TIAA-CREF, the leading financial services provider to the academic, research, medical and nonprofit fields, announced today that Shirlyn B. McKenzie, Ph.D. will receive the 2010 TIAA-CREF Distinguished Medical Educator Award at a ceremony on December 7 at The Westin La Cantera Resort in San Antonio.

Dr. McKenzie, a professor emeritus at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, is the first woman and second non-physician winner of the award, which is given annually to a Texas medical educator whose legacy of work and educational contributions have had national and international influence and set a standard of excellence in the medical community.

The award carries a $10,000 honorarium for the recipient and a $5,000 donation to the John P. McGovern Museum of Health & Medical Science, also known as The Health Museum, in Houston for student summer camp scholarships.

“On behalf of everyone at TIAA-CREF, congratulations to Shirlyn McKenzie for her outstanding contributions to medical education,” said Roger W. Ferguson, Jr., the company’s chief executive. “Dr. McKenzie’s teaching and scholarship have advanced medical laboratory science and earned her the esteem of her students and colleagues. Her work has helped to establish the University of Texas Health Science Center as one of America’s top clinical laboratory science departments.”

“I would like to thank TIAA-CREF and my colleagues in the Texas medical community for this award,” said Dr. McKenzie. “It has been my privilege to work with some of the finest medical educators in America here in San Antonio, and to teach so many exceptional students at the University of Texas and throughout my career. The recognition from them that this award embodies means a great deal to me.”

A steering committee comprised of leading medical education professionals from Texas institutions, governs the award process and evaluates entries. For more information about the TIAA-CREF Distinguished Medical Educator Award, visit www.tiaa-crefaward.org.

Biography of Shirlyn B. McKenzie, Ph.D.
Dr. McKenzie earned her undergraduate degree in medical technology and biology from the University of Wisconsin-Superior. She completed her education in medical technology at St. Luke’s Hospital School of Medical Technology in Duluth, Minnesota. She later earned a Master of Science in biology from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and a Ph.D. in Administration of Higher Education from Texas A&M University.

In 1980, McKenzie became an instructor and later Program Director of Clinical Laboratory Sciences at the University at Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Dr. McKenzie was named chair of the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences in 1985 and promoted to full professor in 1995. Under her guidance, the department grew from a small, single-focus Baccalaureate program to one that offers multiple undergraduate and graduate options and flexible degree plans for students with varied backgrounds who wish to enter the medical laboratory disciplines. The department is recognized as one of the leading clinical laboratory science departments in the United States and has been named as one of the top 10 CLS programs in research activity.

Dr. McKenzie has published 27 abstracts, 13 chapters and four books (two in Spanish translation) in addition to numerous editorials, journal articles and article reviews. She developed the first online course offered by the University of Texas Tele-campus. She is the author of a leading textbook on clinical laboratory hematology that is used by medical laboratory scientists throughout the world.

She served as president of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Sciences and as a member of its Board of Directors.

Dr. McKenzie’s impact has global reach. An internationally recognized figure in medical laboratory sciences, Dr. McKenzie was the keynote speaker at the Australian/New Zealand Institute of Medical Scientists international meeting and invited speaker at the Puerto Rico College of Medical Technology, the Thrombosis and Hemophilia Symposium at the University of Puerto Rico and the Congreso de Technologia Medica in Puerto Rico. She also served as the CLS Delegation Leader to China and Russia for the People to People Citizen Ambassador Program. She led the development of a clinical laboratory science student exchange program between The University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio and the Karolinska Institute in Sweden.

Dr. McKenzie has received numerous honors, including the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching, the most prestigious teaching award at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. She was inducted into the University’s Academy of Master Teachers.

In 2006, she was selected as a member of the University of Texas Academy for Health Science Education in recognition of outstanding contributions to health science education. The Texas Association for Clinical Laboratory Science (TACLS) named her as the Texas CLS Educator of the Year and the ASCLS awarded her the Sherwood Award for professional achievement in education. Several years later she received the Sherwood Award for professional achievement in hematology. In 2010, the ASCLS named her “Member of the Year” for lifetime contributions to the profession. She was inducted as member of its Alpha Mu Tau Fraternity and Omicron Sigma Honorary Society and into the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame for her contributions in the health professions.

