School of Medicine Honors Faculty For Outstanding Contributions

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School of Medicine honored faculty members at the annual Dean’s Faculty Appreciation ceremony on May 11. The Dean’s Awards were created to honor outstanding and dedicated support in medical education, research, patient care and administration.

 
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 treatments for disease.”
 

Unsung Hero

The chair of the department nominates the Unsung Hero Awards. Recipients are considered 'go to' persons that can always be relied on. The recipients were:
 
Anil de Silva, M.D.– Department of Anesthesiology
Pablo Artigas, Ph.D.–Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics
Kevin Pruitt, Ph.D.–Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology
Aliakbar Arvandi, M.D.–Department of Internal Medicine
Cassandra Kruczek, Ph.D.–Department of Medical Education
Mirla Avila, M.D.–Department of Neurology
Ammar Dhari, M.D.–Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Kelly Mitchell, M.D.–Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science
Michel Diab, M.D.–Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation
Latisha McLaurin, M.D.–Department of Pediatrics
Khalid Benamar, Ph.D.–Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience
Jessica Nelson, M.D.–Department of Psychiatry
Amir Aryaie, M.D.–Department of Surgery
Cynthia Smith, M.D.–Department of Urology
 
Dean’s Faculty Awards also include:

Outstanding Service

 

The Outstanding Service Award is given on a rare occasion to faculty who demonstrate outstanding and dedication to the School of Medicine and TTUHSC and have left a mark that all recognize. This year’s recipient was Bernhard Mittemeyer, M.D., Department of Urology.

 

 

Lifetime Achievement

 

The Lifetime Achievement Award includestwo recipients that have made significant contributions to the School of Medicine spanning their entire careers.Those recognized were Jane Colmer-Hamood, Ph.D., Department of Medical Education, with 30 years of service and Terry McMahon, M.D., Department of Psychiatry, with 36 years of service.
 

Dean’s Teaching Awards Honorees included:
 
·     Dean’s Basic Science Teaching Award – MS I – Gregory Brower, DVM, Ph.D., Department of Medical Education
 
·     Dean’s Basic Science Teaching Award – MS II – David Trotter, Ph.D., Department of Family and Community Medicine
 
·     Dean’s Clinical Teaching Award – Franklyn Babb, M.D. – Department of Family and Community Medicine
                    Robert Gaines, M.D. – Department of Surgery – Covenant Branch Campus
 
The Dean’s Educational Innovation Award went to Lara Johnson, M.D., Department of Pediatrics, and Alan Peiris, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Internal Medicine
 
The Douglas M. Stocco Scholarship/Research Award was presented to Ina Urbatsch, Ph.D., Department of Cell Biology & Biochemistry.
 
The Distinguished Faculty Service Award was presented to Patti Patterson, M.D., MPH, Department of Pediatrics, and Thomas Tenner, Jr., Ph.D., Department of Medical Education.
 
Departmental Awards included the following:
 
Outstanding Achievement in Teaching – Department of Psychiatry

Dean's Awards
Outstanding Achievement in Research – Department of Cell Biology & Biochemistry

Neurology
Outstanding Achievement in Patient Satisfaction – Department of Neurology

Patient Satisfaction

Related Stories

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Rural Adolescents

Leigh Ann Reel, Au.D., Ph.D., CCC-A, discussed the causes and prevention strategies for noise-induced hearing loss, particularly for adolescents in rural areas.

Willed Body Memorial Service Honors Those Who Donated

On Memorial Day each May, a service is conducted at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Institute of Anatomical Sciences to pay respect to the Willed Body Program donors and their families.

Molecular Pathology Preceptorship: Unmatched Value and Experience

Ericka Hendrix, PhD, MB(ASCP)CM, Program Director and Associate Professor in the Master of Science in Molecular Pathology program in the School of Health Professions spoke about the program’s preceptorship.

Recent Stories

Health

The Future of Health: Musculoskeletal Care for Expectant Mothers

Dr. Deborah Y. Edwards, PT, DPT, ScD, OCS, discusses musculoskeletal care during pregnancy.

Research

Logsdon Receives Grant to Study Vascular Side of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Supported by a three-year, $578,211 grant from the National Institutes of Health-National Institute on Aging, Aric F. Logsdon, Ph.D., will study how brain endothelial cells, or blood vessels within the brain, handle the stressors of neuroinflammation.

Health

Historic collaboration brings shipping container-based health care clinic to Jeff Davis County

Texas A&M Health and TTUHSC joined with the student-led organization, Texas A&M BUILD—along with local leadership and other collaborators—to unveil a new, innovative medical care facility for a Trans-Pecos region rural community: a 40-foot, retro-fitted shipping container.