Nominations are being accepted through February 2, 2026, for the 2026 DFPM Chair’s Awards for Recognition of Excellence. The awards will be presented during the DFPM Research Symposium on April 28, 2026.
Award descriptions are below. They are arranged by category:
- Faculty awards
- Resident/Fellow awards
- Medical Student awards
- Staff awards
- Awards open to individuals in any category
The CARE Awards are separate from the Dean’s Honor Day Awards, though some awards have similar names and nomination criteria. Helpful hint: You may nominate someone for both a Dean’s Award and a CARE Award, in the same category or a different category – but keep in mind that the CARE Awards are available for Family Medicine team members only.
ELIGIBILITY
- Nominees for the CARE Awards must be part of the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine. These awards are intended to recognize DFPM faculty, staff members, teachers, mentors, researchers, innovators, clinicians, learners, and more.
- A DFPM team member may not win the same specific CARE award more than once in five years. For example: Since Dr. Wayne Bryant Jr. won the Faculty Service and Professionalism Award in 2025, he is not eligible for nomination for that specific award again before 2030. He is eligible, however, for other CARE awards. (Previous winners are listed in the award descriptions below.)
- You may nominate someone for more than one award, if you like. Just make sure that they haven’t won those specific awards in the past five years. You must fill out a separate online nomination form for each award.
- Each award is designed to go to one person and not a team.
Each CARE award nomination should include:
- Resume/CV of the nominee
- A resume/CV is extremely helpful for the awards committee to use in choosing award winners. If no resume/CV is available, the nominator must include the following details in the letter of nomination: (1) The nominee’s job title; (2) How long the nominee has worked at the DFPM and in what roles.
- Letter of nomination
- One letter of nomination is required
- A second letter of nomination is optional
- Completion of the online nomination form
You may nominate yourself, if you wish. Complete the nomination form, attach your resume/CV (if available), and attach one or two letters of nomination.
THE NOMINATION DEADLINE IS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, at 11:59 p.m.
Questions? Contact Dr. Diane Jarrett at dmjarrett@uams.edu
Awards and Nomination Criteria
FACULTY AWARDS
Chair’s Distinguished Faculty Service Award
This award is presented to an active faculty member (clinical or non-clinical) who has displayed outstanding, long-term service to the DFPM. This service may include research and scholarly activity, teaching excellence, clinical service, excellence in mentoring, development of new programs or policies, and/or academic administration. (Previous winner: Daniel Knight)
Faculty Leadership
This award is presented to a faculty member (clinical or non-clinical) whose outstanding leadership inspires colleagues, advances the mission of the department, and fosters a culture of excellence in education, research, clinical care, and service. (New in 2026)
Faculty Mentorship/Sponsorship/Coaching
This award is presented to a faculty member (clinical or non-clinical) with a sustained commitment to effectively guide less experienced faculty, residents, and students in career success through mentoring, sponsorship, and/or coaching that includes specific goals and measurable objectives. (Previous winner: Ron Brimberry)
Faculty Service and Professionalism
This award is presented to a faculty member who models altruism, competence, trustworthiness, and humility, and who receives exemplary patient and family feedback. (Previous winner: Wayne Bryant Jr.)
GME Educator Award – Program Director
This award is presented to the Program Director who demonstrates significant contributions to the GME community and proven excellence in leadership skills at departmental or institutional levels, development of an effective learning environment based on the ACGME Core Competencies, program innovation through curriculum development and/or teaching, demonstrating strong role model and mentorship skills, and faculty development related to GME. (Previous winner: Lauren Gibson-Oliver)
Master Teacher
This award is presented to a faculty member who has consistently demonstrated excellence in education. Criteria include the number of students or residents influenced by the educational efforts, the different levels (graduate, medical students, etc.) of education in which the faculty member has engaged, educational leadership and administration, publications related to medical education, length of educational involvement, and innovations in medical education. (Previous winner: Scott Dickson)
Outstanding Adjunct Faculty
This award is presented to an adjunct faculty member who demonstrates excellence in teaching, research, and/or clinical leadership. (Previous winner: Sarah Franklin)
Rising Star Clinical Faculty
This award goes to a clinician in their first five years as a faculty member and who is recognized by peers for clinical excellence, professionalism, and dedication to patient care. (Previous winner: Paige Beck)
UME Educator
This award is presented to a faculty member who demonstrates significant contributions to the UME community and proven excellence in leadership skills at departmental or institutional levels, development of an effective learning environment based on LCME principles, program innovation through curriculum development and/or teaching, demonstrating strong role model and mentorship skills, and/or faculty development related to UME. (Previous winner: Rajalakshmi Cheerla)
RESIDENT/FELLOW AWARDS
Resident/Fellow Leadership in Family Medicine
This award recognizes a resident or fellow who demonstrates outstanding initiative, vision, and the ability to inspire and guide others. It honors those who foster collaboration, advocate for patients and colleagues, and lead with integrity in advancing the mission of Family Medicine. (New in 2026)
