Awards and Honors

Clinical Investigation

Award for Academic Excellence

Since enrolling its first students in 1997, the Graduate Program in Clinical Investigation has grown steadily with an impressive group of graduates completing their studies each year. This award is given to candidates for the Master of Science degree in recognition of both excellence in didactic course work and rigorous, innovative scholarship in clinical research practical experiences. The 2008 recipient of the Award for Academic Excellence in Clinical Investigation is Jill A. Rodstrom.

Communication Sciences and Disorders

Julie Atwood Award for Excellence

This award was established in 1997 in honor Julie Atwood, former Director of the Speech-Language Pathology Department at MGH and Professor at the Institute since its inception. The award is given to a graduating student who possesses a strong base of academic knowledge, applies theory to the delivery of clinical service in an exemplary manner, demonstrates the highest values and ethics, the ability to apply research findings to clinical practice, and the potential for professional excellence and leadership. The 2008 recipient of the Julie Atwood Award is Stacie Erin Robarts.

Award for Excellence in Clinical Supervision

This award honors a distinguished clinical supervisor who continuously excels in expertise, techniques and methodology, who communicates theoretical and philosophical views clearly, who allows student clinicians to develop independent style and technique, who is an appropriate role model, is easily approachable and supportive of student clinicians, and who uses constructive criticism effectively to support the growth and development of the clinican. The recipient of the 2008 award is Joyce Goldweitz.

Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence

This award honors a distinguished faculty member who presents material in a highly effective manner, fosters an atmosphere of individual inquiry, uses class time efficiently, welcomes discussion and expression of diverse points of view, and excels in teaching his or her course. The recipient of the 2008 award is Leslie A. Maxwell.

Kenneth N. Stevens Student Research Award

This award honors a graduating student who has demonstrated superior performance in conducting research that produces new knowledge about normal or disordered human communication. The recipient of the 2008 Kenneth N. Stevens Student Research Award is Katharine Mary Radville.

Physical Therapy

Adams Fellow Award: Professional

The Adams Fund, created by Barbara Adams in 1986, was established to offer financial support for graduate education for physical therapists at the Institute. The award is given to students who show evidence of leadership abilities, service to the profession, and the potential to make a significant contribution as a clinical scholar. The professional program 2008 recipient of the Adams Fellow Award is Laura Roth Doskocil.

Adams Fellow Award: Post-Professional

The Adams Fund, created by Barbara Adams in 1986, was established to offer financial support for graduate education for physical therapists at the Institute. The award is given to students who show evidence of leadership abilities, service to the profession, and the potential to make a significant contribution as a clinical scholar. The post-professional program 2008 recipient of the Adams Fellow Award is Nileshkumar Rameshbhai Patel.

Marjorie K. Ionta Award for Clinical Excellence: Professional

The Ionta Award is named in honor of Professor Emerita Marjorie K. Ionta, who was Chief Physical Therapist in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital from 1958 to 1981, and a founding member of the Institute faculty. The award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated growth and a consistent, excellent performance coupled with outstanding humanistic qualities. The 2008 professional program Ionta Award recipient is Matthew David Gallagher.

Marjorie K. Ionta Award for Clinical Excellence: Post-Professional

The Ionta Award is named in honor of Professor Emerita Marjorie K. Ionta, who was Chief Physical Therapist in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital from 1958 to 1981, and a founding member of the Institute faculty. The award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated growth and a consistent, excellent performance coupled with outstanding humanistic qualities. The post-professional program 2008 Ionta Award recipient is Ruchita Vora. The professional program Ionta Award recipient was Jennifer Neufeld Cohen.

Mary Mankin Prize

This prize is awarded to the student in the post-professional program who is judged by the faculty to have the most outstanding master's thesis for the year. The prize was established in 1992 by Institute Honorary Trustee Henry J. Mankin, MD, and his wife Carole, in memory of Dr. Mankin's mother. The 2008 Mankin Prize recipient is Saima Nabi.

Outstanding Clinical Educator Award

This award honors a physical therapy clinical educator who serves as an exceptional role model of professionalism and clinical exceellence, and who has made significant contributions to clinical education. The award recognizes outstanding communication and teaching skills that foster clinical learning and evience-based decision making in physical therapy students. The 2008 recipient of the Outstanding Clinical Educator Award is Ann R. Jampel.

