Dr. Larsen receives the 2007 Alvin Earle Award

Adah Earle with Paul Larsen, M.D., who received this year’s Alvin Earle Award. The student initiated award is named after Mrs. Earle’s husband, who taught neural sciences to UNMC students from 1968 to 1994.

Paul Larsen, M.D., has said that teaching is about creating environments that invite attention, enthusiasm, exploration and learner confidence.

On April 24, students recognized Dr. Larsen’s exemplar teaching skills by awarding the UNMC professor of pediatrics and neurological sciences with the 2007 Alvin M. Earle Outstanding Health Sciences Educator Award.

The Alvin Earle award — the only award initiated and given by UNMC students –is presented annually to an instructor who demonstrates sincere interest in his or her discipline, excellence in the quality of instruction and strong involvement with students.

Dr. Larsen, who also serves as division chief for pediatric neurology, meets all of those criteria.

Past award recipients 2006 — Jonathan Vennerstrom, Ph.D. 2005 – Joyce Black, Ph.D. 2004 – Eric Scholar, M.D. 2003 — Carol Lomneth, Ph.D. 2002 — not awarded 2001 — Robert Binhammer, Ph.D. 2000 — not awarded 1999 — Kurtis Cornish, Ph.D. 1998 — Richard MacDonald, Ph.D. 1997 — Al Stammers 1996 — Robert Norgren, Ph.D. 1995 — Gilbert Willett, Ph.D. 1994 — Shail Saxena, M.D.

“His class is very dynamic. He gives us real cases and helps decipher the diagnostic,” student nominators said. “Dr. Larsen has developed an online neuroscience tutorial, which is probably the coolest thing that his students have seen in a long time. He gives examples with pictures and videos of everything that is covered in the lecture. He is considered among his students as a top caliber educator. Dr. Larsen should be considered one of the best professors at UNMC.”

Dr. Larsen simply enjoys his work.

“I have a passion for neuroanatomy,” he said as he accepted the award and thanked Dr. Earle’s widow, Adah, who attends the ceremony annually.

“There’s a kinship I feel with Dr. Earle and I appreciate his legacy,” Dr. Larsen said.

Dr. Earle joined UNMC in 1968 and taught neural sciences to students in five colleges. He received numerous teaching awards. When he retired in 1994, the UNMC Student Senate established the award in his name to recognize outstanding teaching and mentoring. He died June 6, 1996.

Alvin Earle award recipients receive a $500 honorarium and have their name added to the Alvin M. Earle plaque in the Wittson Hall lobby.

During a luncheon ceremony, UNMC Student Senate President Curtis McKnight introduced the 2007 nominees and read excerpts from student nomination letters. This year’s nominees were:

Joe Norman, Ph.D., associate director of physical therapy education program, School of Allied Health Professions — “The greatest attribute possessed by Dr. Norman that makes him a great educator is the passion he displays in the classroom. He sets high standards and expectations for his students to reach, but ensures they can be accomplished through several teaching strategies.”

Mary Megel, Ph.D., interim associate dean of undergraduate programs, College of Nursing — “We admire her knowledge concerning research and statistics. She can pick up on anything that the researchers have missed. Several students have commented on how sharp she is in finding possible mistakes or shortcomings of studies that have looked good from the onset.”

Paul Dobesh, Pharm.D., associate professor in the pharmacy practice department, College of Pharmacy — “Knowledgeable, a great lecturer and dedicated to the students … these are only a few qualities that describe Dr. Dobesh. Not only does he teach students how to decide which medications and procedures that should be used in a particular cardiologic intervention, but he supports those decisions with research.”

The 2007 Alvin Earle Award nominees are, from left, Paul Larsen, M.D., Joyce Solberg, Ph.D., Mary Megel, Ph.D., Stephanie Stevens, Joe Norman, Ph.D., and Robert Fuchs. Not pictured: Iqbal Ahmad, Ph.D., and Paul Dobesh, Pharm.D.

Robert Fuchs, associate professor of physical therapy education, School of Allied Health Professions — “Professor Fuchs has a unique and keen style of teaching. He keeps each lecture interesting and engaging by his amusing sense of humor, wealth of clinic stories and extensive visual aids. He incorporates interactive problem solving labs to maximize learning. He demonstrates willingness to be open to ideas from his students and looks for opportunities to grow professionally just as much as we do.”

Stephanie Stevens, clinical education coordinator of the nuclear medicine technology program, School of Allied Health Professions — “She continues to demonstrate excellent teaching methods in the classroom and through the clinical experience. Her ability to elaborate on classroom lectures over a wide range of nuclear medicine topics allows students to gain a unique perspective into the nuclear medicine field. We believe it is her enthusiasm that motivates students.”

Joyce Solheim, Ph.D., associate professor and director of UNMC’s Eppley Cancer Research Graduate Program — “Dr. Solheim not only teaches exceptionally well, but she cares about the level of understanding of each student. She is one of those rare professors who takes extra effort to make sure all students who need more help are accommodated, despite her busy schedule.”

Iqbal Ahmad, Ph.D., professor in the department of ophthalmology and visual sciences — “His lectures are enjoyable as he presents the material on a level tailor made for the student group. His exam questions are not easy, but they are designed for testing the ability a student has for understanding the material as opposed to memorization.”