Dr. Paulette Bernd Honored with 2026 Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching

The Department of Pathology and Cell Biology is proud to announce that Dr. Paulette Bernd, Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology at CUIMC, has been named a recipient of the prestigious 2026 Presidential Awards for Outstanding Teaching. Awarded annually during the University commencement ceremonies, these highly competitive honors recognize faculty members and graduate student instructors who have significantly influenced the intellectual development and academic growth of Columbia students. Since joining the department in 2008 to lead and modernize the Clinical Gross Anatomy course, Dr. Bernd has consistently demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to pedagogical excellence and curricular innovation, making her course one of the most popular and celebrated at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.

An alumna of Columbia herself, where she earned her Ph.D. in Anatomy and Cell Biology, Dr. Bernd has transformed the learning experience for first-year medical and dental students by replacing traditional rote memorization with a dynamic, team-based approach. As Course Director, she has been a true visionary in modernizing anatomical education. Through developing a media-rich, interactive electronic dissection manual—complete with stepwise images of real dissections and visual quizzes—and introducing advanced computer modules that use real patient videos to highlight clinical correlations, Dr. Bernd helps students bridge the gap between foundational anatomy and real-world medical practice. This well-deserved recognition celebrates her exceptional dedication to teaching and to shaping the next generation of compassionate healthcare leaders. Congratulations, Dr. Bernd.