Diversity Awards

The Stanford School of Medicine offers a series of awards recognizing medical students, residents, and fellows within the Stanford community who are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in health professions, health equity research, or are involved in social advocacy for marginalized communities.

Dr. Miquell Miller Award for Promoting Diversity and Inclusion

The Dr. Miquell Miller Award for Promoting Diversity and Inclusion was established in 2020 to recognize a resident who embodies the passion and commitment to expanding diversity and inclusion efforts as demonstrated by Dr. Miquell Miller during her time at Stanford. Dr. Miller was the inspiration and leader in creating the Stanford GME Diversity Committee in 2016 during her time as a general surgery resident.

This annual award is sponsored by the Department of Surgery and the recipient is awarded $1000. 

Nominations will open in March 2025. 

Dr. Audrey Shafer Award for Promoting Diversity and Inclusion

The Dr. Audrey Shafer Award for Promoting Diversity and Inclusion was established in 2023 to recognize a fellow who embodies the passion and commitment to expanding diversity and inclusion efforts as demonstrated by Dr. Audrey Shafer during her time at Stanford. Dr. Shafer is Professor (Emerit) of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine and Founder of Medicine and Muse in the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics. 

This annual award is sponsored by the Department of Anesthesiology and the recipient is awarded $1000. 

Nominations will open in March 2025.

GME Awards for Promoting Health Equity

The GME Award for Promoting Health Equity was established in 2023 to recognize a resident and a fellow that have promoted health equity through research, community engagement, and/or involvement in social advocacy for marginalized communities. 

This annual award is sponsored by the Office of Graduate Medical Education and each recipient is awarded $1000.

Nominations will open in March 2025.  

Current Winners

Miquell Miller Award

Lisa Umeh, MD
Resident, Pediatrics

GME Awards for Promoting Health Equity

Carolyn Kraus-Koziol, MD, MSc
Resident, Psychiatry

Audrey Shafer Award

Danielle Perez Sharp, MD
Fellow, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine

GME Awards for Promoting Health Equity

Nymisha Chilukuri, MD
Fellow, Clinical Informatics

Previous Winners

Selection Committee

Dr. Fernando Mendoza Health Equity Research and Opportunity (HERO) Award


As a Stanford HERO, Dr. Fernando Mendoza began his career at Stanford School of Medicine as Associate Dean for Minority Advising nearly 40 years ago soon after his residency. He later co-founded Stanford’s Center of Excellence, which has led the way nationally in increasing diversity in health professions.

As a community HERO, starting in the 1970s, Dr. Mendoza helped found the Gardner Health Center, which has grown its mission from serving immediate health needs mainly migrant farm workers to providing comprehensive primary care for more than 40,000 underinsured individuals through seven sites throughout the Bay Area – including our own pediatric continuity clinic. He also served as co-chair of the Children’s Agenda, which guides Santa Clara County priorities to advance child health and well being.

As a national and international HERO, Dr. Mendoza helped build the foundation of national scientific attention to health equity and the health of immigrant families, through leadership in the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Institutes of Health, the Institute of Medicine, the Pan American Health Foundation, and as a clinician scientist – authoring and co-authoring of many of the peer-reviewed publications that have highlighted the opportunities for better care, better advocacy, and better public policy to improve the well-being of all children and those who care for them.

Dr. Fernando Mendoza’s CAP Profile

The Dr. Fernando Mendoza HERO (Health Equity Research and Opportunity) Award will be granted annually to a medical student who embodies the passion and commitment to advance health equity through research and community engagement. 

Current Winner

Margarita M. Ramirez Silva

Stanford Medical student

Previous Winners

Herbert W. Nickens Awards

Born on Dec. 28, 1947, in Washington, D.C., Herbert W. Nickens attended John Burroughs Elementary School, Taft Junior High School, and St. Johns College High School before matriculating at Harvard College, where he received his AB degree in 1969. He earned his MD as well as a Master of Arts in sociology from the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1973 and earning the university’s History of Medicine Prize.

The Herbert W. Nickens Awards consist of five scholarships given by the AAMC to outstanding students entering their third year of medical school who have shown leadership in efforts to eliminate inequities in medical education and health care. Students should also have demonstrated leadership initiative in addressing educational, societal, and health care needs of racial and ethnic minorities in the United States.

The Assistant Dean for Diversity in Medical Student Education in the Office of Diversity in Medical Education (ODME) has been designated by the Dean of the Medical School to conduct the selection process for the Herbert W. Nickens Award. ODME works with various members of the Stanford University School of Medicine community to select the medical student nominee.  Once the student nominee is selected, ODME submits a formal nomination to the AAMC for consideration of the award.  Each recipient receives a $5,000 scholarship from the AAMC.