Who We Are
The UT Southwestern Academy of Teachers (SWAT) encompasses a group of elite UT Southwestern Medical Center educators who strive to provide an academic and organizational environment that:
- Fosters excellence in teaching at all levels (colleagues, fellows, students).
- Rewards superb teachers.
- Stimulates innovation in education.
- Promotes scholarship in education.
Comprised of leaders from all four schools at UT Southwestern (Medical School, Graduate School, School of Health Professions, School of Public Health), the Academy provides a focus for the exchange of ideas and a platform for enhanced interactions among basic, clinical, and social scientists.
Leadership Activities
Alfred G. Gilman Symposium
The Educational Symposium, created in 2011, is designed to improve the teaching skills of participating faculty and enhance students’ and residents’ clinical learning experiences.
Effective Teacher Series
The Effective Teacher Series is a faculty development program designed to enhance and improve teaching skills among faculty, fellows, and residents (pre-clinical and clinical).
Organized by the Office of Medical Education, the Effective Teacher Series consists of 14 seminars on practical teaching skills. Courses are taught by faculty members who have a track record of success in the classroom or clinical setting. Each seminar combines didactic instruction with discussion.
Seminars are held virtually from noon to 1 p.m. twice a month throughout the academic year. Reach out to the Office of Medical Education for a detailed schedule.
Innovations in Health Science Education
Academy members participate in the annual Innovations in Health Science Education conference sponsored by the six health institutions in the University of Texas system.
Each meeting includes nationally recognized speakers and local participants. Past conference themes have focused on communication, clinical translational research, physician competencies and professionalism, and simulation in health care education.
Teaching Awards
Teaching awards allow the UT Southwestern community to celebrate and promote educational excellence across the four schools, both in didactic and basic sciences curricula as well as in clinical training.
SWAT offers multiple awards highlighting the achievements of our faculty members: The Outstanding Educator Awards recognize excellence in the four UT Southwestern schools, and the Distinguished Educator Awards honor educators whose contributions have impacted education over their entire career.