Ann Harwood Nuss, M.D., is this year’s recipient of the Society of Teaching Scholars’ most prestigious honor – the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The award, established four years ago to recognize individuals who have made sustained and distinguished contributions to the field of medical education, was presented at the annual Medical Education banquet in Gainesville. Harwood-Nuss, the first Jacksonville resident and first woman to receive the honor, referred to the award as “without a doubt, the high point of my career.”
Robert Watson, M.D., senior associate dean for educational affairs, said Harwood-Nuss is the person most responsible for the success of University of Florida’s programs in Jacksonville. “She has been an exemplary designated institutional officer for our GME programs, someone who quietly, intensely and with complete commitment to our local GME mission produces perfection.”
Elisa Zenni, M.D., assistant dean for educational affairs and departing chair of the Society of Teaching Scholars, presented the award to Harwood-Nuss. “I believe she was genuinely surprised and honored by this award,” said Zenni.
“I have directly worked with Dr. Harwood-Nuss in the Office of Educational Affairs for more than a year now and in my previous capacity as pediatric associate residency director over the past 11 years,” she said.
“She is incredibly organized and thorough in her work approach and always holds the highest expectations of excellence as she strives to achieve them,” Zenni added. “She has extensive knowledge of all aspects of medical education, with outstanding skills in leadership, administration, technology, human resources, policy development and financial management – to name a few.”
Harwood-Nuss served as UF’s director of graduate medical education for the Health Science Center Jacksonville since 1992 and as assistant and then associate dean for educational affairs for HSCJ from 1994 until June 30, when she semiretired. In her half-time role of assistant dean, she plans to work on curriculum database development, the university’s Web presence and LCME and ACGME institutional reaccreditation.