College of Medicine
University of Nebraska Medical Center
University of Nebraska Medical Center

Annual Teaching Awards

Hirschmann Prize for Teaching Excellence

Nominations are made by senior class medical students. Two College of Medicine faculty members are recognized annually: a preclinical faculty member and a clinical faculty member.

Criteria

  • Be a faculty member (preclinical or clinical curriculum) who has not received the award within the
    last four (4) years, including full-time, part-time, and voluntary physicians on staff.
  • Demonstrate significant contributions to the education and mentoring of students.
  • Demonstrate devotion and a sustained commitment to teaching.
  • Be actively working to improve student performance.
  • Demonstrate professionalism and awareness of the educational needs of the student.
  • Utilize innovative educational methods and stimulate students to learn.

Hirschmann Recipients

Year of Award Preclinical Honoree Clinical Honoree
2026 Geoffrey M. Thiele, PhD Allison K. Ashford, MD
2025 Thomas L. McDonald, PhD Ryan Mullane, DO
2024 Kimberly S. Latacha, PhD Prasanth Ravipati, MD
2023 Richard G. MacDonald, PhD Daniel M. Hershberger, MD
2022 Keely M. Cassidy, PhD Amy C. Cannella, MD
2021 –– Nathan M. Anderson, MD
2020 Troy J. Plumb, MD J Scott Neumeister, MD
2019 Alan T. Richards, MD Allison K. Ashford, MD
2018 David C. McMillan, PhD Matthew J. DeVries, MD
2017 Parmender P. Mehta, PhD Ashish Sharma, MD
2016 Sarah A. Keim, PhD Jennifer R. Parker, MD
2015 Geoffrey M. Thiele, PhD Adam Reinhardt, MD
2014 Richard G. MacDonald, PhD J. Scott Neumeister, MD
2013 Robert T. Binhammer, PhD Matthew J. DeVries, MD
2012 Geoffrey A. Talmon, MD Wendy J. Grant, MD
2011 Kurtis G. Cornish, PhD Ashish Sharma, MD
2010 Geoffrey M. Thiele, PhD Jennifer R. Parker, MD
2009 Paul D. Larsen, MD J. Scott Neumeister, MD
2008 Lloyd D. Holm, DO Jay Moore, MD
2007 Robert T. Binhammer, PhD David V. O’Dell, MD
2006 Kurtis G. Cornish, PhD ––
2005 –– Joel R. Bessmer, MD
2004 Paul D. Larsen, MD J. Scott Neumeister, MD
2003 S. James Booth, PhD Grant F. Hutchins, MD
2002 Robert T. Binhammer, PhD David V. O’Dell, MD
2001 Kurtis G. Cornish, PhD LeeRoy Meyer, MD

Golden Apple Awards

Presented by the local American Medical Student Association chapter, the Golden Apple Awards recognize faculty members who excel in educational endeavors. Students are highly encouraged to nominate outstanding faculty members at the bottom of routine College of Medicine evaluation forms.

Core Qualities of Recipients

  • Deliver course content in an exceptionally clear, understandable, and organized manner.
  • Exhibit teaching and educational mentorship as a definitive professional priority.
  • Demonstrate rigorous clinical and academic professionalism.
  • Consistently stimulate deep learning, inquiry, and critical thinking in students.
  • Proactively recognize and accommodate students' diverse educational needs.

Golden Apple Recipients

  • 2025–2026, Amy Cannella, MD
  • 2023–2024, Sam Simet, PhD
  • 2022–2023, Sam Simet, PhD
  • 2021-2022, Keely Cassidy, PhD
  • 2020–2021, Sara Bares, MD, and Robert Norgren, PhD
  • 2019–2020, Keely Cassidy, PhD, and Danny Hershberger, MD
  • 2018–2019, Danny Hershberger, MD
  • 2017–2018, Amy Cannella, MD, and David McMillan, PhD
  • 2016–2017, Kim Latacha, MD, and David McMillan, PhD
  • 2015–2016, Sarah Keim Janssen, PhD, and David McMillan, PhD
  • 2014–2015, Parmender Mehta, PhD, and Samer Sayyed, MD
  • 2013–2014, Carrie Elzie, PhD, and Geoff Talmon, MD
  • 2012–2013, Sarah Keim Janssen, PhD, and Geoff Talmon, MD
  • 2011–2012, Sarah Keim Janssen, PhD, and Geoff Talmon, MD
  • 2010–2011, Rick MacDonald, PhD, and Geoff Talmon, MD
  • 2009–2010, Kurtis Cornish, PhD, and Geoff Talmon, MD
  • 2008–2009, Bill Chaney, PhD, and Geoff Talmon, MD
  • 2007–2008, Bob Binhammer, PhD, and Geoffrey Thiele, PhD
  • 2006–2007, Paul Larsen, MD, and Geoffrey Thiele, PhD
  • 2005–2006, Barbara Hurlbert, MD, and Paul Larsen, MD
  • 2004–2005, Paul Larsen, MD, and Geoffrey Thiele, PhD
  • 2003–2004, James Booth, PhD, and Michael Dalton, PhD
  • 2002–2003, Pamela Carmines, PhD, and Barbara Hurlbert, MD
  • 2001–2002, Paul Larsen, MD, and Jim Medder, MD
  • 2000–2001, Kurtis Cornish, PhD, and James Newland, MD
  • 1999–2000, Paul Larsen, MD, Eric Scholar, PhD, and David O’Dell, MD
  • 1998-1999, David O’Dell, MD
  • 1997-1998, David O’Dell, MD
  • 1996–1997, Thomas McDonald, PhD, Robert Norgren, PhD, and Ed Mlinek, MD
  • 1995–1996, Kurtis Cornish, PhD, Jennifer Larsen, MD, and David O’Dell, MD
  • 1994–1995, Thomas McDonald, PhD, Robert Norgren, PhD, and LeeRoy Meyer, MD
  • 1993–1994, Manuchair Ebadi, PhD,  Alvin Earle, PhD, and David O’Dell, MD
  • 1992–1993, Jerry Jones, MD, Ed Mlinek, MD, James Newland, MD, and LeeRoy Meyer, MD