About TIAA-CREF
TIAA-CREF (www.tiaa-cref.org) is a national financial services organization with $434 billion in combined assets under management (as of 9/30/10) and provides retirement services to the academic, research, medical and cultural fields.

HOUSTON – (May 13, 2010) TIAA-CREF, national financial services organization and leading provider of retirement services in the academic, medical, research and cultural fields announced today that it is soliciting statewide nominations for the 2010 TIAA-CREF Distinguished Medical Educator Award.

The TIAA-CREF Distinguished Medical Educator Award annually honors teaching physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals who have made significant contributions both nationally and internationally to medical education. Candidates are medical (teaching physician) or non-medical (nurse, doctorate or equivalent professional designation) professionals who exemplify the highest standards of leadership, guidance and dedication in medical education both professionally and personally.

To honor those who have made long-term investments in the lives of others, TIAA-CREF in partnership with The Health Museum, will recognize the recipient at an award ceremony in December of 2010. The recipient will receive a $10,000 cash honorarium, and scholarships will be donated in the recipient’s name to children attending The Health Museum’s Summer Camps. The 2010 recipient will follow in the footsteps of previous recipients including the 2009 honoree Dr. Herbert L. DuPont, Chief of Internal Medicine at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, Director of the Center for Infectious Diseases at The University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, and Vice Chairman of the Department of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine.

“As part of TIAA-CREF’s long-standing commitment to those in the healthcare profession, we want to recognize those who train tomorrow’s physicians and nurses, lead and advance medicine, and who have had a far reaching influence and impact on the quality of healthcare in Texas,” said Mario Ramirez, TIAA-CREF National Director, Wealth Management Group, Executive Planning.

The 2010 steering committee, established to govern the award and evaluate nomination entries, is comprised of some of the industry’s top health professionals, including: Dr. Michael E. Speer, Professor of Pediatrics & Ethics, Baylor College of Medicine; Past President of the Houston Academy of Medicine and the Harris County Medical Society; and Medical Staff President, Texas Children’s Hospital; Dr. Bobby R. Alford, Chancellor, Baylor College of Medicine; Dr. L. Maximilian Buja, Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs, The University of Texas Heath Science Center at Houston; Dr. John C. Baldwin, President, Texas Tech University Health Science Center; Dr. Lewis E. Foxhall, Vice President for Health Policy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Dr. Willis C. Maddrey, Executive Vice President for Clinical Affairs, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; Dr. Roderick E. McCallum, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Texas A&M Health Science Center; and Dr. Patricia L. Starck, John P. McGovern Distinguished Professor and Dean, School of Nursing, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

The deadline for nominations is August 15, 2010. To nominate a distinguished medical educator, visit http://www.tiaa-crefaward.org or contact Amanda Hansen at 713-523-7900 for more information.

About TIAA-CREF
TIAA-CREF is a national financial services organization with more than $414 billion in combined assets under management (12/31/09) and the leading provider of retirement services in the academic, research, medical and cultural fields. For information, visit www.tiaa-cref.org.

About The Health Museum
The Health Museum is a member institution of the world-renowned Texas Medical Center and is located in the heart of the Museum District at 1515 Hermann Drive, Houston, TX 77004. For more information about The Health Museum and its programs, please visit www.thehealthmuseum.org or call (713) 521-1515.

TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC and Teachers Personal Investors Services, Inc., members FINRA, distribute securities products.

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HOUSTON (November 18, 2009) – TIAA-CREF, financial services organization and leading provider of retirement services in the academic, medical research and cultural fields announced today that Herbert L. DuPont, M.D., M.A.C.P., chief of internal medicine at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, director of the Center for Infectious Diseases at The University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, and vice chairman department of medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, was named the 2009 recipient of the TIAA-CREF Distinguished Medical Educator Award.

The award, founded by TIAA-CREF is given annually to honor teaching physicians, nurses and other health care professionals for their outstanding work, significant contributions and exceptional influence in the field of medical education. The award carries a $10,000 honorarium for the recipient and a $5000 donation is made to The Health Museum (also known as the John P. McGovern Museum of Health and Medical Science) for summer camp scholarships.

