about working the surgical robot at the bedside and on the console. He focused on making time for me to gain surgical experience on the robot console during cases, and providing me progressive autonomy in the OR. During those weeks, he provided me with the perfect balance of supervision and independence. He always wanted me to scrub in and get my hands dirty. He made sure I got to play an active role in the procedure, and always stopped to answer my questions. He focuses on a hands-on approach, and likes to teach. In time, he worked me up from just assisting to actually doing parts of the surgery. By the end of our rotation, he supervised me through an entire hernia repair – the most amazing experience I have ever had in medical school! His encouragement and positive reinforcement created a supportive environment where I felt motivated to excel and grow..."