Dr du Plessis, who has also previously been commended for his medical teaching, gained the dean's senior staff award for quality in teaching at a recent award ceremony.
This was one of a series of 2008 undergraduate teaching awards, announced by school dean Dr John Adams, and decided through input from medical students.
Dr du Plessis said the honour was "a very important award".
The undergraduate award system provided significant recognition for people involved in teaching, which in turn was important for the future of the medical profession.
"We've got to look to the future of medicine and the future young doctors," he said in an interview.
In an address at the ceremony, Dr Adams emphasised the importance of medical education, which was reflected in its inclusion in the Hippocratic Oath, and in the New Zealand Medical Association code of ethics. The dean's commendation to senior staff for teaching went to Dr Michael Furlong, Prof Robin Taylor and Prof Rob Walker.
Other dean's awards: commendation to Invercargill teaching staff, Konrad Richter; awards for commitment and quality in teaching: registrar, Dr Sean Coffey, commendation, Dr Chris Wainwright, Dr Jim Duthie; house officer, Dr Animesh Chatterjee; commendation, Dr Karen Phillips, Dr Patricia Boyd, Dr Tony Chang, Dr Michael Hamilton; certificate to trainee interns showing commitment and aptitude for teaching: Adelle Hanna, Grant Frow, Viveck Meiyappan, Ruth Upsell; certificate to nursing team providing best learning environment: Ward 8B.