“Today TIAA-CREF is thrilled to recognize an outstanding leader in the Texas medical community,” said Bert Scott, Executive Vice President, Chief Institutional Development and Sales, TIAA-CREF. “Dr. DuPont’s work has influenced and shaped the minds of medical professionals around the world and embodies TIAA-CREF’s mission of serving those who serve others.”

Dr. DuPont received his undergraduate degree in chemistry from Ohio Wesleyan University. After receiving his medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine and carrying out an internal medicine residency at the University of Minnesota, Dr. DuPont became an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Officer for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the late 1960s before joining the faculty at the University of Maryland. In 1973, he joined the faculty at the University of Texas at Houston and became the first director of its program in infectious diseases and clinical microbiology. He became Director of the Center for Infectious Diseases at the University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston in 1989. In 1995 Dr. DuPont became Chief of Internal Medicine at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital.

“Education has been and continues to be the cornerstone of St. Luke’s, and, Dr. DuPont’s receipt of this award is extremely befitting,” said David J. Fine, President and CEO of St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System. “His work in tropical medicine, epidemiology and infectious diseases will continue to inspire future generations of physicians, educators and researchers. To be honored by his peers is a great testament to Dr. DuPont’s medical contributions for more than four decades.”

Since 1974 Dr. DuPont, with his wife, Peggy, have taken more than 200 students from the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Baylor College of Medicine and other medical schools to Mexico during a summer research elective. These students have learned how to perform international research and have been exposed to another culture and language. International research programs developed by Dr. DuPont on four continents have provided data, samples and research opportunities for students, residents and fellows. There are over 60 publications in peer review journals that represent studies done by trainees and students working with Dr. DuPont.

Dr. DuPont currently teaches medical students, M.P.H. and Ph.D. students at the University of Texas Medical School, University of Texas School of Public Health and Baylor College of Medicine. While serving as Chair of Internal Medicine Service at St. Luke’s he has spoken at Internal Medicine Grand Rounds, and for more than eight years conducted a weekly infectious disease and antibiotic lecture to residents and medical students rotating at St. Luke’s.

Dr. DuPont has served as the primary mentor for 24 physicians during their three-year infectious diseases fellowship; six Ph.D. scientists carrying out a postdoctoral fellowship; 13 Ph.D. students; and 17 Master’s level students during their formal degree program. Many of these former trainees occupy academic positions in the United States and other countries including Canada, Mexico, Peru, Korea, Jordan, Nigeria, Brunei Darussalam, Pakistan and Australia.

Dr. DuPont helped found the International Society of Travel Medicine and was its first president. He was also a member of the board of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) from 1981 to 2002, serving as president from 1997-1999. He is past president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the American Clinical and Climatological Association. Dr. DuPont received an honorary doctorate from the University of Zurich in 2004, the Distinguished Achievement Citation from Ohio Wesleyan University in 2006, the Maxwell Finland Award for Scientific Achievement from the NFID in 2008, Mastership in the American College of Physicians in 2009, the President’s Scholar Award for Research, University of Texas Health Science Center in 2009 and Distinguished Medical Achievement Award, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia in September 2009. He has authored or co-authored more than 600 scientific publications and written or edited 19 books.

The steering committee selected to govern the award and to evaluate nominations is composed of leading medical professionals from the Baylor College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Texas Children’s Hospital and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Nursing.

TIAA-CREF, along with the award steering committee, will host a banquet at La Colombe d’Or Hotel on Thursday, December 3, to honor Dr. DuPont’s accomplishments.

About TIAA-CREF
TIAA-CREF is a national financial services organization with more than $402 billion in combined assets under management (9/30/09) and the leading provider of retirement services in the academic, research, medical and cultural fields. For information, visit http://www.tiaa-cref.org.

TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC and Teachers Personal Investors Services, Inc., members FINRA, distribute securities products.

HOUSTON (May 18, 2009) – TIAA-CREF, a national financial services group and the leading provider of retirement services in the academic, medical research and cultural fields announced today that it is soliciting statewide nominations for the 2009 TIAA-CREF Distinguished Medical Educator Award (www.tiaa-crefaward.org).

The TIAA-CREF Distinguished Medical Educator Award annually honors teaching physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals who have a long history of significant contributions to medical education and have both nationally and internationally influenced medical education. Eligible 2009 nominees are medical (teaching physician) or non-medical (nurse, doctorate or equivalent professional designation) professionals who exemplify the highest standards of leadership, guidance and dedication in medical education both professionally and personally.

