The Graduate Student Organization selects a person from the graduate school faculty who has made outstanding contributions to their academic growth and development as students. The students make their judgment on the basis of teaching skills, tutorial excellence and overall quality of, and enthusiasm for, graduate teaching. The GSO award this year is presented to:

Dr. Jean Freeman received her undergraduate degree magna cum laude in mathematics from Mount Holyoke College and her master’s in mathematics from Boston University. She earned her Ph.D. from Yale University in epidemiology and public health and has directed and developed studies in health services research for more than 20 years. Dr. Freeman was recruited to UTMB in 1992.

During her time at UTMB, she established the master’s degree and Ph.D. curricula in health services research. She directs the Methods in Health Services Research, Outcomes Research and co-directs the Health Policy and Management Course for the Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health. She also has assisted in designing a faculty development program that features advanced training in data analysis and research methods, research proposal development for NIH grants and scientific writing courses.

According to a letter of nomination, “Dr. Freeman succeeds in motivating and guiding students toward research projects that are appropriate and meaningful to them and that advance the frontiers of scientific knowledge…she maintains a very high standard of academic rigor and excellence in her work and in the work of all students.” The letter also states that Dr. Freeman takes time to know students, makes key recommendations and engenders trust in the students as she pushes them to excel in their research.

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