John P. McGovern Award - Dr. Octavio C. Pinell

With now his sixth award to his name, Octavio C. Pinell, M.D., has become the Lance Armstrong of the annual John P. McGovern Award competition - winning the award more times than any of his faculty brethren.

The John P. McGovern Award is given annually to the outstanding clinical faculty member as chosen by the senior class. Pinell, professor and director of undergraduate education in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, has been named the recipient of the award in 2006, 2004, 2001, 1999, 1997, and 1995 - nearly every other year since he joined the Medical School in 1994.

Students are not allowed to elect consecutive year winners.

Pinell received his medical degree from the Universidad Nacional de Nicaragua and did residencies at St. Vincent's Hospital in New York and Spring Grove Hospital in Maryland.

Pinell has continued to receive teaching awards at UT just as he did at Baylor College of Medicine before he moved here. "Teaching is about sharing knowledge - and that's what motivates me," he said.

Since 1980, he has received more than 20 teaching awards - most bestowed upon him by those who know, his students.

Students who nominated him for this most recent award wrote that they enjoyed his stories, which made remembering lessons easier. "He also always made time for students and welcomed their input," wrote one student.

Pinell teaches students throughout their medical careers, from lectures in the second year to fourth-year electives and directing the department's clerkship program, where students help to evaluate new acute patients at the UT Harris County Psychiatric Center. "Seeing patients and moving the teaching to the examining rooms is an important step," Pinell said.

The award is made possible by an endowment from the McGovern Foundation. McGovern, founder of the McGovern Allergy Clinic, has maintained a deep interest in excellence in teaching at the health science center, where he holds faculty appointments.

Previous recipients include Alberto Puig, M.D., Ph.D., 2005; Frank C. Arnett Jr., M.D., 2003, 2000; Eugene Toy, M.D., 2002; Edward Yeomans, M.D., 1998; John F. Donnelly, M.D., 1996, 1993, 1990; James T. Willerson, M.D., 1994; John M. Passmore, M.D., 1992; and Herbert L. DuPont, M.D., 1991.