To honor those who have made long-term investments in the lives of others, TIAA-CREF in partnership with The Health Museum (also known as the John P. McGovern Museum of Health & Medical Science) will recognize the recipient at an award ceremony in December of 2009. The recipient will receive a $10,000 cash honorarium and 13 scholarships will be donated in the recipient’s name to children attending The Health Museum’s Summer Camps.

The 2009 recipient will follow in the footsteps of the previous recipients:

• 2004 – Dr. Ralph D. Feigin, J.S. Abercrombie Professor of Pediatrics and Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the Baylor College of Medicine and the Physician-in-Chief for Texas Children’s Hospital;
• 2005 – Dr. Herbert L. Fred, Professor of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston;
• 2006 – Dr. Frank C. Arnett, Jr., Professor of Internal Medicine and Elizabeth Bidgood Chair in Rheumatology at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston
• 2007- Dr. Denton A. Cooley, Surgeon-in-Chief and President Emeritus, founder of the Texas Heart Institute; and
• 2008 – Dr. Henry W. Strobel, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and associate dean for Faculty Affairs at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

“TIAA-CREF is honored to recognize these educators whose life work advances the greater good,” said Tameeka Aviles, Director, Strategic Sales, TIAA-CREF. “Through their contributions to future physicians and nurses, these individuals have had far reaching influence on medical research and education and greatly impacted the quality of healthcare in Texas.”

The 2009 steering committee, established to govern the award and evaluate nomination entries, is comprised of some of the industry’s top health professionals, including:

• Dr. Michael Speer – Chair of the Steering Committee; Professor of Pediatrics & Ethics, Baylor College of Medicine and Past President of the Houston Academy of Medicine and the Harris County Medical Society
• Dr. Bobby R. Alford – Chancellor, Baylor College of Medicine;
• Dr. L. Maximilian Buja – Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston;
• Dr. John C. Baldwin – President, Texas Tech University Health Science Center;
• Dr. Lewis E. Foxhall – Vice President of Health Policy, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center;
• Dr. Willis Maddrey – Executive Vice President for Clinical Affairs, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas;
• Dr. Robert McCallum – Vice President for Academic Affairs, Texas A&M Health Science Center; and
• Dr. Patricia Stark – Dean, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Nursing

The deadline for nominations is August 15, 2009. To nominate a distinguished medical educator, visit http://www.tiaa-crefaward.org or contact Amanda Hansen at 713-523-7900 for more information.

About TIAA-CREF
TIAA-CREF is a national financial services organization with more than $363 billion in combined assets under management (12/31/08) and the leading provider of retirement services in the academic, research, medical and cultural fields. For information, visit www.tiaa-cref.org.

About The Health Museum
The Health Museum is a member institution of the world-renowned Texas Medical Center and is located in the heart of the Museum District at 1515 Hermann Drive, Houston, TX 77004. For more information about The Health Museum and its programs, please visit www.thehealthmuseum.org or call (713) 521-1515.

TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC and Teachers Personal Investors Services, Inc., members FINRA, distribute securities products.

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HOUSTON (MAY 1, 2009) – TIAA-CREF, national financial services group and the leading provider of retirement services in the academic, medical, research and cultural fields announced today that its annual contribution to The Health Museum (also known as the John P. McGovern Museum of Health & Medical Science) will provide 12 students with scholarships to attend the 2009 medical and science-based summer programs known as Summer Discovery.

“TIAA-CREF is honored to support the great legacy of medical educators in Texas with these scholarships. It is our hope that we will encourage young people to pursue their interests in science and medicine” said Tameeka Aviles, Director, Strategic Sales, TIAA-CREF.

