Background:

At many health science centers the educational mission often receives less recognition, and less financial and personnel support than do the missions of research and clinical care. Dr. Alfred G. Gilman, Provost and Dean of Southwestern Medical School, strongly supports a renewed emphasis on our educational mission. To achieve this goal other health science centers have developed academies of elite educators to promote their institutional educational mission.  Under the leadership of Dr. Kenneth Shine, the University of Texas system recognizes the importance of the educational mission at its health science centers and wants to foster its elite educators with the development of a state-wide society.

Mission Statement:

The UT Southwestern Academy of Teachers (“SWAT”) will enhance the educational mission of the institution by supporting the scholarship, mentoring, recognition, and recruitment of faculty members who strive to raise the quality of education within all of the schools that constitute the medical center. The Academy will provide an academic and organizational environment that fosters excellence in teaching at all levels (students, fellows, colleagues), rewards superb teachers, stimulates innovation in education, and promotes scholarship in education.

From: Preliminary Charter, UT Southwestern Academy of Teachers (SWAT) 10-05-05