Teaching Awards

Beth Altschafl, PhD
Body in Balance Block Leader
Department of Kinesiology and Academic Affairs, UW School of Medicine and Public Health

Nominators say why:
Dr. Beth is such a phenomenal block leader, as well as a true advocate for our students.

Rusha Bajpai, MD
Obstetrics & Gynecology, UW School of Medicine and Public Health

Students say why:
Dr. Bajpai is an amazing resident who always made me feel welcome and included in the obstetrics and gynecology team. She was a perfect example of how to balance her own roles and responsibilities as a resident with assisting on the team.  She challenged me to further my OB-GYN skills and knowledge by pushing me out of my comfort zone to prepare for my next role as an OB-GYN intern.

David Tillman, MD
Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, UW School of Medicine and Public Health

Students say why:
Dr. Tillman could make anyone want to go into emergency medicine! He is the epitome of a fantastic mentor who knows his students and their interests well. He is always friendly, offering a smile, and asking how we are doing. His mentorship is top notch, always just one message or email away and made the application process as smooth as possible. He is a true gem.

Kimberly Winburn, MD ’96
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Aurora BayCare Medical Center

Students say why:
I feel very fortunate to have learned from Dr. Winburn on my OB-GYN rotation. She goes out of her way to include students in a variety of procedures and encourages us to get extra time on the areas of the service we enjoy the most. She is a joy to learn from and it’s inspiring how quickly she establishes trust with her patients and their loved ones in a vulnerable environment. She is so well liked by students and patients alike due to her bright personality and ability to meet individuals where they are. From finding a baby’s heartbeat on Doppler to assisting in a C-section, working with Dr. Winburn has left me with some of my favorite medical school memories. She is highly deserving of recognition for her teaching — I look forward to each day I get to work alongside her.

Kyla Lee, MD ’98
Hospice and Palliative Care Physician, Gundersen Health System

Students say why:
Dr. Lee goes above and beyond, not only as a medical educator, but also on a human level. She pushes us to learn and be our absolute best in the classroom and on the wards, but she also cares about us immensely as people. Dr. Lee will give you the shirt off her back. She will call or text any time she is proud, happy, nervous or sad for someone. She knows each of us and our interests personally. She gives so much personally to student well-being: she opens her home for wellness events, buys food, takes us on pontoon rides, lets us borrow her butterfly US. She makes herself available whenever we need her and reaches out when she knows we need it. She gives 110% always; Dr. Lee is the busiest person I know. She is also not afraid to shout from the rooftops how much she loves and is proud of her students. She always gives a good confidence boost to students when they need it. I grew so much as a medical student while working with Dr. Lee, and it was all in a space of acceptance and support. She’s the best!

Daniel Jurczyk, MD ’18
Psychiatrist, Marshfield Clinic Health System

Students say why:
Dr. Jurczyk is a dedicated provider of psychiatric care for rural communities and an outstanding educator in the Wisconsin Academy for Rural Medicine. He is strongly invested in each student’s success and goes above and beyond to ensure students feel empowered in their learning. Dr. Jurczyk is excited and enthusiastic about teaching students, not just about psychiatry, but ways to improve as future physicians — no matter your interests. He treats students as future coworkers, giving us more responsibility and trusts in our abilities while knowing our limitations. He constantly promotes education, well-being, and critical thinking skills. He is a fantastic mentor that all students and providers can learn from. Along with this, Dr. Jurczyk demonstrates his commitment to medical student well-being by stepping in with support when students experience adversity. He is a wonderful mentor, enthusiastic teacher, and compassionate provider.

Minuja Muralidharan, MD
Internal Medicine Physician, Advocate Aurora Health

Students say why:
I worked with Dr. Muralidharan as an M3 for a month during my internal medicine rotation, and as an M4 during my internal medicine sub-internship. Both times, she was an incredible preceptor. During my sub-internship, she was very attentive to both me and my fellow sub-intern and always prioritized us getting the most out of our education. She took the time to ask us what our goals were and constantly checked in to make sure we were reaching (and exceeding) those goals. She pushed us to be better every day, gradually giving us more responsibility so that by the end of our rotation we truly felt like interns! Her kindness, patience, mentorship and passion for education were always evident with her students, residents and patients.