For the past five years, TIAA-CREF has recognized teaching physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals in Texas who have a long history of significant contributions to medical education with the TIAA-CREF Distinguished Medical Educator Award. The recipient receives a cash honorarium and a donation is made toward The Health Museum’s summer camps. This year, The Health Museum will offer 12 summer camp scholarships through this contribution—given in the name of the 2008 recipient of the TIAA-CREF Distinguished Medical Educator award, Dr. Henry W. Strobel, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

For the past five years, TIAA-CREF has recognized teaching physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals in Texas who have a long history of significant contributions to medical education with the TIAA-CREF Distinguished Medical Educator Award. The recipient receives a cash honorarium and a donation is made toward The Health Museum’s summer camps. This year, The Health Museum will offer 12 summer camp scholarships through this contribution—given in the name of the 2008 recipient of the TIAA-CREF Distinguished Medical Educator award, Dr. Henry W. Strobel, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

“We are so grateful to TIAA-CREF for giving The Health Museum the means to provide scholarship money to smart, worthy kids who deserve to attend our camps but otherwise couldn’t,” said Becky Seabrook, Vice President-Education, The Health Museum. “We are also honored to be giving these scholarships in the name of Dr. Henry Strobel, a man who has made an impact in the medical and science community both here and abroad.”

Camp scholarships are awarded to families who demonstrate a need. The scholarships will allow students who generally can’t afford to attend summer camp the opportunity to enjoy summer-long programs focused on their favorite subjects like science and medicine.

The Health Museum offers a wide variety of camps for kids with all interests, such as ‘Mini Medical School’ where kids can learn all about the human body from head to toe, inside and out or they can experience life on the Red Planet during ‘Mission to Mars’ or follow in the footsteps of Leonardo DaVinci, the ultimate artist-scientist, in ‘Camp DaVinci.’ These camps are geared toward kids ages 5-13 who yearn to learn and who have a strong interest in the medical and science fields.

Parents whose children apply for the scholarships are asked to submit their most recent Federal Tax Return (1040) along with any additional information they feel is pertinent and should be taken into consideration. Students are asked to submit their top three camp choices along with a brief statement as to why they would like to attend Summer Discovery. Each applicant is reviewed based on set criteria for family income.

For a full list of the camps offered or to apply for a summer camp scholarship, log on to www.thehealthmuseum.org. Applications will be accepted from March 15 through April 15 and the recipients notified by April 30.

About TIAA-CREF
TIAA-CREF (www.tiaa-cref.org) is a national financial services organization and the leading provider of retirement services in the academic, research, medical and cultural fields with $363 billion in combined assets under management (12/31/08).

TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC and Teachers Personal Investors Services, Inc., members FINRA, distribute securities products.
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(January 21, 2009) – After a distinguished 38-year career as a teacher at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, 6431 Fannin, Henry Strobel received the Distinguished Medical Educator Award from the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association – College Retirement Equities Fund.

Strobel was presented with a $10,000 check at a ceremony on Dec. 9, 2008, at L’Colombe d’ Or, 3410 Montrose Blvd. In addition, the association will award 20 scholarships in his name to Houston’s John P. McGovern Museum of Health and Medical Science, 1515 Hermann Drive.

“Dr. Strobel is a multi-faceted educator who has trained many knowledgeable and caring doctors,” said Dr. L. Maximilian Buja, executive vice president for academic affairs and teaching professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

“He is an excellent classroom teacher who is innovative and focused on the development of the student as a whole person.”

Demands are many

Strobel, 65, is a resident of Old Braeswood and the father of two grown children.

He spends about 65 percent of his time teaching and leading students through research as a biochemistry professor in the department of biochemistry and molecular biology. Strobel is also associate dean for faculty affairs.

For the past several years his research has focused on studying inflammation in brain disease.

“It is my role to help the students focus on what they are seeing,” Strobel said.

He established several important programs at the medical school, including the freshman retreat, which is organized yearly by second-year medical students and is now known as the Henry Strobel Student Retreat.

Strobel is also responsible for many of the school’s international electives in countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Chile, and Vietnam.

The most important international program he initiated is an annual one-month student trip to Beijing, China.

“I started this in 1986, and we have brought a group of medical students every April since then,” Strobel said.

“They rotate through six hospitals affiliated with Capital Medical University, and this gives them a look at much greater medical issues. With the large population in China, they have very different medical needs. They have the opportunity to look at the treatment of diseases that are rare for here, that aren’t rare there in a population of 1.3 billion people.”

Strobel received a bachelor of science degree from the College of Charleston in South Carolina in 1964 and a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1969.

