Clinical and Translational Research Mentors Recognized for Outstanding Support of Students and Fellows
The Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research (MICHR) recently celebrated recipients of the 2015 MICHR Distinguished Mentor Award, which recognizes the efforts of University of Michigan faculty members who demonstrate consistent, high quality mentoring in areas of clinical and translational health research.
Out of a competitive field of remarkable and generous research leaders who contribute enormously to the research environment at U-M, MICHR selected six people who meet the highest standards for clinical and translational research mentorship. These standards include a demonstrated commitment to fostering the intellectual, creative, scholarly, and professional growth of their mentees.
The pool of nominees represented a diverse group of U-M schools, including LS&A, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Social Work. Awards were presented at the 2015 Research Mentoring Forum by Vicki Ellingrod, PharmD (Program Director for Education & Mentoring, MICHR) and Vice President for Research Dr. S. Jack Hu.
Before the 2015 awardees were honored, Dr. Ellingrod discussed the history of the award. “(This award) was developed to elevate mentoring as one of the pillars of academic achievement, on par with teaching and research in performance review and promotion decisions. Evidence from the NIH shows that having a good mentor is critical to every promising scientist, leading to discovery and breakthroughs in basic science, health promotion, disease prevention, and medical treatment.”
“In the four years of this award,” she continued, “we have received 80 nominations from 9 schools and colleges across the University, not only showing the reach of clinical and translational research at the University, but also showing that there are many outstanding mentors whom colleagues and mentees wish to recognize.”
As Dr. Hu honored the 2015 awardees, he underscored the importance of mentoring at the University. “Our culture values mentoring in all its forms, between professors and students, among peers and colleagues, as demonstrated in the clinical setting, in teaching, in collaborations, across disciplines, and between community-university partners. In addition to promoting and enabling scientific enquiry,” Dr. Hu continued, “Great mentors provide advice and guidance to tackle the myriad of challenges that we all have faced in the development of our careers such as the balance of work and home life, working with collaborators and, of course, the inevitable rejection of papers and grants.”
This year’s winners are James L. Abelson, William Barsan, Yvonne Lorraine Kapila, Marci M. Lesperance, Bruce A. Mueller, and David A. Williams.
Bruce A. Mueller, Professor and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the College of Pharmacy, was a member of the interprofessional teaching team receiving the 2015 University of Michigan Provost's Teaching Innovation Prize. Dr. Mueller’s multidisciplinary research team has conducted numerous clinical and lab-based trials to determine appropriate pharmacotherapy in patients with kidney disease. He is considered a leader in the field of critical care renal replacement therapies and authored many of the drug dosing guidelines used by practicing clinicians in hospital intensive care units. Nominators said that Dr. Mueller supports clinicians who move into research, and gives them the kind of support that helps them flourish, even leading to early promotions. Dr. Mueller has an openness and willingness to listen and he never has any agendas other than pursuing high-level research and helping his mentees to develop successful academic careers. As one remarked, “There were more seasoned clinicians and researchers that he could have reached out to, but instead he chose to teach me and help me build my career from the ground up.”
