Annual awards recognize excellence in medical training, biosciences

Dozens of professors, staff members, residents and students were honored for their contributions to Stanford Medicine.

Awards in medicine

Babak Litkouhi, MD, clinical assistant professor of gynecologic oncology; Amy Ladd, MD, the Elsbach-Richards Professor in Surgery; and Gerald Grant, MD, the Botha Chan Endowed Professor, received the Arthur L. Bloomfield Award in Recognition of Excellence in the Teaching of Clinical Medicine

Thomas Caruso, MD, clinical associate professor of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine, received the Franklin G. Ebaugh, Jr. Award for Excellence in Advising Medical Students.

Brian Blackburn, MD, professor of infectious diseases, received the Alwin C. Rambar-James B.D. Mark Award for Excellence in Patient Care, which recognizes a member of the medical faculty for compassion in working with patients and their families, excellence in providing medical treatment, and effectiveness and pleasantness in interactions with patient-care staff.

Eric Strong, MD, clinical associate professor of medicine, received the Lawrence H. Mathers Award for Exceptional Commitment to Teaching and Active Involvement in Medical School Education.

Yasmin Owusu, MD, clinical associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral health, received the Award for Excellence in Promotion of the Learning Environment and Student Wellness.

Donald Matsuda, MD, assistant director of pre-clerkship education, received the Medical Education Staff Service Award.

Peter Johannet, MD, a physician at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System, received the Outstanding Community Clinic Preceptor, Preclinical Instruction Award.

Mohammad Mertaban, MD, a physician at UCSF Medical Center, received the Outstanding Community Clinic Preceptor, Clinical Instruction Award.

Carrie Rassbach, MD, clinical associate professor of pediatrics and of emergency medicine, received the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation Teaching Award for Outstanding and Innovative Contributions to Medical Education.

Kevin Chi, MD, clinical assistant professor of pediatrics; Andrew Nevins, MD, clinical associate professor of infectious diseases; and Owusu received the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation Award for Preclinical Teaching.

Blair Bigham, MD, fellow in anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine; Moises Gallegos, MD, clinical assistant professor in emergency medicine; and Kevin Shea, MD, the Chambers-Okamura Endowed Professor in Pediatric Orthopaedics, received the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching.

Erica Cahill, MD, clinical assistant professor in obstetrics and gynecology, received the Outstanding Lecture/Presentation Award.

Carlie Arbaugh, Julia Chandler, Gavin Hui, Kamaal Jones, Daniel Zagunis and Sally Huang received the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Award for Humanism and Excellence in Teaching. The award is given to residents based on their commitment to teaching and the compassionate treatment of students, colleagues and patients and their families.

Janelle Ruiz, a medical student, received the Teaching Assistant Award.

Reena Thomas, MD, PhD, clinical associate professor of neurology and neurological sciences, received the Award for Excellence in Promotion of Diversity and Societal Citizenship.

David Chang, MD, DrPH, clinical assistant professor of primary care and population health, received the Award for Exceptional Contributions to Service-Learning.

Walter Newman, MD, a private family medicine physician, and Patricia Fast, MD, an adjunct clinical professor of pediatric infectious diseases, received the Award for Exceptional Community Service.

Ashley Jowell, a medical student, received the United States Public Health Service 2021 Excellence in Public Health Award.

Stanford medical students inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society are McKenzie Eakin, Pooja Parameshwar, Luqman Hodgkinson, Luis Garcia, Claire Rhee, Jenny Tiskus, Jodi So, Peter Moon, Jason Gomez, Abd Trabousli, Emily Minor, Lauren Joseph, Joshua Swee, Ade Ayoola, Jimmy Zheng and Josey Oquendo. Members of the society, established by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, are selected for exemplifying compassionate patient care and serving as role models, mentors and leaders.

Maurice Druzin, MD, professor of obstetrics and gynecology; Jeffrey Dunn, MD, clinical professor of neurology and neurological sciences; Julieta Gabiola, MD, clinical professor of primary care and population health; Paula Hillard, MD, professor of obstetrics and gynecology; Anson Lowe, MD, associate professor of gastroenterology and hepatology; Peter Pompei, MD, clinical professor in primary care and population health; and Donald Regula, MD, professor of pathology, received the Oscar Salvatierra Award for Exceptional Service to Stanford Medical Students and the School of Medicine.

Awards in bioscience 

Seung Kim, MD, PhD, professor of developmental biology, received the Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching.

Michelle Odden, PhD, associate professor of epidemiology and population health, received the Award for Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion. This award recognizes faculty and academic staff who make distinguished contributions toward enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion across the biosciences at Stanford.

Jose Dinneny, PhD, associate professor of biology, received the Award for Excellence in Mentoring and Service.

Graduate student Dorothy Tovar, microbiology and immunology, received the Student Award for Excellence in Societal Citizenship.

Graduate students Maria Interrante, biophysics and medicine; Candice Liu, immunology; Alma Mendoza, microbiology and immunology; and Jason Rodencal, cancer biology, received the Student Award for Excellence in Service to Graduate Students.

About Stanford Medicine

Stanford Medicine is an integrated academic health system comprising the Stanford School of Medicine and adult and pediatric health care delivery systems. Together, they harness the full potential of biomedicine through collaborative research, education and clinical care for patients. For more information, please visit med.stanford.edu.