After a two-year appointment at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, he came to the University of Texas Medical School at Houston in 1972.

Starting as an assistant professor, he received tenure in 1978 and became an associate professor in 1977. He was promoted to professor in 1982, and has been a visiting professor for the Capital Institute of Medicine in Beijing since 1986.

In 1991, he was appointed assistant dean for student affairs and continues in that role. Strobel was given additional responsibilities as associate dean for faculty affairs in 1995.

Aside from being a frequent recipient of the UT Dean’s Teaching Excellence Awards, he was awarded the John P. McGovern Outstanding Teacher Award from the University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston in 2002, and the 2006 President’s Scholar Award for Excellence in Teaching from the UT Health Science Center at Houston.

Strobel feels humbled by the honor of winning the TIAA-CREF award.

”When I was called about a month ago by the chair of the selection committee, I couldn’t believe it,” Strobel said.

“The people who have won it before, such as Denton Cooley, are my heroes. I can’t believe the wonderful company I am together with in winning this award.”

Strobel, a resident of the Braes Heights area, is the first doctorate holder to receive the award.

A professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, he is associate dean for faculty affairs at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. He is that institution’s third faculty member to earn the TIAA-CREF recognition.

Strobel is also known as Father Strobel when serving as assisting priest at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church. His involvement with the church and his love for it guides who he is as both an educator and a person.

The annual award, founded by TIAA-CREF and supported by the John P. McGovern Museum of Health and Medical Science (also known as The Health Museum), carries a $10,000 honorarium for the recipient and 20 scholarships to The Health Museum’s medical camp for children donated in the recipient’s name.

Strobel “embodies TIAA-CREF’s mission of serving those who serve the greater good,” said Tameeka Aviles, Institutional Business Development director at TIAA-CREF.

Strobel joined the faculty of the UT Medical School at Houston in 1972 shortly after the school opened.

For 36 years, Strobel has excelled as a teacher of biochemistry and molecular biology. He has sponsored international electives through the medical school in universities around the world and has had lasting effects on his students.

“Dr. Strobel is a multi-faceted educator who has trained many knowledgeable and caring doctors,” said L. Maximilian Buja, executive vice president for academic affairs and Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. “He is an excellent classroom teacher. He is innovative and focused on the development of the student as a whole person.”

A favorite among students, Strobel is known for the enthusiasm and talent he brings to his educational activities. He’s the frequent recipient of the Dean’s Teaching Excellence Awards.

More than 25 years ago, Strobel founded the Medical Professionalism Orientation Retreat (known as the Henry Strobel Student Retreat).

The program welcomes first-year medical students and builds collegial relationships with all medical students and faculty to help new students through the medical school years. The program’s success was recognized by the Alumni Association at the 2007 commencement ceremony with a financial endowment in Strobel’s name.

Understanding the value in broadening a student’s education, Strobel initiated international electives, including rotations at medical facilities in Malaysia, India, Thailand, Chile, Vietnam and China.

Award Recipients
Also earning the TIAA-CREF Distinguished Medical Educator Award from the UT Medical School at Houston were:

Frank C. Arnett, Jr., M.D., professor of internal medicine and the Elizabeth Bidgood Chair in Rheumatology

Herbert Fred, M.D., professor of internal medicine

HOUSTON (December 2, 2008) – TIAA-CREF, a national financial services group and the leading provider of retirement services in the academic, medical and research fields announced today that Henry W. Strobel, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry and molecular biology and associate dean for faculty affairs at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, was named the 2008 recipient of the TIAA-CREF Distinguished Medical Educator Award. Strobel is the third faculty member at the UT Medical School at Houston to earn this honor.

The award, founded by TIAA-CREF and supported by the John P. McGovern Museum of Health and Medical Science (also known as The Health Museum), is given annually to honor teaching physicians, nurses and other health care professionals for their outstanding work, significant contributions and exceptional influence in the field of medical education. The award carries a $10,000 honorarium for the recipient and 20 scholarships to The Health Museum’s mini medical camp donated in the recipient’s name.

“It is an honor to present the TIAA-CREF Distinguished Medical Educator Award to Dr. Strobel – a person who embodies TIAA-CREF’s mission of serving those who serve the greater good,” said Tameeka Aviles, Director, Institutional Business Development, TIAA-CREF. “TIAA-CREF is pleased to continue our partnership with leaders of the Texas medical community to recognize one of its outstanding leaders who has had a deep impact on health care education.”