Resident/Fellow Research in Family Medicine
This award honors a resident or fellow who demonstrates excellence in scholarly inquiry and a commitment to advancing knowledge in the field. It recognizes innovation, intellectual curiosity, and meaningful contributions to research that enhance patient care, education, or community health. (New in 2026)
Resident/Fellow Service in Family Medicine
This award recognizes a resident or fellow who exemplifies dedication to service through compassionate patient care, community engagement, and support of colleagues and the program. It honors selflessness, commitment, and a spirit of generosity that strengthens both the profession and the communities we serve. (New in 2026)
MEDICAL STUDENT AWARDS
Student Ambassador for Family Medicine
This award honors a medical student who demonstrates exceptional commitment to promoting Family Medicine through leadership, advocacy, and service. The recipient serves as a role model and champion for the specialty, inspiring peers and fostering greater awareness of the value of Family Medicine in healthcare. (New in 2026)
Student Leadership in Family Medicine
This award recognizes a medical student who has shown outstanding leadership within Family Medicine. The recipient demonstrates initiative, collaboration, and vision, inspiring peers and contributing meaningfully to the growth and advancement of the specialty. (New in 2026)
Student Research in Family Medicine
This award honors a medical student who has demonstrated excellence in research. The recipient contributes to advancing knowledge in the field through curiosity, scholarly work, and a commitment to improving patient care and community health. (New in 2026)
STAFF AWARDS
GME Educator – Program Coordinator
This award is presented to the Program Coordinator who demonstrates significant contributions to the graduate medical education community and proven excellence in communication and interpersonal skills, facilitating excellence in program’s ACGME accreditation processes, coordinating activities needed to promote program excellence, and personal lifelong learning, leadership, and mentorship of others. (Previous winner: Jennilee Foster)
Staff Excellence Award – Administration
The Staff Excellence Award in Administration is presented to the non-faculty administrative team member (departmental staff, administrative assistant, etc.) who has exemplified service and an outstanding work ethic in administration. (Previous winner: Lauren Wagner)
Staff Excellence Award – Clinical
The Staff Excellence Award (Clinical) is presented to the non-faculty team member (departmental staff, administrative assistant, etc.) who has exemplified service and an outstanding work ethic in the clinical realm. (Previous winner: Tara Johnson)
Staff Excellence Award – Education
The Staff Excellence Award in Education is presented to the non-faculty administrative team member (departmental staff, administrative assistant, etc.) who has exemplified service and an outstanding work ethic in education. (Previous winner: Michelle Trulsrud)
Staff Excellence Award – Research
The Staff Excellence Award in Research is presented to the non-faculty administrative team member (departmental staff, administrative assistant, etc.) who has exemplified service and an outstanding work ethic in research and scholarly activity. (Previous winner: Cody Burnett)
AWARDS OPEN TO ALL
Clinical Innovation
This award goes to an individual with a sustained commitment to high quality and innovative patient care who has significantly improved clinical practice. This may be accomplished through innovation in clinical practice design or management, or advocacy on the behalf of patients that fosters change. (Previous winner: Stephen Foster)
Collaborations and Teamwork
This award goes to an individual (clinical or non-clinical) who has built effective collaborative relationships across different groups to define and resolve problems. For clinicians, this might include consistently demonstrating compassion and collaboration in the delivery of care of patients. Please note that this award goes to an individual and not to a team of multiple persons. (Previous winner: Jonathan Reid)
Community/Institutional Service
This award is presented to an individual who demonstrates a sustained commitment to serving the community, including active participation on UAMS or professional boards or committees, enhancing the DFPM reputation, and/or providing public health education to patients, families, and/or the community. (Previous winner: Robin Howell)
Educational Innovation
This award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated significant educational innovation. In general, such innovation could take the form of a new method of teaching or evaluation or the development of a new curriculum. (Previous winner: Amber Norris)
Educational Research
This award is presented to an individual who has undertaken significant educational research and scholarly activity. In general, it is anticipated that the recipient of this award will have published and made presentations (including posters) in the area of education. The individual may or may not have obtained grant money to carry out this educational research, but such funding would be considered a significant positive in the selection of this award recipient. (Previous winner: Marcia Byers)
Excellence in Research
This award is presented to an individual who has a distinguished record of research achievement that includes but is not limited to establishment of a research program that has held consistent and substantial extramural funding; earned a robust publication record within highly reputable journals; established a national and international reputation in his/her research field(s); and provided mentorship to UAMS trainees and faculty. (Previous winner: Nikki Edge)
Quality and Safety
This award is presented to an individual who champions the establishment of best practices; demonstrates exemplary performance on recognized clinical outcome measures; and implements tools and processes to improve the patient experience. (Previous winner: Shelly Brown)