Elevating Kidney Care
Texas Tech Health El Paso Professor Honored with National Nephrology Education Award
Award recognizes individuals for outstanding contributions to teaching, mentoring, and advancing kidney care knowledge
Biff F. Palmer, M.D., FACP, FASN, professor of education and internal medicine at the Texas Tech Health El Paso’s Foster School of Medicine, received the prestigious Robert G. Narins Award in early November — recognizing his extensive contributions to training the next generation of nephrologists, physicians who treat diseases of the kidneys.
Dr. Palmer, recruited to the Foster School of Medicine in 2024, continues a distinguished career dedicated to medical education. He’s also an adjunct professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, where he’s taught medical students for 35 years.
“It’s an honor to receive an award that recognizes my passion of teaching learners at all levels concepts of physiology and pathophysiology,” Dr. Palmer said.
Watch Dr. Palmer receive the Robert G. Narins Award here.
Shaping the Next Generation of Physicians
Throughout his career, Dr. Palmer has trained medical students, residents, fellows and practicing physicians. He’s guided students on professionalism, ethics and curriculum development, expanding access to education for students from underrepresented populations at Texas Tech Health El Paso.
In addition to his leadership in education, Dr. Palmer has authored more than 310 peer-reviewed articles and chapters on nephrology, metabolism and endocrinology. At UT Southwestern, he held numerous leadership positions, including director of clinical nephrology, acting chief of the division of nephrology, program director for the nephrology fellowship program, and associate training program director for internal medicine.
Dr. Palmer strives to present even the most complex medical concepts in a way that clinicians can immediately translate into patient care. He believes an effective educator has the ability to inspire lifelong learning and bridge the gap between scientific discovery and clinical practice.
“My teaching philosophy is to ignite passion and enthusiasm in students, using presented material to form building blocks for lifelong learning,” Dr. Palmer said. “Rather than rote memorization, I aim to help students develop a deeper understanding of fundamental mechanisms, enabling them to better recognize and predict clinical manifestations of disease.”
In the classroom, Dr. Palmer encourages curiosity, critical thinking, and compassion in future physicians, qualities that advance both medicine and humanity. Over the past decade, his commitment to medical education has allowed him to share his expertise around the world, with audiences across Asia, Europe and South America.
Dr. Palmer’s influence extends into academic publishing as associate editor of the American Journal of Nephrology. He also serves as a member of the editorial boards for Clinical Nephrology and the American Journal of Kidney Diseases.
Seven distinguished researchers from Texas Tech Health El Paso, including Dr. Palmer, were recognized on Stanford University/Elsevier’s prestigious World’s Top 2% of Scientists List in 2024. This global accolade, which highlights the most influential scientists across all fields based on rigorous citation metrics, celebrates individual excellence and emphasizes our institution’s commitment to fostering groundbreaking research that resonates worldwide.
Dr. Palmer’s distinguished career has earned him numerous honors, including the University of Texas System Regents Outstanding Teaching Award, the title of Distinguished Teaching Professor, the Piper Professor Award from the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation, and the Distinguished Biomedical Science Educator Award from the UT Southwestern Academy of Teachers. He’s an elected member of the Kenneth I. Shine, MD, Academy of Health Science Education and the UT Southwestern Academy of Teachers, and a fellow of the American Society of Nephrology and the American College of Physicians.
Dr. Palmer earned his medical degree from UT Southwestern, followed by a residency in internal medicine and a research fellowship in nephrology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (now Walter Reed National Military Medical Center). He also completed a clinical fellowship in nephrology at UT Southwestern–Parkland Memorial Hospital.
About the Robert G. Narins Award
The Robert G. Narins Award honors individuals who have made substantial and lasting contributions to education and teaching in nephrology. The award is named after Robert G. Narins, M.D., an esteemed educator and the award’s first recipient.
Dr. Narins’ career began in 1967 at the University of Pennsylvania and extended across leading institutions including UCLA, Harvard, Temple and Henry Ford Hospital. A pioneer in fluid-electrolyte and acid-base physiology, he helped shape the education of countless nephrologists through his leadership on the American Board of Internal Medicine’s Nephrology Board, the American College of Physicians’ program committees, and as a key architect of the American Society of Nephrology’s educational programs.
Dr. Narins’ vision also led to the creation of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, the fellows of the ASN program, and global collaborations to advance nephrology education.
About Texas Tech Health El Paso
Texas Tech Health El Paso serves 108 counties in West Texas and is dedicated to preparing the next generation of health care heroes. Established as an independent university in 2013, Texas Tech Health El Paso is a uniquely innovative destination for medical, nursing, biomedical sciences and dental education.
Focusing on excellence in health care education, research, and clinical service, Texas Tech Health El Paso has graduated over 2,600 professionals over the past decade. For more information, visit ttuhscepimpact.org.