Golden Apple Hall of Fame

The Golden Apple Hall of Fame gives elite distinction to educators who have achieved standard excellence by receiving seven or more Golden Apple Awards throughout their teaching careers.

  • LeeRoy Meyer, MD — 26 Awards
  • Mike Ebadi, PhD — 11 Awards
  • Alvin Earle, PhD — 7 Awards
  • David O'Dell, MD — 7 Awards
  • Paul Larsen, MD — 7 Awards
  • Kurtis Cornish, PhD — 7 Awards
  • Geoff Talmon, MD — 7 Awards

Class of 1962 Basic Science Outstanding Teaching Award

Established in 1987 in conjunction with the Class of 1962's 25th reunion and awarded annually since 1989. Eligible faculty must belong to one of the following foundational core departments: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Cellular and Integrative Physiology; Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy; or Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience and actively instruct within the first two years of the basic science curriculum.

Evaluation Metrics

  • Consistently outstanding standard course and faculty teaching evaluations.
  • Prior formal teaching honors, peer accolades, and external professional recognition.
  • Demonstrated outstanding leadership in advancing institutional learning environments.
  • Documented educational innovation, curriculum architecture, and peer leadership.

Complete Award Registry, 1989–2023

  • 1989: Alvin Earle, PhD, Anatomy
  • 1990: William K. Metcalf, MD, Anatomy
  • 1991: Manuchair Ebadi, PhD, Pharmacology
  • 1992: Margaret Heidrick, PhD, Biochemistry
  • 1993: Terry D. Hexum, PhD, Pharmacology
  • 1994: James Booth, PhD, Pathology & Microbiology
  • 1995: Thomas L. McDonald, PhD, Pathology & Microbiology
  • 1996: Robert T. Binhammer, PhD, Anatomy
  • 1997: James Newland, MD, Pathology & Microbiology
  • 1998: Kurtis G. Cornish, PhD, Physiology
  • 1999: Richard G. MacDonald, PhD, Biochemistry
  • 2000: Gordon L. Todd, PhD, Genetics, Cell Biology & Anatomy
  • 2001: Eric M. Scholar, PhD, Pharmacology
  • 2002: G. Stanley Cox, PhD, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
  • 2003: Carol S. Lomneth, PhD, Genetics, Cell Biology & Anatomy
  • 2004: Shantaram Joshi, PhD, Genetics, Cell Biology & Anatomy
  • 2005: William G. Chaney, PhD, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
  • 2006: Robert T. Binhammer, PhD, Genetics, Cell Biology & Anatomy
  • 2007: Terry D. Hexum, PhD, Pharmacology & Experimental Neuroscience
  • 2008: Kurtis G. Cornish, PhD, Cellular & Integrative Physiology
  • 2009: Geoffrey Thiele, PhD, Internal Medicine
  • 2010: Sarah Keim Janssen, PhD, Genetics, Cell Biology & Anatomy
  • 2011: Geoffrey A. Talmon, MD, Pathology & Microbiology
  • 2012: Carol S. Lomneth, PhD, Genetics, Cell Biology & Anatomy
  • 2013: Gordon L. Todd, PhD, Genetics, Cell Biology & Anatomy
  • 2014: Samer Sayyed, MD, Internal Medicine
  • 2015: Justin L. Mott, MD, PhD, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
  • 2016: Parmender P. Mehta, PhD, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
  • 2017: Kimberly S. Latacha, PhD, Genetics, Cell Biology & Anatomy
  • 2018: Travis L. McCumber, PhD, Genetics, Cell Biology & Anatomy
  • 2019: Keely M. Cassidy, PhD, Genetics, Cell Biology & Anatomy
  • 2020: Peter J. Oldenburg, PhD, Pharmacology & Experimental Neuroscience
  • 2021: Erika Boesen, PhD, FAHA, FAPS, Cellular & Integrative Physiology
  • 2022: Karen Gould, PhD, Genetics, Cell Biology & Anatomy
  • 2023: Paul Fey, PhD, Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology