John Freeman Faculty Teaching Award – Ronald “Chris” Mackenzie, PhD, FRSB
Ronald “Chris” Mackenzie, PhD, FRSB, assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, is the 2024 recipient of the John H. Freeman Award for Faculty Teaching.
Chosen by the senior class, the John H. Freeman Award recognizes McGovern Medical School’s outstanding basic science faculty member. The winner of this award, which was established by university funds and named in Freeman’s honor, must exemplify enthusiasm and drive toward effective teaching, have a personal interest in students’ problems and educational goals, and set an example that serves as a high standard for students.
Mackenzie previously won the Freeman Award in 2015 and 2017.
“Receiving any award is always a great honor, but receiving an award from our graduating students is the greatest award that can be bestowed on any teaching faculty,” Mackenzie said.
Mackenzie connects his teaching philosophy to an old adage credited to the Greek philosopher Plutarch, in that “a mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.” This is a mantra he brings to his teaching while trying to make learning as exciting as possible for his students.
“In many ways, I am shocked [the students] still remember me. I usually teach only first- and second-year students,” Mackenzie said. “ By now, the graduating class has already been put through the trials of STEP-1&2, their third year in the clinics, their match, and so on. The idea that my name still comes up after all they have been through is incredibly gratifying.”
While reflecting on his time as a student, Mackenzie noted that he never really had any teaching mentors of his own.
“I had a lot of teachers in high school and college that I really didn’t like,” Mackenzie said. “I think of them as my anti-mentors. I definitely wanted my teaching methods to be the opposite of theirs.”
However, Mackenzie credits his freshman chemistry teacher with a lesson that has stuck with him his entire career and reminds him to teach with a philosophy attributed to Albert Einstein to: “make things as simple as possible, but no simpler.” The lesson compared chopping firewood to the breaking of covalent bonds. Wood, like covalent bonds, is much tougher to cut or break, when going across the grain.
“This kind of example, relating the simple task of chopping wood to the strength of chemical bonding, not necessarily the easiest idea to grasp conceptually, has always stuck with me. I like to bring these simple, real-world teaching concepts into the classroom.”
Mackenzie is a facilitator for Problem-Based Learning (PBL) for first-and second-year students at McGovern Medical School as well as Team-Based Learning for first-year students while serving as a member of the Team-Based Learning Review Committee. Additionally, he teaches Professionalism and Ethics to students at the Medical School and Ethics to students at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
In 2022, Mackenzie was honored with the inaugural Rebecca Lunstroth Faculty Service Award from the McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics.
Upon receiving the award, Mackenzie thanked Elizabeth Green and Erin Bodeker for being his first port of call whenever something arises that he doesn’t know. Additionally, he thanked Litao Wang, Med, EdD, who works to resolve issues and encourages faculty to keep up with the latest teaching modalities, as well as Denise Pinales, Erin Davis, and Yolanda Bell for their work in running the JAMP Summer Research Program. Finally, Mackenzie thanked Michael Lorenz, PhD, Herbert L., and Margaret W. DuPont Chair in Biomedical Science, for understanding the importance of high-quality education for the MD and PhD students at McGovern Medical School and encouraging him to be deeply involved in the school’s educational mission.
Previous winners of the John H. Freeman Award for Faculty Teaching include: Claire Hulsebosch, PhD, 2023, 2021, 2018; Han Zhang, MD, 2022, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2008, 2006; Phillip Carpenter, PhD, 2020; MacKenzie, 2017, 2015; Dawnelle Schatte, MD, 2014; Joanne Oakes, MD, 2012; Elizabeth Hartwell, MD, 2007; Margaret O. Uthman, MD, 2011, 2009, 2005, 2001, 1999, 1997; Kent Heck, MD, 2004, 2002; Norman Weisbrodt, PhD, 2003; Barry Van Winkle, PhD, 2000, 1998; Marsha L. Eigenbrodt, MD, MPH, 1996; Ron C. Philo, PhD, 1995; Harley D. Sybers, MD, PhD, 1994, 1992, 1990; Frank W. Booth, MD, 1993; and Karmen L. Schmidt, PhD, 1991.