Strobel joined the faculty of the UT Medical School at Houston in 1972 shortly after the school opened. For 36 years, Strobel has excelled as a teacher of biochemistry and molecular biology. He has sponsored international electives through the medical school in universities around the world and has had lasting effects on his students. Strobel is also known as Father Strobel when serving as assisting priest at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church. His involvement with and love for the church guides who he is as both an educator and a person. He taught at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, for two years before joining the UT faculty.

“Dr. Strobel is a multi-faceted educator who has trained many knowledgeable and caring doctors,” said L. Maximilian Buja, M.D., executive vice president for academic affairs and Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. “He is an excellent classroom teacher. He is innovative and focused on the development of the student as a whole person.”

A favorite among students, Strobel is known for the enthusiasm and talent he brings to his educational activities, routinely receiving high marks in student evaluations. In recognition of Strobel’s exceptional abilities and dedication as an educator, he is the frequent recipient of the Dean’s Teaching Excellence Awards. In recognition of his long-standing contributions, Strobel was honored with the John P. McGovern Outstanding Teacher Award from the University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston in 2002 and with the 2006 President’s Scholar Award for Excellence in Teaching from the UT Health Science Center at Houston.

Strobel received his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He has two children: Elizabeth J.M. Fulton and Nathaniel H.P. Strobel, M.D. For the first time in the 38-year history of the UT Medical School at Houston, a father and son are full-time faculty at the same time. Nathaniel Strobel joined the pediatrics department as an assistant professor in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine in 2006.

More than 25 years ago, Strobel founded the Medical Professionalism Orientation Retreat (known as the Henry Strobel Student Retreat)—a program focused on welcoming first-year medical students and building collegial relationships with all medical students and faculty to help new students through the medical school years. The success of the Retreat was recognized by the Alumni Association at the 2007 commencement ceremony with a financial endowment in Strobel’s name.

Understanding the value in broadening a student’s education, Strobel initiated international electives, including rotations at the University of Malaya and the Medical School of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; the Medical School of the Deccan in Hyderabad, India; the Thammasat University in Bangkok, Thailand; the University of Chile in Santiago, Chile; the Ho Chi Minh University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; and the Capital Medical University in Beijing, China. Of these, the first and most long-standing program is that with Capital Medical University in Beijing, wherein more than 300 students have benefited from the experience.

TIAA-CREF, along with The Health Museum and the award steering committee, will host a banquet at La Colombe d’Or Mansion on Tuesday, Dec. 9, to honor Strobel’s accomplishments.

The steering committee selected to govern the award and to evaluate nominations is composed of leading medical professionals from the Baylor College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, the UT Health Science Center at Houston, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Texas Children’s Hospital, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Nursing and the University of Texas Medical Branch School of Nursing at Galveston.

Also earning the TIAA-CREF Distinguished Medical Educator Award from the UT Medical School at Houston were Frank C. Arnett, Jr., M.D., professor of internal medicine and the Elizabeth Bidgood Chair in Rheumatology, and Herbert Fred, M.D., professor of internal medicine. Strobel is the first Ph.D. to receive the award, recognizing the inclusive nature of medical education.

About TIAA-CREF
TIAA-CREF is a national financial services organization with more than $399 billion in combined assets under management (9/30/08) and the leading provider of retirement services in the academic, research, medical and cultural fields. For information, visit www.tiaa-cref.org.

About The Health Museum
The Health Museum is a member institution of the world-renowned Texas Medical Center and is located in the heart of the Museum District at 1515 Hermann Drive, Houston, TX 77004. For more information about The Health Museum and its programs, please visit www.thehealthmuseum.org or call (713) 521-1515.

About The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston was created by the U.T. System Board of Regents and supported by the Texas Legislature in 1972. Located in the world renowned Texas Medical Center, it brings together the Dental Branch, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the Medical School, the School of Public Health, the School of Nursing, the School of Health Information Sciences, the UT Harris County Psychiatric Center, and the Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases. The university pursues its mission through a comprehensive approach to health. Additional information is online at http://www.uthouston.edu/