Pinto and Gilles recognized for Exceptional Moments in Teaching
Casey Pinto, PhD, faculty member, and Ambroise Gilles, MD, resident, were recognized through the “Exceptional Moments in Teaching” program for the month of June.
Dr. Pinto is an assistant professor of public health sciences and co-director of the epidemiology PhD program.
“Dr. Casey Pinto has had a profoundly positive impact on my experience in the classroom and throughout my graduate career. As the instructor for this course and my advisor, Dr. Pinto has been instrumental in helping me make significant progress in academic writing. Her clear guidance and structured approach to developing purpose statements, theoretical frameworks, and research designs have greatly enhanced my understanding of designing, conducting, and evaluating research for publishable manuscripts,” one student said. “Dr. Pinto fosters an environment of continuous learning and growth by providing constructive feedback and encouraging critical reflection, which has strengthened my scholarship and leadership development. Beyond the classroom, she has always supported my work in our lab and my advanced field experience. Her accessibility, responsiveness, and kindness have created a nurturing and collaborative environment, enabling me to excel academically and professionally. I sincerely appreciate Dr. Pinto’s dedication to her students and her ability to guide us in translating research into meaningful public health practice.”
During her time at the College of Medicine, Dr. Pinto has served as the associate director for the doctor of public health (DrPH) program and has/is currently chairing 10 doctoral student committees. She has mentored 24 master of public health (MPH) students to completion of their capstone projects. Dr. Pinto has also taught multiple courses for the DrPH and MPH programs.
In addition to her research, Dr. Pinto is associate medical director for the City of York Bureau of Health, providing direct patient care for sexually transmitted infection and tuberculosis patients. Her clinical work ties directly to her research where she is focused on health disparities in sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, novel diagnostics, and community engagement to improve access to testing services.
The resident awardee, Dr. Gilles, is a fourth-year plastic surgery resident in the Department of Surgery.
“Ambroise is truly the best of the best when it comes to educating medical students. During the two weeks, not only did he take the time to thoroughly explain various plastic surgery procedures, indications, and relevant anatomy, but he also went above and beyond to ensure I felt prepared for my next rotation,” said a student. “One of Ambroise’s greatest strengths is his ability to provide constructive feedback in a thoughtful and encouraging way. He was always clear about what I was doing well while offering practical and specific suggestions for areas where I could improve. I learned tremendously through these feedback sessions, and it was always clear that his guidance came from a place of genuine care and a true desire to see me grow and thrive as a student. Ambroise is incredibly patient, kind, nonjudgmental, and supportive – qualities that make him not only an exceptional educator but also a role model. I hope I can become an educator like him when I become a resident. I honestly felt sad that this rotation only lasted two weeks, and I genuinely wish I have the opportunity to work with him again in the future.”
Dr. Gilles was born and raised in Saint-Malo, a coastal town in France. He relocated to the United States to continue his education and developed an interest in medicine as a means to apply scientific principles and problem-solving skills to make a meaningful impact in people’s lives.
During medical school at Rutgers in New Jersey, Dr. Gilles was drawn to plastic surgery, as it offers both creative freedom and the opportunity to restore patient functionality and sense of self. He has a strong interest in traumatic and oncologic reconstruction and plans to pursue a hand or microsurgical fellowship.
Penn State College of Medicine’s Office for a Respectful Learning Environment recognizes exceptional faculty, residents and fellows with the monthly “Exceptional Moments in Teaching” program. One faculty member and one resident/fellow are highlighted each month for their contributions. College of Medicine students are invited to submit narratives about faculty members, residents, nurses or any other educators who challenge them and provide an exceptional learning experience using the online nomination form.
The Office for a Respectful Learning Environment fosters an educational community at Penn State College of Medicine in which all learners and educators feel supported, challenged, valued and respected. It serves all learners at the College of Medicine: medical students, graduate students, physician assistant students, residents and fellows.
See previous faculty and resident/fellow honorees here.
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