Congratulations to Neel Bhattacharyya and Marc Ottenga, voted 2013-14 Teachers of the Year at the University of Florida College of Dentistry.
Each year the sophomore, junior and senior students vote to select a teacher of the year in the basic sciences and clinical sciences categories. The winners are selected for demonstrating excellence, innovation and effectiveness in teaching of the dental sciences. The awards will be officially presented during a ceremony on April 8, 2014, hosted by UF President Bernie Machen, that honors Teachers of the Year from across the campus. Teachers of the Year also receive a $2,000 award and a plaque.
“These awards are a special honor for any faculty member because they’re decided by students. Knowing you’ve influenced your students in such a meaningful way is very valuable to a dedicated teacher. It is also telling that both of this year’s recipients have received this award before. That speaks to the consistency of their commitment as a teacher and it also tells me that we are extremely fortunate to have them as part of our college,” Boyd Robinson, D.D.S., M.Ed., interim dean.
Neel Bhattacharyya, D.M.D., M.S., received the Basic Sciences Teachers of the Year Award. Bhattacharyya is an associate professor in the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Sciences. He joined the college in 2003 and also received the Teacher of the Year Award in 2004-05 and in 2010-11.
Marc Ottenga, D.D.S., a clinical professor in the Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, received the Clinical Sciences Teachers of the Year Award. He joined the college in 2004 and also was the recipient of the Teacher of the Year Award for 2005-06.
Those who know, do. Those that understand, teach. ~ Aristotle