ISU veterinary medicine professor receives national teaching excellence award

AMES, Iowa -- Dr. Holly Bender, associate professor of veterinary pathology at Iowa State University, was awarded a top teaching honor from the Student American Veterinary Medicine Association (SAVMA). Bender received the Teaching Excellence Award for Basic Sciences.

The award recognizes excellence, innovation and enthusiasm in the field of basic veterinary science and education. It is one of two teaching awards presented by the SAVMA each year. Iowa State veterinary students nominated Bender.

Bender was cited for her leadership in developing Diagnostic Pathfinder, an innovative clinical instructional software tool. The software teaches students a methodology for diagnostic reasoning and instructs them to gather and analyze laboratory data before arriving at a diagnosis.

She is nationally recognized for her work to improve methods for teaching diagnostic problem-solving skills in veterinary medicine education.

Bender, who joined the Iowa State faculty in 2002, received her D.V.M. in 1979 from Michigan State University, East Lansing; and her Ph.D. in 1987, from Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.