More than 100 WSU School of Medicine students and faculty members were recognized for their dedication to the field of medical education at the 2004 Honors Convocation Friday.

"Education is the core mission of this medical school," Dean Robert Frank said in introducing the awards. "We are not a research institute, although research is very important to us. We are not a hospital system, although the practice of medicine is very important to us.

"Education is our core business. And, from my point of view, it's important that we act like it is."

Among the honors presented were College Teaching Awards, Lamp and Staff Awards, the Pfizer Humanitarian Award, the Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach Award, the Alliance for Continuing Medical Education 2004 President's Award, School of Medicine Research Excellence Awards and Graduate Student Academic and Research Awards.

In addition to the recognition, Dean Frank reinstated an old School of Medicine tradition of awarding $1,000 stipends to faculty recipients and $500 scholarships to student recipients.

"People should be rewarded with recognition, but cold cash helps also," Dean Frank said.

A full list of all those honored will be printed in the Winter issue of Scribe.