Nursing

Rebecca Colvin Prize

The Colvin Prize was established in 1996 by Mr. and Mrs. George Herzlinger to commemorate the life of Rebecca Colvin, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Robert Colvin, who died shortly before enrolling in the Institute's Nursing Program. The prize is awarded annually to a student in recognition of the development of an exceptional scholarly project. Exceptional writing and scholarly integration of theory and research, as well as application to advanced practice nursing, are recognized. The four criteria used in the selection include originality, contribution to advanced practice nursing, quality, and scholarly value. The 2008 recipient of the Rebecca Colvin Prize is Kristin Ann Larson.

Harriet Towle Excellence in Clinical Nursing Practice Award

This award was established in 1989 by the Nursing faculty, and is given annually to a student whom the faculty has selected and who has met several criteria, including documented evidence of clinical judgment and caring and demonstrated initiative and leadership in practice. The recipient must demonstrate respect and empathy for others, enthusiasm, and intellectual curiosity, and be perceived as articulate, conscientious, and patient. The 2008 recipient of the Excellence in Clinical Nursing Practice Award is Cally Mary Woodard.

Josephine Mangio Keaveney Memorial Nursing Prize

This prize was established by Madeline M. Keaveney to honor her mother, Mrs. Josephine E. Keaveney, a 1940 graduate of the MGH School of Nursing. Mrs. Keaveney, who worked as a nurse at MGH for several years, later taught LPNs at Pondville State Hospital in Walpole, MA. The prize is awarded to an outstanding student from the RN post-professional program who "best exemplifies the caring, spirit and professionalism of Mrs. Josephine E. Keaveney, SON '40." The 2008 recipient of the Keaveney Prize is Denise Clougherty Tompkins.

Judith Fong Bressler Nursing Faculty Prize

The Bressler Prize was established in 2006 through the generosity of Richard and Judith Fong Bressler, SON ’68, to recognize and reward extraordinary clinical excellence by a nursing preceptor. Recipients have demonstrated distinction in the role of mentor to one or more students in the nursing program, and model clinical excellence in nursing practice. The award further recognizes the preceptor who identifies the teaching role as core to professional nursing responsibilities, incorporates principles of adult specific teaching/learning theories, demonstrates recognition of individual student learning needs, and is flexible and seeks out opportunities to help students learn and adapt to the clinical nurse role. The recipient of the 2008 award is Maureen Marre.

Exceptional Advanced Practice Clinican and Mentor Award

This award honors a distinguished role model and teacher who demonstrates excellence as an advanced practice clinician and educator. A student-nominated award at the advanced practice level, it provides an opportunity to recognize the individual who combines expert patient care, teaching theoretical concepts, and advanced clinical skills to students in the advanced practice role. This award is presented to those who personify the skills of an expert advanced practice clinician, including evidence-based practice, caring, role modeling, teaching, and compassion. The recipient of the 2008 award is Dr. Barbara Roberge.

Medical Imaging

Clinical Excellence Award

Established in 2006, this award is given to a student who has been selected by the program's clinical preceptors on the basis of several criteria, including clinical competence, judgement, teamwork, caring, intiative, and leadership. The recipient has demonstrated excellence in patient care, technical skills, and empathy. He or she has shown enthusiasm and professionalism in all interactions within the Radiology Department as as with referring physicians. The 2008 recipient of the Clinical Excellence Award is Ahmed Mohammed.

Academic Excellence Award

Established in 2006, this award is given annually to a student who is distinguished in both academic and clinical coursework as demonstrated by the GPA. The recipient of this award has a strong base of academic knowledge, has the highest grade point average and is able to apply this knowledge to clinical practice. The recipient of the 2008 award is Marc McGeehan.

Excellence in Clinical Instruction Award

Established in 2006, this award is given annually to a clinical preceptor selected by the graduating students on the basis of several criteria, including a committment to teaching, respect and empathy for students as well as for patients, enthusiasm, intellectual curiosity, and a committment to helping students develop the skills to excel in the profession. The recipient exemplifies the skills that the program seeks to instill in students, including clinical competence, judgement, teamwork, caring, initiative and leadership. The recipient of the 2008 award is Barry D. Hall.

» Read about the Distinguished Alumni Award recipient