University's AIMS Program Earns Eighth Consecutive Pinnacle Award

The University's Adventures in Medicine and Science (AIMS) program has received the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration's Pinnacle Award for the eighth year in a row.

The Pinnacle Award is given annually by the CILC to organizations that receive outstanding scores on program evaluations submitted by educators and end users who have participated in a distance learning program. Receiving the award indicates remarkable quality of educational content and exceptional skill at program delivery.

AIMS is part of the Center for Anatomical Science and Education, Department of Surgery, SLU School of Medicine.

"It's an honor for AIMS to win the Pinnacle Award because it is based solely on the opinions of teachers who actually requested and participated in the presentations,” said Ray Vollmer, education specialist for Saint Louis University’s AIMS program.

Vollmer delivers more than 200 real-time, anatomy-based video conferences to various schools across the country each school year.

“There is no substitute for seeing the ‘real thing,’ and Mr. Vollmer is a great guide for the experience,” said Pauline Corzilius of Lisbon Regional High school in New Hampshire.

Award winners this year include not only U.S. programs, but also programs from Canada, England and Australia.

"The Pinnacle Award is highly regarded by providers, as it is an objective measure of their ability to meet the needs of students and teachers,” said Jan Zanetis, CEO of CILC. “CILC is gratified to see the growing ranks of Pinnacle awardees year after year.”

In addition to distance learning programs, AIMS also provides on-site anatomy, health and science programs to sixth through 12th grades and post-secondary students via hands-on programs such as pig heart dissections and cadaver demonstrations.

In 2015-16, more than 15,000 students participated in AIMS programs through both distance learning and on-site programs.