Three new Shine Academy members and its 2017 President named from UT Southwestern
By Carol Marie Cropper
Three Professors from UT Southwestern Medical Center have been named to the prestigious Kenneth I. Shine, M.D., Academy of Health Science Education – a University of Texas System organization that honors outstanding health science teachers – while a fourth began her one-year Presidency of the Academy this month after serving as President-Elect in 2016.
The UT System Shine Academy selects distinguished scholars recognized for their teaching excellence. Twelve new members are elected annually by the Academy’s current membership. Those selected must be outstanding educators in categories that include direct teaching, curriculum development, learner performance assessment, counseling and mentorship, educational administration/leadership and scholarship, and research.
“These world-class scholars make the greatest impact on the future of health care by training the next generation of outstanding talent,” said Dr. Ray Greenberg, Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs at the UT System. “They represent the best and brightest of teaching excellence and are exemplary leaders in their fields.”
Dr. Lynne Kirk, Professor of Internal Medicine, and of Family and Community Medicine at UT Southwestern, joined the group in 2006. She was officially recognized as 2017 President during the organization’s annual conference, held Feb. 16-17 in Austin.
“I am honored to be able to lead this talented group of educators over the next year,” she said. “The Academy is a wonderful resource to further excellence in education across all our campuses and the state of Texas.”
Dr. Kirk is the third UT Southwestern faculty member to lead the Shine Academy, joining Dr. Susan Cox, who led the group from 2007-2009 before joining the leadership team that planned and started Dell Medical School at UT Austin, and Dr. Jennifer Cuthbert, Professor of Internal Medicine who served as President of the Shine Academy in 2014-2015. Dr. Cox currently is Executive Vice Dean of Academics and Chair of Medical Education at Dell.
UT Southwestern’s three new Shine Academy members for 2017 are:
- Dr. Laura Lacritz, Professor of Psychiatry and of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, is the Director of the Neuropsychology Clinic, and a member of the Steering, Clinical Training, Admissions (Chair) and Research Committees in the doctoral Clinical Psychology Graduate Program.
- Dr. W. Gary Reed, Professor of Internal Medicine and of Surgery, who also serves as Headmaster of the six Academic Colleges within UT Southwestern Medical School. From 2010 until late 2016, Dr. Reed also was Chief Quality Officer of UT Southwestern University Hospitals & Clinics and head of the Office of Quality Improvement and Safety. He also has served as Associate Dean for Quality, Safety, and Outcomes Education at the Medical School.
- Dr. Diane Twickler, Professor of Radiology and Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr Twickler is Vice Chair of Academic Affairs in the Department of Radiology and one of five members of the Strategic Planning Committee for Undergraduate Medical Education.
Since 2005, more than 100 UT System educators have been inducted into the Academy. Nominations for membership may come from the president, dean, vice dean or faculty senate at each of the six health institutions in the UT System.
The Shine Academy is named after Dr. Kenneth I. Shine, former UT System Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs, who retired in 2013. Dr. Shine also served as interim Chancellor for the UT System in 2008 and was a formidable champion of many UT System-led enhancements in health care education and research.
Dr. Kirk holds The Toni and Timothy P. Hartman Professorship in Medicine.
Dr. Reed holds the S.T. Harris Family Distinguished Chair in Internal Medicine, in Honor of Gary Reed, M.D., and the Eva A. Rosenthal Professorship in Internal Medicine, in Honor of Gary Reed, M.D.
Dr. Twickler holds the Dr. Fred Bonte Professorship in Radiology.
