Jonathan Nogueira

Excellence in Teaching Spotlight by the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Virginia Tech

The Excellence in Teaching Spotlight, presented by the center to approximately nine Virginia Tech faculty members each academic year, recognizes a faculty member's effective, engaged, and dynamic approaches and achievements as an educator.

Among the goals of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning are advancing experiential learning at Virginia Tech and improving student learning through research-based instructional practices and student-centered design. According to Nogueira, his approach to teaching combines instructional and experiential learning methods: “When it comes to teaching, my approach centers on short visual and verbal discussions complemented by hands-on learning. This is especially crucial in the context of ultrasound training. Utilizing different models, live person examinations, and preparing students for clinical use are key components. During my own learning journey, I found that observing pathology firsthand and understanding its impact on patient management was particularly fascinating. Repetition and exposure to a variety of models were essential in solidifying my understanding.”

Nogueira emphasizes the importance of implementing innovative teaching strategies to enhance student learning and engagement: “New teaching strategies that I have found to be helpful include involving the students' interest group in preparing practice examinations. This not only helps students prepare for their exams but also fosters continued learning throughout the academic year. Additionally, visualization of faculty examples serves as a valuable tool for students. When faculty members act as mentors and demonstrate their techniques and approaches, it greatly enhances student learning and provides them with practical insights that they can apply in their own practice.”

Roger Luong, a former student of Nogueira, praised him for his outstanding support and encouragement of students, describing him as an exceptional role model: “As an aspiring academic in the medical field, I found Dr. Nogueira to be an exceptional role model. His infectious enthusiasm for teaching and commitment to fostering a positive learning environment are among his most distinguished qualities. During our ultrasound teaching sessions, Dr. Nogueira always takes his time to assist individuals who need help, consistently instilling confidence in his students and encouraging growth and curiosity. I never felt discouraged about asking questions or seeking clarification. To me, Dr. Nogueira exemplifies the gold standard of academic excellence and mentorship.”

Another former student, Justin O’Leary, echoed similar sentiments in his praise for Nogueira, highlighting the profound impact of his teaching and mentorship: "Dr. Nogueira is a legendary figure in both the medical school and emergency department. His passion for emergency medicine and teaching point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is palpable to anyone who has had the pleasure of working with him. One example that inspired me was when Dr. Nogueira came directly from a shift at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, still in his scrubs and scrub cap, to teach peripheral nerve ultrasound. His energy and excitement when students were successful at identifying structures raised the energy in the room and demonstrated how much he cares about his students. Furthermore, his mentorship of our student POCUS interest group has inspired me and my classmates to take our ultrasound skills beyond the curriculum to provide the best care we can as future physicians. I am grateful to have such passionate and skilled faculty as Dr. Nogueira, and he exemplifies what it means to be an outstanding teacher."

Nogueira provided the following advice for new college teachers: “Listen to the students! If there are repetitive questions, or confusion of an exam or approach, this can be fixed and improved. Clarity in learning is contagious, confusion can be cumbersome.”