Exceptional Teachers
We are interested in collecting your stories about faculty members, residents, nurses, or anyone else, who have impacted or influenced you in a significant way. Please tell us about what those teachers did that resulted in an exceptional educational experience and how it changed you.
October 2025 Clerkship Submissions
Below are the exceptional teacher recognitions shared with the Learning Environment Advocacy Committee this rotation. Thank you to these faculty for providing a great experience for our students.
Emergency Medicine
- NA
Family and Community Medicine
- (Attending) Brittany Hayes, DO – “has been one of the best teachers I've had on this rotation. Watching the way she interacts with patients has taught me a lot about how to balance professionalism with kindness. Overall, I've had a great experience working with Dr. Hayes. She makes learning enjoyable, challenges me in the right ways, and models the kind of physician I hope to be.”
- (Attending) Matthew Billups, DO – “has been an inspiring physician to learn from.” My experience with Dr. Billups was excellent. He made me a better learner and motivated me to continue refining the way I examine and interact with patients. He should definitely be assigned a medical student if possible because anyone would be sooooo lucky to learn from him.”
- (Attending) Erin Howes, DO – “has been such a fun and memorable physician to learn from. She knows how to bring the right mix of reassurance and levity into the room. I've really appreciated how patient she is with me as a learner. I've learned a lot from the way she frames her thought process, and it makes me more deliberate in how I approach cases myself. On top of all that, she's just someone you genuinely enjoy being around. She's approachable, down-to-earth, and makes rotations feel less intimidating.”
Internal Medicine
- (Attending) Chad DeMott, MD – “was an exceptional instructor who was always positive, encouraging, and eager to teach.”
- (Attending) Michael Wiid, MBChB – “was an outstanding teacher and created a very supportive learning environment and never made me feel like my questions were unimportant, which encouraged me to ask more and stay engaged. At the same time, he challenged me to read further and think critically. His approach to teaching not only improved my clinical reasoning but also solidified my interest in IM.”
Neurology
- (Resident) Vrinda Saxena, MBBS – “was amazing to work with. She's like a well-oiled machine when it comes to handling all the stroke alerts on her own, yet she still makes time to teach medical students. She carries a real sense of urgency, which makes the work feel exciting an engaging. It was impressive to see how quickly and efficiently she worked through diagnoses and her clinical decision-making process. On top of that, she's very personable and easy to approach with questions. It was a pleasure getting to know her-she's funny, social, and just genuinely awesome to be around.”
- (Attending) Nicholas Yelverton, DO – “I honestly wish I could just follow him around and watch him diagnose patients through physical exams. He explains things clearly, and it's impressive how immersed I found myself in the way he reasons through findings-he's truly a great diagnostician. I also really appreciate how straightforward he is. He has a sense of urgency that makes medicine feel more exciting and purposeful. At the same time, he still makes space to teach, which shows that efficiency and good teaching don't have to conflict. I would love the chance to work with him again. I know I would gain a lot of insight from continuing to learn under his approach.”
OB-GYN
- (Resident) Peyton Paschell, MD – “went above and beyond in her willingness to teach. She spent time going through relevant clinical concepts in depth. I greatly appreciated Dr. Paschell's willingness to teach on top of her already busy schedule as an intern.”
- (Attending) Rose Maher, MD – “was incredible. She took the time to talk to me about my career goals, gave me resources/advice on how to get more involved/further my learning, and gave me a very safe and positive environment to learn in. After working with her, I will always be so appreciative of the experience.”
Pediatrics
- NA
Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine
- (Resident) Savana Nawojski, MD – “was probably the most amazing of everyone I worked with this rotation. I genuinely am surprised that she just started residency and I really hope we work together in the future. I really appreciated that she was always cognizant of my time and efforts, brought me with her instead of leaving me in the work room, and taught me very helpful little tidbits when interacting
Radiology
- NA
Surgery
- (Resident) Jessica Bradley, DO – “consistently provided an exceptional educational experience on night shifts. She challenged learners in a respectful, growth-oriented way-asking for diagnostic commitments, requesting justification for tests and dispositions, and probing "what if" scenarios that stretched differential diagnosis and prioritization skills. This approach accelerated confidence, sharpened clinical judgment, and improved communication with nursing and consultants. Dr. Bradley exemplifies the best of team-based teaching and should be recognized as an outstanding educator and integral member of the service.”
- (Resident) Hoang-Thien Cao, MD – “was absolutely amazing and provided me with great learning opportunities and allowed me to be as involved as I possibly could. He made sure I was able to participate as much as I wanted to (which was as much as possible), and allowed me to not just tag along but be an active member in the care team. I really enjoyed my experience. Dr. Cao was an absolute pleasure to work with.”