Conference Focuses on Scholarship of Teaching

The scholarship of teaching is the focus of the Fifth Annual Advances in Teaching and Learning Regional
Conference 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, at the UT Harris County Psychiatric Center.

Keynote speaker Barry Mann, M.D., will discuss “Creativity and Innovation in Health Science Education. ”Nationally recognized for his work in the classroom and curriculum reform, Mann is a professor of surgery and director of the surgery residency program at Drexel College of Medicine in Philadelphia.

“The Advances in Teaching and Learning Conference is an important event that promotes and celebrates the commitment of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston to our core mission of education,” said L. Maximilian Buja, M.D., executive vice president for academic affairs. “The emphasis on the scholarship of teaching and education in the health sciences is particularly important in advancing our quest for innovation and excellence in our professional activities. The conference provides ideas and energy for our faculty and others throughout the region.”

Faculty will give poster and podium presentations on a variety of education-related topics.

Special sessions include a presentation by Boyd Richards, Ph.D., co-chair of the Committee for Educator Development, Baylor College of Medicine, on why scholarship is important in education.

A panel of UT Health Science Center faculty members will discuss “Scholarship of Teaching: From Inception to Publication.” Another panel will feature winners of the 2003 John P. McGovern and John H. Freeman Awards for excellence in teaching.

Cynthia Phelps, Ph.D., assistant professor in the UT School of Health Information Sciences at Houston (SHIS), chairs the conference committee.

The conference is sponsored by the health science center’s Office of Academic Affairs, SHIS and Lone Star Legacy Society; Blackboard; and Visker Computer Consulting.

All faculty, students, residents and fellows are invited to attend. Free registration is available at
http://www.shis.uth.tmc.edu/TeachingDay/index.htm. For questions contact Connie.J.Tapper@uth.tmc.edu or (713) 500-3973.