Two faculty members have received special recognition for their teaching expertise.
They are Firoz Abdoel Wahid, MD, PhD, MPH, assistant professor of environmental and occupational health, who received the Bernard D. Goldstein Undergraduate Public Health Teaching Award, and Tina Batra Hershey, JD, MPH, associate professor of health policy and management, recipient of the James L. Craig Excellence in Teaching Award. The two were honored during the School of Public Health graduation ceremony at the Carnegie Music Hall.
“It’s such an honor to receive this award,” says Hershey, who also teaches at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. “It means so much to know that I’ve made an impact on students. I’ll confess that I got a little teary-eyed when I heard the news.”
The Craig award, established by Pitt Public Health alumnus James L. Craig, MD, (EOH ’63), honors faculty achievement in educating and mentoring students. Awardees are selected annually by a committee of current students and past awardees. The undergraduate award was established in 2023 by Dean Emeritus Bernard D. Goldstein, MD, and recognizes distinction in classroom teaching in the Bachelor of Science in Public Health program. Students also nominate Goldstein awardees.
“Teaching is not just a profession for me, it's my passion,” says Abdoel Wahid. “There is nothing more rewarding than inspiring and empowering students to reach their full potential.”
Students are appreciative of that passion, according to comments made during the nomination process, says Jessica Burke, PhD, MHS, vice dean and professor of behavioral and community health sciences, who shared several observations noted on Goldstein award entry materials.
- “Dr. Abdoel Wahid does a great job of breaking down topics that can be extremely complex. He understands that students have various ways of learning.”
- “He is also very patient and will work with students until the student feels comfortable with the material. It's clear that his goal is for students to succeed.”
A native of Suriname, Abdoel Wahid brings a unique perspective to his research and teaching, which explores the interplay between environmental factors, climate change, food security and safety. His work is rooted in addressing critical issues related to population health, particularly within vulnerable groups.
The undergraduate courses he teaches include Genes, Cells, and Population and Introduction to Environmental Health Sciences, as well as the summer abroad course,
Public Health Threats in Suriname.
The nominee pool for the Craig award in 2024 “was the largest I’ve seen,” Burke continues, adding that the award committee “had a tough job selecting from the outstanding faculty” under consideration.
Comments made by student nominators include:
- “Professor Hershey teaches one of the most challenging courses in the health policy and management program and finds a way to make it adaptable to non-law students.”
- “She leads by example. She recognizes the challenges that students are facing, particularly post-COVID, and offers her support in the classroom and in your professional career.”
A former practicing health care attorney, Hershey teaches courses on health law and ethics; health care fraud, abuse and compliance; and health policy and management. Her research interests include law and policy issues related to the delivery and quality of health care services, emergency preparedness, population health and health equity, as well as legal epidemiology, the scientific study and application of law as a factor in the cause, distribution and prevention of disease and injury.