Tropical Medicine Assistant Professor Dr. William Gosnell was recognized for his excellence in mentoring graduate students by Dean Jerris Hedges and JABSOM Leadership at a luncheon on March 27, 2019. Dr. Gosnell was selected as a John A. Burns School of Medicine nominee for the Peter V. Garrod Distinguished Mentoring Award. His nomination was supported by his peers and students who recognize his excellence as a teacher and mentor.

Dr. Gosnell received his BS degree from the University of Washington in Seattle in 1990 and his PhD in Tropical Medicine from the John. A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1998. Dr. Gosnell is involved in teaching and mentoring undergraduate, MS, PhD and MD students. He was instrumental in establishing the new Tropical Medicine Graduate Certificate program and serves as its current director. In addition to teaching, Dr. Gosnell is involved in research on malaria vaccines and, more recently, on rat lungworm disease caused by the parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis. He serves on the Hawaii Governor’s Task Force on Rat Lungworm Diseases and is active in educational efforts to inform the medical profession and general public about this public health issue.

Graduate students who support Dr. Gosnell’s nomination for this award commented that “although he is very busy, he always makes time for students. His door is always open and he is not interested in just talking about classes. He truly cares about students’ well-being.” They appreciated that his classes “really make students think” and that he asks “good and thoughtful questions.”

The department congratulates Dr. Gosnell upon receiving this honor and expresses their appreciation for his valuable contributions to the department, school and university