A highlight of the annual "Innovations in Health Science Education" conference is the presentation of the Innovations in Health Science Education award.
The Award recognizes an individual or individuals who have implemented a project or program with a documented record of innovation and achievement in the last five years in undergraduate or graduate health science education, encompassing all of the health science disciplines, including educational programs for medical students, medical residents, undergraduate and graduate nursing students, dental students, public health professionals, and allied health professionals.
The Award will be presented at the annual "Innovations in Health Science Education Conference. Following presentations by three finalists and a vote by Academy members to determine 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners, finalists will share a $5,000 award.
APPLICATION INFORMATION: Information will be posted here in the fall.
2025-2026 Judith Drew Innovation Award Recipients
(bestowed February 2026)
First Place:
Kelly Nelson, MD, FAAD
Department of Dermatology, Div. of Internal Medicine
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
Early Melanoma Detection
Second Place:
David Roberts, PhD
Department of Psychiatry and Behavorial Sciences
UT San Antonio Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine
Reflective Training
Third place:
Chinyere O'Connor, MD, FAAP
Assistant Professor, Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
UTHealth Houston McGovern Medical School
Transforming Pediatric Ethics Education: A Multimodal Program with Development and Validation of a Resident Assessment Tool, Performance Evaluation with Standardized Patients, and a Sustainable Curriculum Design
