Noreen Rossi, M.D., of the Wayne State University Physician Group, has been recognized with the 2010 Wayne State University President's Award in Teaching.
Dr. Rossi, a professor in the School of Medicine's Department of Internal Medicine Division of Nephrology and an associate member of the Physiology Department, has instructed students for 25 years at the School of Medicine.
"The President's Teaching Award is indeed an honor," said Dr. Rossi, who also serves as program director of the Nephrology Fellowship. "I was surprised at being nominated and humbled to be among other notable recipients of this award. The award inspires me to continue to be energetic, enthusiastic and effective in my teaching."
Dr. Rossi teaches in two main areas - renal physiology and pathophysiology, and clinical nephrology. She instructs first-year medical students in renal physiology and second-year students in renal pathophysiology. In addition she teaches graduate physiology students advanced renal physiology and cardiovascular physiology. Third- and fourth-year students, interns, resident and renal fellows receive her instruction through clinical teaching at patient bedside and through didactic lectures.
"Dr. Rossi and faculty like her are the backbone of the School of Medicine," said Valerie Parisi, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., interim dean of the School of Medicine. "Our students are fortunate to have someone so fully dedicated to teaching."
With her entire teaching career - which began in 1985 -- at the School of Medicine, Dr. Rossi said there are many gratifying facets about instructing medical students. "I really enjoy introducing students to the intricacies and the wonders of how the kidney works and having them find that even the difficult aspects make sense," Dr. Rossi said. "I also find terrific gratification in teaching at the bedside and in the clinic so that students and clinical trainees learn to apply the basic knowledge to real-life kidney problems."
But ensuring that her students learn the basics is only a single aspect in a clinical teaching venue, she pointed out.
"I find tremendous satisfaction when I am able to teach students to convey their knowledge to the patients under their care in clear language and address the patients' concerns since an informed and educated patient is more likely to follow a regimen," Dr. Rossi said. "When graduate students are able to take existing knowledge, critically evaluate it and then ask important questions, that means I have succeeded in inspiring the next generation to seek the answers that will help find answers to renal disorders that beg for answers."
In addition to Dr. Rossi, six other WSU faculty members received the honor, including, Tamara Bray, Anthropology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; Stephanie Brock, Chemistry, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; Sean Gavin, Physics and Astronomy, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; Sandra Hobbs, Classical and Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; Douglas Risner, Dance, College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts; and Phyllis Whitin, Teacher Education, College of Education.
The awardees will be acknowledged at the annual Academic Recognition Ceremony on April 27.