Distinguished Educator Award

Harsha Sharma

Teaching is Dr. Sharma's passion, and her love of teaching is what brought her to Nebraska Methodist College where she teaches varied science courses in the Division of Arts and Sciences.  She also has been an adjunct faculty member at Bellevue University since 2003. As a postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Opthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC, 1996), Dr. Sharma conducted research that examined the role of bHLH transcription factors in retinal development. She cloned NeuroD cDNA from rat and primate retina, and mapped the temporal and spatial aspects of NeuroD expression in the developing rat retina. In 1997, Dr. Sharma also served as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Department of Vision Sciences in the School of Optometry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB 1997), where her cataract research focused on D-Crystalline degradation and association of its fragments with water soluble-high molecular weight (WS-HMW) proteins.

Karin Bellows

Karin has been a diagnostic radiologic technologist with the Methodist Health System since 2011. She was a clinical preceptor before accepting the position of Clinical Coordinator at Nebraska Methodist College in 2017. 

Lori Spanbauer

Lori Spanbauer is a seasoned educator and leader with over three decades of teaching and professional experience. She holds master’s degrees in social work and education and will soon complete an Ed.D. in Education and Leadership. Her education and experience have laid the foundation for her distinguished career in curriculum design, faculty development, and student engagement. Lori combines her professional experience with innovative teaching strategies to deliver impactful learning activities that foster critical thinking, empathy, and advocacy among students.

In her current role as Chair of the Core Curriculum at Nebraska Methodist College, Lori plays a pivotal role in advancing the new Core Curriculum initiative. She champions the integration of interdisciplinary team-based learning, community engagement, and the Core Advocacy Project—ensuring that students develop as both competent practitioners and engaged healthcare advocates. Her leadership has helped guide countless students toward becoming confident, culturally competent, and patient-centered professionals prepared to navigate complex healthcare environments.

Lori is deeply committed to lifelong learning and healthcare education. She regularly writes and presents on student engagement, instructor presence, and supportive strategies for students. She is passionate about sharing her expertise in curriculum innovation and transformative educational practices.