At CU Anschutz, our faculty are among our greatest assets. Each year, we honor some of our remarkable faculty members with awards recognizing superior accomplishments in teaching and leadership.
Our faculty awards are especially meaningful – not only because they acknowledge outstanding performance in our core mission areas, but also because they represent recognition by colleagues and students of exemplary work and lasting impact.
Joseph Addison Sewall Award
Awarded for exceptional contributions of leadership and vision to CU Anschutz
C. Neill Epperson, MD, DFAPA
Shanta M. Zimmer, MD
Florence Rena Sabin Award
Awarded for exceptional contributions to CU Anschutz and the health of the citizens of Colorado
Christian Thurstone, MD, MS
Chancellor’s Teaching Recognition Award
Selected by graduating students in each school or college
Jennifer A. Disabato, DNP, CPNP PC, AC – CU Anschutz College of Nursing
Meghan Jeffres, PharmD – CU Anschutz Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Alex Kaizer, PhD – Colorado School of Public Health
Melanie Lambert, PT, DPT, DHSc, OCS – Physical Therapy Program
Rizwan Nazarali, MD – Anesthesiologist Assistant Program
Chad G. Pearson, PhD – CU Anschutz Graduate School
Matthew Rustici, MD – CU Anschutz School of Medicine
Photo at top: from left, Alex Kaizer, PhD; Chad Pearson, PhD; Matthew Rustici, MD; Chancellor Don Elliman; Jennifer Disabato, DNP, CPNP PC, AC; Meghan Jeffres, PharmD; and Petros Yoon, DDS.
President’s Excellence in Teaching Award
Nominated by students and selected by a committee of students, faculty and administrators
Jaime L. Daly, MD – Anesthesiologist Assistant Program
Richard C. Lindrooth, PhD – Colorado School of Public Health
Patrick Luna, MSN, RN, CEN – CU Anschutz College of Nursing
Dan Malone, PT, PhD, CCS – Physical Therapy Program
Brian Murray, PharmD – CU Anschutz Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Scott Saunders, MD – CU Anschutz School of Medicine
Shayna Sengewalt, DDS – CU Anschutz School of Dental Medicine
Faculty award recipients were recognized at the Spring Commencement Ceremony on May 18, with awards for the Physical Therapy and Anesthesiologist Assistant Programs to be conferred at the Fall 2026 Commencement Ceremony.
Congratulations to our 2026 faculty honorees!