The UNMC College of Medicine is proud to announce the recipients of the inaugural Medical Education Awards, recognizing faculty whose dedication to teaching, mentorship and innovation continues to shape the future of medicine.
Organizers said this year’s nomination process drew an exceptionally competitive pool of candidates, reflecting the depth of educational excellence across the college. Seven awards were presented across clinical and foundational science disciplines.
The Distinguished Foundational Science Educator Award was given to Kimberly Latacha, PhD, associate professor and vice chair for medical education in the UNMC Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy.
Dr. Latacha has been a cornerstone of anatomy education at UNMC for more than 15 years, earning a reputation for rigorous, engaging and deeply student-centered teaching. She is co-director of Phase 1 medical education and serves as co-director of the Musculoskeletal and Integument Block, one of the most demanding foundational science courses in the curriculum.
Students describe her as “one of the greatest teachers I’ve ever had,” praising her ability to make complex material both clinically relevant and intellectually exciting, a quality nominators say has defined her teaching across more than a decade of recognized excellence, including the 2024 Hirschmann Prize for Excellence in Teaching and the 2018 University-Wide Departmental Teaching Award, among numerous other honors.
The Distinguished Clinical Educator Award was given to Karen Carlson, MD, associate professor in the UNMC Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and vice chair of student and community education.
Dr. Carlson has transformed clinical medical education at UNMC through her innovative, simulation-based approach to teaching.
As the first fourth-year specialty tract director, she developed the Residency Preparatory Class, a curriculum-driven, simulation-intensive program widely praised by students and faculty alike. Nominators describe her as a trusted leader and role model who brings the same commitment to excellence to individual learners that she brings to large-scale curriculum design, mentoring dozens of students and residents who have gone on to match in competitive programs and earn honors of their own.
Dr. Carlson’s contributions have been recognized with the UNMC Interprofessional Academy of Educators Spotlight on Scholarship Award, First Place Audience Choice. Her 3D-printed gynecological task trainer has been adopted at educational institutions in 54 countries, extending her impact well beyond UNMC’s walls. Dr. Carlson said receiving the Distinguished Clinical Educator Award is deeply meaningful.
“Teaching and mentoring future physicians has given me the opportunity to lead by example and influence so many learners throughout their careers,” she said, “and it’s especially rewarding to have those efforts recognized by the college of medicine.”
Additional 2026 award recipients
The college also recognized excellence across several additional categories:
• Emerging Clinical Educator Award: Jennifer Davis, MD, and Lindsay Blick, MD
• Emerging Foundational Science Educator Award: Megan Perry, PhD
• Foundational Science Educator Innovation Award: Travis McCumber, PhD
• Clinical Educator Innovation Award: Christopher Smith, MD
• Mentorship and Coaching Excellence Award: Jasmine Marcelin, MD
“These individuals represent excellence in teaching, innovation and mentorship across the college,” said Nada Fadul, MD, associate dean for faculty affairs. “We are grateful for their contributions and proud to recognize their impact on our learners and programs.”
Bradley Britigan, MD, dean of the UNMC College of Medicine, congratulated the awardees. “Medical education is a calling, and to do it well is a truly valuable skill,” Dr. Britigan said. “We are proud of our faculty here at the UNMC College of Medicine, and we celebrate these faculty members, who have been recognized by their students and peers as exceptional educators in this challenging, exciting field.”