October, 2004- It is highly unusual for a research institution to be recognized for its excellence in teaching, yet MBC faculty member, Dr. Joseph P.Y. Kao , has won the University of Maryland Baltimore's (UMB) Teacher of the Year award. Primary UMBI faculty members often have secondary faculty positions at nearby teaching institutions. Dr. Kao has a secondary faculty position in the Department of Physiology at UMB. It is this voluntary and unsalaried secondary appointment that enables Dr. Kao to teach. However, Dr. Kao's dedication and commitment to teaching is unsurpassed.

Dr. Kao has headed the Department of Physiology's Master's Degree Program since 1993. As the Director of Graduate Education -Program in Neuroscience, Dr. Margaret McCarthy put it: 'This is a largely thankless job as it carries no prestige, no monetary compensation and a great many headaches." This is in addition to the lectures he gives and the courses he organizes, while maintaining an active and funded research laboratory at UMBI.

Yet for all the time and administrative tasks that Dr. Kao has chosen to do, the true basis for this award is that Dr. Kao is a uniquely gifted lecturer and connects to students at all levels. His own enthusiasm and incredible ability to make complex topics understandable without losing the nuances of the topic enhances every student's educational experience. As one former student put it, "Dr. Kao's lectures were simply spectacular for their clarity and depth." He invigorates his students and colleagues alike. This is seen in both his approval ratings from students over the years, which are consistently the highest, and the comments from his colleagues in their recommendations of him for this award. His joy of learning and love of science is infectious; his personal charm and happy outlook make him a pleasure work with. Dr. Mordacai Blaustein, Professor of Physiology and former Department of Physiology Chair, describes Dr. Kao as " a teachers' teacher and many of us, his colleagues, have learned a great deal from him about teaching style.He surely is one of the very finest teachers among all the faculty in the University System of Maryland."

The formal award presentation was made at the UMB Founders Week Gala held October 14, 2004. Dr. Kao's picture, on a floor-to-ceiling banner, will grace the library for the next year, along with the other award winners.