Oana Craciunescu PhD was chosen by a committee of biomedical graduate students as a Distinguished Nominee for the 2021 Gordon G. Hammes Faculty Teaching Award. This award recognizes faculty members for their continuing excellence in teaching and mentoring as well as exemplary commitment to the education of graduate students within basic science departments and graduate training programs of the School of Medicine. Nominations were solicited from students directly, and Dr. Craciunescu received the second highest votes out of 23 nominees.
In nominating testimonials, a program student wrote that Dr. Craciunescu was an “incredible instructor during one of the most difficult times we have faced as students,” that she was “more than willing to work with student schedules and stresses which greatly eased the burden of coursework” and was “always available when questions arose and flexible to student input.” Other students appreciated her dedication to “offering additional, clinically focused opportunities,” and that during this pandemic, “her words of encouragement, willingness to offer help and suggest useful resources were very helpful.”
As a Distinguished Nominee, Dr. Craciunescu’s name will be recognized alongside the recipient of this year’s award, Dr. Beth Sullivan from the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology.
