Alpha Omega Alpha Robert J. Glaser Distinguished Teaching Award

James L. Sebastian, M.D.
Medical College of Wisconsin

The Alpha Omega Alpha Robert J. Glaser Distinguished Teacher Awards were established by the AOA medical honor society in 1988 to provide national recognition to faculty members who have distinguished themselves in medical student education. The award is named for long-time AOA executive secretary Robert J. Glaser, M.D.

He's the professor who spontaneously quotes (William) Osler and routinely uses OSCEs (objective structured clinical examinations), thereby balancing medicine's legendary past with its innovative future. He is James L. Sebastian, M.D., professor of medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), and his predilection for quoting Osler reflects both his passion for patient care and desire to instill the same in his students.

Dr. Sebastian often begins his lectures with a clinical case or a patient comment that brings a human element to medical theory. In the words of Michael J. Dunn, M.D., dean and executive vice president at MCW, Dr. Sebastian has a unique ability to "connect learners to patients and their clinical care using evidence, experience, and a sense of wonder."

Dr. Sebastian's own sense of wonder extends to the world of innovation and new technology. He was the first MCW clerkship director to use OSCEs and simulated patients, and he recently had two of his instructional works accepted by MedEdPORTAL, the AAMC's online publication resource of peer-reviewed teaching materials. Among his grant-supported activities are three projects featuring the use of simulated patients and one involving the development, implementation, and evaluation of a computer-based instructional program. He is also the recipient of the Learning Resources Fund Innovative Educational Project Award, which recognizes outstanding innovation in medical student education.

In his clinical role, Dr. Sebastian served as founder and chief of two clinics at the Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center: a general medicine clinic and an anticoagulation clinic. He has written and lectured extensively on cardiovascular issues, especially those dealing with geriatric patients and anticoagulation therapy, and he is the 2003 recipient of the Distinguished Internist Award of the Wisconsin Chapter of the American College of Physicians.

Dr. Sebastian earned his B.S. from the University of Notre Dame and his M.D. from Indiana University School of Medicine. He completed his residency at MCW, where he also served as chief resident. Later, he completed a fellowship in cardiovascular medicine at the medical college, and another in medical education research sponsored by the AAMC Group on Educational Affairs.

Dr. Sebastian is the only MCW faculty member to have received every department-specific and college-wide teaching award. Over the past two decades, he has received 12 teaching awards from the department of medicine; 7 college-wide teaching awards; 3 college-wide educational awards; and 6 distinguished-service citizen awards, including Best Teacher Award (given by the MCW medicine house staff) and the Standing Ovation Award, honoring faculty who have enhanced MCW students' quality of campus life.

Find out more about the Alpha Omega Alpha Robert J. Glaser Distinguished Teaching Award, nominate a deserving individual, and view a list of previous award recipients.