Faculty Awards.

The School of Public Health aspires to excellence in all we do, towards our core purpose of Think. Teach. Do. For the Health of All. In recognition of exemplary contributions to the SPH community, several school-level awards are presented to faculty who distinguish themselves throughout the year.

Faculty award recipients are honored each May at either the SPH Convocation Ceremony or Awards Ceremony. Barring any unusual financial/budgetary challenges the school may experience, recipients receive a monetary award when they are honored.

Norman A. Scotch Award for Excellence in Teaching. The Norman A. Scotch Award for Excellence in Teaching is presented annually at SPH Convocation to an individual who has made outstanding and sustained contributions to the education program of Boston University School of Public Health. The award is named for our founding Dean, who decided to make excellence in education a hallmark of Boston University School of Public Health.  The award is given to one faculty member at the rank of Associate or full whose primary academic appointment is at BUSPH.

Faculty Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship. This award is given annually at SPH Convocation to a faculty member whose primary appointment is at BUSPH to recognize a distinguished body of scholarly and/or scientific work on a specific topic or within a general area of expertise. Recipients are selected by the Research and Faculty Advancement Committee.

Faculty or Staff Award for Excellence in Public Health Practice. The Award for Excellence in Practice is presented annually at SPH Convocation to an individual who has made outstanding and sustained contributions to practice that improves the health of populations. The award recognizes a faculty or staff member who has gone above and beyond in contributing to the health of the public. Through their advocacy work, community engagement, and/or public policy endeavors, this person will have shown a remarkable drive in creating lasting improvements in the health of our local, regional, and/or global community and engaging the School in this work in a meaningful way. The primary purpose of the Practice Award is to recognize contributions to practice by SPH faculty and staff. All faculty and staff of the School are eligible. Recipients are selected by the Practice Advisory Committee.

Excellence in Teaching Awards are selected by the Education Committee.

  • Educational Innovation Award. The Educational Innovation Award recognizes an instructor who challenges the traditional ways of doing things, tries new approaches, and seeks improvements in the way teaching is delivered and learning is achieved. This award specifically focuses on unique course design that increases student interest and drives achievement. This award is presented at the annual John McCahan Medical Campus Education Day.
  • Excellence in Teaching Award for Teaching in the Core. The Excellence in Teaching Award For Teaching in the Core recognizes an instructor who demonstrates excellence in teaching in PH717, PH718, PH719 or PH720, creates a supportive and inclusive learning environment, stimulates interest in the material, motivates students, and promotes student learning
  • Excellence in Teaching Award for Student Engagement. The Excellence in Teaching Award For Student Engagement recognizes an instructor who encourages active learning, critical thinking, and creativity, connects with students in meaningful ways, and uses innovative strategies to inspire and motivate students to engage in the educational process.
  • Excellence in Teaching Award for Dedication to Student Learning. The Excellence in Teaching Award for Dedication to Student Learning recognizes an instructor who has a positive impact on student learning outcomes, motivates and inspires students, is available to students inside and outside of the classroom, continuously enhances their teaching approach, and engages with students in community-wide educational and scholarly activities.
  • Excellence in Teaching Award for Outstanding New Instructor. The Excellence in Teaching Award For Outstanding New Instructor recognizes an instructor who demonstrates excellence in teaching in the first three years at SPH, uses creative and innovative teaching strategies, stimulates interest in the material, motivates students, and promotes student learning.

Excellence in Research Awards are celebrated at the school’s Award Ceremony and are selected by the Research Committee.

  • Excellence in Research Early Career Award. The early career excellence award recognizes the outstanding contribution of one faculty member at the rank of assistant whose primary academic appointment is at BUSPH. Recipients should have scholarly accomplishments that advance public health research and improves the health of the communities.
  • Excellence in Research Innovation Award. The innovation in research award recognizes a faculty member whose work shifts existing paradigms, uses novel methodologies, or applies existing methodologies in new ways toward the goal of improving public health. Primary faculty at BUSPH of all ranks are eligible for this award.
  • Excellence in Research Mentoring Award. The award for mentoring in research recognizes the sustained contribution toward mentoring early career faculty, post-docs, and students in research. The award is given to one faculty member at the rank of associate or full whose primary academic appointment is at BUSPH.