School of Medicine Honors Faculty at Dean’s Awards Ceremony

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School of Medicine hosted its Dean’s Faculty Appreciation ceremony today. The Dean’s Awards were created to honor outstanding and dedicated support and service to the School of Medicine.

Steven L. Berk, M.D., TTUHSC executive vice president, provost and School of Medicine dean, said these faculty exhibit outstanding commitment and service and have been instrumental in advancing the School of Medicine’s mission.

“We are grateful to an outstanding faculty,” Berk said. “Faculty who have molded our students into excellent physicians, cared for our patients, served our community and found new treatment for disease.”

The Unsung Hero Awards were nominated by the chair of each department. Recipients are considered the ‘go to’ persons that can always be relied on. The recipients are:

• Daniel Hardy, Ph.D., Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry
• Michaela Jansen, Ph.D., Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics
• Kelly Bennett, M.D., Department of Family and Community Medicine
• Robert Bright, Ph.D., Department Immunology and Molecular Medicine
• Joaquin Lado, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Internal Medicine
• Allan Eisenbaum, M.D., Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
• Mark Jenkins, M.D., Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation
• Amanda Masters, M.D., Department of Pediatrics
• Susan Bergeson, Ph.D., Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience
• Justin Roberts, M.D., Department of Surgery
• Michael Crone, M.D., Department of Urology

The Dean’s Teaching Awards were presented to those who have several years of sustained excellence in teaching as demonstrated in student and peer evaluations, evidence of strong commitment to the educational process, innovation and originality in teaching. The recipients are:

• Dean’s Basic Science Teaching Award — first year medical school — Lorenz Lutherer, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics
• Dean’s Basic Science Teaching Award—second-year medical school — Viviane Mamlok, M.D., Department of Pathology
• Dean’s Clinical Teaching Award — Zachary Mulkey, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine

The Dean’s Educational Innovation Award is presented to a faculty member who has developed and introduced a new program or process that has contributed significantly to helping the School of Medicine meet its educational mission. Jongyeol Kim, M.D., Department of Neurology, was this year’s recipient.

The Dean’s Douglas M. Stocco Scholarship/Research Award recognizes a faculty member for their accomplishments in research/scholarship demonstrated by original, high-impact publications, external funding, national/international peer recognition and research awards. This year two faculty members were honored — Luis Cuello, Ph.D., Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics, and Clinton MacDonald, Ph.D., Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry.

Dean’s Distinguished Service Award recognizes a faculty member for their outstanding service to the institution and the community that exceeds performance of normal responsibilities and has greatly contributed to the development and progress of the School of Medicine. This year’s recipients are Barry Lombardini, Ph.D., Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, and Thomas McGovern, Ed.D., Department of Psychiatry.

This year’s Departmental Awards were awarded in the following categories:

• Outstanding Achievement in Teaching – Department of Pediatrics
  This award is based upon medical student feedback received by the dean during the past year.
• Outstanding Achievement in Research – Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry
  This award is based upon grant dollars received by the department during the past year.
• Outstanding Achievement in Patient Satisfaction – Department of Neurology and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
  This award is based upon Press-Ganey ratings received by the department during the past year.

Grover E. Murray Professor — Afzal Siddiqui, Ph.D., Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, was recognized for his achievement of the Grover E. Murray Professor. Murray Professorships are the highest honor which TTUHSC may bestow on members of its faculty, are granted to professors in recognition of the attainment of national and/or international distinction for outstanding research or other creative scholarly achievements.

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