VCOM-Auburn held its inaugural Faculty Recognition and Awards Banquet event on March 16, 2023. Faculty and administrators gathered in the multipurpose room to share a meal and enjoy some fellowship, while recognizing their peers’ teaching excellence.
Taking top honors at the event were Joshua Hollingsworth, PharmD, PhD, and Rekha Lall, MD. Hollingsworth, who serves as assistant professor for pharmacology at VCOM-Auburn, was honored with the Biomedical Outstanding Faculty of the Year award. Lall, who serves as discipline chair for internal medicine, was honored with the Clinical Outstanding Faculty of the Year award. Prior to naming the award winners, event master of ceremonies, Heath Parker, DO, VCOM-Auburn campus Dean, read praises from faculty peers of the efforts and dedication that Hollingsworth and Lall demonstrate on a daily basis.
VCOM-Auburn Anatomical Sciences Chair William Pearson, PhD, was finally united with his Researcher of the Year award trophy. Pearson gave a humble speech, remarking that he wished the trophy was modular, so he could give a piece to every one of his co-workers, of which he praised for their support.
Another category of awards included student-selected “Golden Apple Awards.” Golden Apple recognitions, given by the Class of 2025, included faculty members William Pearson, PhD, and Nathan Douthit, MD. Visiting lecturer Michael Hamer, MD, was also honored by the Class of 2025. Faculty members Danielle McCullough, PhD, and Nathan Douthit, MD, were recognized by the class of 2024. Visiting lecturer Park McGehee, MD, was also honored with a Golden Apple award from the Class of 2024.
Student-selected faculty of the block recognitions for 2022 included Bill Pearson, PhD, block 2 and 3, Nathan Douthit, MD, block 4 and 7, Jody Brewer, PhD, block 1, Katie Wolter, MD, block 5 and R. Kraig Smith, MD and Kenny Harris, MD, block 6.
Faculty promotions included Annie Kirby, PhD, RD, who was promoted to associate professor of preventive medicine and public health and cellular biology and physiology. Additionally, R. Kraig Smith, MD, and Kenny Harris, MD, were promoted to associate professors of obstetrics and gynecology.
