Pandey and Semar recognized for Exceptional Moments in Teaching
Nirnimesh Pandey, MD, faculty member, and Aoife Semar, MD, resident, were recognized through the “Exceptional Moments in Teaching” program for the month of November.
Dr. Pandey is an assistant professor of radiology.
“I had scrubbed into plenty of IR cases, but working with Dr. Pandey was different. He didn’t just let students observe – he made sure we thought. And he did it with the perfect mix of patience, challenge and encouragement,” one student said. “I saw him do this again and again with every student or trainee lucky enough to work with him that day. He wasn’t just teaching procedures – he was training us to think like physicians, in a way no book, classroom or PBL session ever could. I can say without hesitation that Dr. Pandey was the best teacher I had on any of my fourth-year rotations. He didn’t just make an impression – he changed the way I approached medicine.”
Dr. Pandey is a diagnostic and interventional radiologist at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Virginia and Alpha Omega Alpha inductee at Mount Sinai, he completed his radiology residency and IR fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and spent eight years in private practice before joining Penn State. He aims to blend advanced procedural expertise with a patient-focused, compassionate approach in his medical practice.
The resident awardee, Dr. Semar, is a second-year psychiatry resident in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health.
“Dr. Semar is an exceptional resident. On my first day, it was difficult to orient myself to the culture of psychiatry, especially in interviewing patients, performing mental status exam, writing appropriate notes, etc. Dr. Semar spent a significant amount of time on my first day to go through all of the relevant parts of psychiatry so I could use this knowledge in the subsequent weeks,” said a student. “She also encouraged me to treat psychiatric patients with kindness and to invest in their story, as this would make them feel more comfortable and cared for. I used this tip in my subsequent weeks and saw a drastic change in patients’ openness to my interview and improvement in their condition. It was a phenomenal experience learning under Dr. Semar.”
Dr. Semar grew up living between New Jersey and Waterford, Ireland. She has a passion for uniting both the science and the art of psychiatry to promote health equity for people with mental health disorders. She has a special interest in psychotic disorders and community psychiatry.
In her spare time, Dr. Semar can be found in the great outdoors hiking, skiing or kayaking, or in the art studio.
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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