Metcalf Awards for Excellence in Teaching Awardees

2026 Metcalf Award Recipient

Monica Pessina

Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Anatomy and Neurobiology

Monica Pessina has been a devoted part of the campus ecosystem since enrolling in her Occupational Therapy bachelor’s degree and has been teaching at BU for nearly 30 transformative years.  

An internationally recognized educator and researcher, Dr. Pessina specializes in the connection between human anatomy and disease, and her world-class expertise translates to creating a rich and fulfilling learning environment for all her students. In the classroom, Dr. Pessina is dedicated to exploring and implementing modern teaching technologies and pedagogically creative methods. She adapts her curricula continuously to best reach her students and ensure accessibility for student learning, injecting and assessing new teaching modes and classroom adaptations. The result, as one colleague put it, “is a master class in clarity.” 

Beyond her extensive campus service and mentor work, students commented on her profound ability to maintain warmth, kindness, and humanity in mentally and emotionally demanding programs. One of her former students noted that “this compassion directly translates into her effectiveness as an educator. By fostering an environment of trust and emotional safety, Dr. Pessina made it possible for students to take on greater intellectual challenges with confidence.”