Distinguished Teaching Award Goes to Dr. Ray Garcia
The University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford presented its 2018 Distinguished Teaching Award to Raymond Garcia, MD, during its May convocation ceremony.
Each year, this award is presented to a College of Medicine Rockford faculty member who has demonstrated a long-standing history of outstanding interest in the college’s medical students and a strong commitment to medical education.
Garcia graduated from the College of Medicine Rockford in 1994 after receiving several honors as a medical student. After completing his psychiatry residency at Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago he returned to Rockford to begin his psychiatry career.
Garcia served as a psychiatrist at the college’s former outpatient clinic, University Psychiatric Services. He also served as a clinical assistant professor since 1998 and clerkship director for the Department of Psychiatry from 1998 to 2014. As clerkship director, he supervised and provided lectures to medical students and received the Golden Apple Teaching Award in 2001. Over the years, Garcia has taught lectures, served on several college committees and, currently, he mentors and supervises students completing the psychiatry clerkship through his role at the Rosecrance Harrison Campus where he serves as medical director for the campus and provides adult outpatient substance abuse treatment.
Comments from his students include:
“I wish there was time for every student to work with Dr. Garcia as his teaching style and bedside manner are top-notch.”
“He is an excellent preceptor and outlines his expectations and he provides articles to help students learn.”
“Dr. Garcia is a great teacher who always pushed the students to do their best on their psychiatric evaluations and write-ups.”
“He is a provider of clinical ‘pearls.’”
His nomination for the award from a colleague stated, “Dr. Garcia provides a nurturing environment for medical students to learn and develop their skills and he provides a safe foundation to challenge themselves and grow.”
Rosecrance psychiatrist Dr. Raymond Garcia accepted the 2018 Distinguished Teaching Award from the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford from Dean Alex Stagnaro-Green at the May 11 Convocation Ceremony.