Mackin Named Basic Science Educator of the Year for the Medical College of Georgia

Dr. Bob Mackin, associate professor of cellular biology and anatomy at the Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership, has been named the Basic Science Educator of the Year for the Medical College of Georgia.

The Basic Science Educator of the Year is given to a faculty member at MCG who demonstrates excellence as an instructor and as a mentor and receives outstanding evaluations from students.

“Whether teaching large groups of students in the classroom or serving as a facilitator for our small group learning sessions, Dr. Mackin has established himself as one of our most talented educators,” said Dr. Matt Boegehold, chair of basic sciences. “He has a gift for connecting with students and sharing his enthusiasm for learning.”

“I’m really happy to receive this award because I was nominated by faculty colleagues,” said Mackin. “I have not previously been in an environment where there is such extensive collaboration across both the basic sciences and clinical medicine. I’m happy to be part of this collaborative environment.”

Mackin was nominated for the award by Boegehold and Medical Partnership campus dean, Dr. Michelle Nuss.

“I would like to thank my colleagues for nominating me for this honor, but I’d like to thank them even more for allowing me to learn from them. The past few years have been an exciting educational experience,” said Mackin.

Mackin joined the Medical Partnership in 2020 and has played a key role in developing and refining modules for the Medical Partnership curriculum on a yearly basis. Mackin was named Educator of the Year during AY2021 for the Class of 2024, and he was also recognized with the MCG Excellence in Teaching Award for both AY2021 and AY2022.

Mackin received a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Carleton College in 1982 and his PhD in Cell Biology from Emory University in 1987. He went on to be a National Institutes of Health post-doctoral fellow in the Clayton Foundation Laboratories for Peptide Biology at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California from 1987-1989 and a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Molecular Neuroendocrinology at the Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine in Göttingen, Germany from 1989-1991.

“In all the ways he contributes to the growth and success of our educational mission, Dr. Mackin’s actions are always guided by a deep and unwavering commitment to providing the best educational experience for our students. We are truly fortunate to have him on our faculty,” said Boegehold.

Mackin will be recognized at the Medical College of Georgia Faculty Senate Awards Ceremony on June 13 in Augusta and at the annual awards ceremony at the Medical Partnership during the Spring 2024 semester.