AWARD. This year’s recipient of Pedalen (‘the Pedal’), Damon Barrett, is described by students as an enthusiastic and passionate teacher. He is Assistant Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Medicine.
When Damon received the e-mail from Linnéa Mundin, chairman of the Sahlgrenska Academy’s student union SAKS, he first thought it was spam:
“It is not often that you suddenly receive an e-mail that you have received an award. I’m really honored. Being appreciated by students is the best reward we teachers can get. I’m really grateful that SAKS chose me.”
Loves teaching
Damon Barrett teaches in the two master’s programs in global health and in public health at the School of Public Health and Community Medicine at Sahlgrenska Academy. He teaches a number of different subjects, but all focus on the question of what it means to adopt a human rights-based strategy for global health.
“Teaching is by far what I like best about working at the university, especially when I get to discuss such interesting issues with students from all over the world and from so many different disciplines,” says Damon.
What is your recipe for successful teaching – especially in this digital situation?
“I have no recipe. I just like it, and I also enjoy teaching digitally. But I look forward to coming back to the lecture halls again.”
Long tradition
Pedalen is SAK’s pedagogical prize, which has been awarded since 1984. The prize is given to teachers who in a meritorious way conveyed knowledge and commitment to the students. It is the students who both nominate and decide who will receive the award.
This is the motivation from the Sahlgrenska Academy’s student union SAKS:
“Damon Barrett is a PhD in Law and is assigned the topic of Health Equality and the Right to Health. His experience in the field, and in academia, have brought perspectives to the master programmes in Public and Global Health we never thought we could ever get, despite being in a multicultural and interdisciplinary environment.
As a teacher he is truly passionate about his topic, to the point that he is always available for discussion and brainstorming. His enthusiasm and passion are infectious, and he encourages people to ask questions (“even the ones you think sound silly”). Every single time, he engages with an openness and positivity that helps many class members grow in confidence and find their voices in class.
Damon Barrett approaches subjects that many people might think of as taboo with an honesty and fairness that makes them easy to talk about.
He is the definition of a motivational teacher, and we are proud to have such a competent and devoted teacher, who indeed deserves this recognition to keep up his amazing work.“
All awardees
2021: Damon Barrett, global hälsa och folkhälsa
2020: –
2019: Anne Uv, histologi och utvecklingsbiologi
2018: Henrik Fagman, anatomi och patologi
2017: –
2016: Michael Winder, farmakologi
2015: Ellen Johansson, anatomi
2014: Magnus Rudenholm (då Bengtsson), neurologi
2013: Peter Lingström, cariologi
2012: Henrik Zetterberg, neurokemi
2011: Kristina Luthman, kemi
2010: Lars Rönnbäck, neurologi
2009: Anna Lundgren, immunologi
2008: Anette Larsson, farmaceutisk teknologi
2007: Ingrid Berns, logopedi
2006: Bengt R Johansson, klinisk anatomi
2005: Agnetha Ekman, farmakologi
2004: Lars Gunnar Pettersson, fysiologi
2003: Anders Ågård, internmedicin
2002: Hans Nissbrandt, farmakologi
2001: Mikael Hellström, diagnostisk radiologi
2000: Elias Eriksson, farmakologi
1999: Anette Lohmander, logopedi
1998: Gösta Roupe, dermatologi
1997: Svante Nordgren, kirurgi
1996: Tomas Skoglund, neuroanatomi
1995: Anna Elander, plastikkirurgi
1994: Rolf Olsson, internmedicin
1993: Olof Gustafsson, neurokirurgi
1992: Anders Bergbrant, medicin
1990: Anestesi-, ortopedi- och kirurgiklinikerna, Östra sjukhuset
1989: Lars Gunnar Kindblom, patologi
1988: Christer Lundqvist, neurologi
1987: Sverker Jern, klinisk fysiologi
1986: Birger Löfving, fysiologi
1985: Lars Forssman & Ian Milsom, obstetrik och gynekologi
1984: Bo Samuelsson, medicinsk kemi
