Student Curriculum Committee
Candle Award
Eligibility Information

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I. What
A. Explanation: "The Candle Award is an award given by Vanderbilt medical students to those individuals who have sacrificially devoted themselves to teaching and mentoring. Recipients of this award have been nominated and chosen based upon their positive impact on the lives of physicians-in-training, and are recognized by their students as examples of excellence in medical education by Caring, Advocating, Nurturing, Doing, and Leadership, and Empathy.

B. The "Candle Award" is both a symbol and an acronym for those individuals who help light the way for medical students and embody the traits we wish to recognize: Caring, Advocacy, Nurturing, Doing, Leadership, and Empathy.

C. Means of recognition - A monthly award, recognized by two means:
1. Recipient picture and anonymous student quote in the register
2. Presentation of pin at Grand rounds, conference, or other appropriate gathering to praise recipient in front of their peers
3. Dinner gift certificate for dinner

II. Who - Eligibility Criteria
A. Recipient must not have previously received this award in the last year

B. Nominations will be continuously reconsidered for the award one calendar year from date of nomination

C. Basic Science faculty, residents, attendings, nurses, dieticians, or other individuals who have been nominated by a medical student(s) for devotion and extraordinary service towards their medical education are eligible

D. Nominating student(s) may no longer be in the class/service or have a grade/evaluation still pending from the nominee during the time the award is presented

III. Where
A. First friday of each month in the Vanderibilt Reporter newspaper

B. Recognition at an appropriate setting (grand rounds, resident meeting, etc) in order to recognize selected faculty among their peers – as close to the first week as possible

IV. Why
A. This an award is given by medical students to promote and recognize excellence in medical education. It is given to those individuals who have been recognized for making an outstanding contribution toward the education of young physicians.

B. An award that allows students to recognize those educators who, though worthy of other outstanding teacher awards, have not yet been recipients