School of Medicine

The Pulse

Aesculapian Society Announces Winners and Nominees

The Aesculapian Society recently announced the winners of this year's Aesculapian Excellence in Teaching Awards. Aesculapian representatives nominate residents, faculty, and departments who demonstrate true passion and dedication to teaching. Winners are determined through voting by the study body.

Aesculapian Society President Leanne Sorrel and Aesculapian Society Vice President Grace Buisson congratulated all nominees and winners and thanked them for their tremendous impact on medical education at LSUHSC.

Sorrel and Buisson shared the final ballot in an email. In the list below, winners are bolded and last year's winners are italicized. Previous year’s award winners are ineligible for nomination the following year.  

L1 Fall Semester Award

  • Winner: Dr. Sonya Van Nuland, Cell Biology & Anatomy
  • Dr. Rinku Majumder, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  • Dr. Andrew Hollenbach, Genetics

Last year's winner: Dr. Sarah Garner, Cell Biology and Anatomy

L1 Spring Semester Award

  • Winner: Dr. Joy Sturtevant, Microbiology, Immunology, & Parasitology
  • Dr. Jason Gardner, Physiology

Last year's winner: Dr. Robin English, Advanced Education/Pediatrics

L2 Fall Semester Award

  • Winner: Dr. Victoria Burke, Infectious Disease
  • Dr. Hamilton Farris, Neurology
  • Dr. Michael Modica, Internal Medicine - New Orleans

Last year's winner: Dr. Matthew Foy, Nephrology

L2 Spring Semester Award

  • Winner: Dr. Taniya de Silva, Endocrinology
  • Dr. Elizabeth McDonough, Gastroenterology
  • Dr. Randolph Roig, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Last year's winner: Dr. Shane Guillory, Internal Medicine 

 L3 Intern Award

  • Winner: Dr. Emma James, General Surgery
  • Dr. Harshitha Vemulapalli, Psychiatry
  • Dr. Brandon Carroll, Neurology

Last year's winner: Dr. Stacey Knowles, General Surgery 

L3 Resident/Fellow Award

  • Winner: Dr. Chloe Spears, Medicine / Pediatrics
  • Dr. Athena Hoppe, Surgery
  • Dr. Parker Tobia, Surgery

Last year's winner: Dr. Shawn Marcell, Neurology 

L3 Staff Award

  • Winner: Dr. Michael Dicharry, Psychiatry 
  • Dr. Amanda Messer, Pediatrics
  • Dr. Jay Hescock, Pediatrics

Last year's winner: Dr. John Morrison, General Surgery – Baton Rouge 

L4 Intern Award

  • Winner: Dr. Nicholas Christakis, Anesthesiology 
  • Dr. David Vaughan, OMFS
  • Dr. Peter Bergeaux, Internal Medicine – Baton Rouge

Last year's winner: Dr. Eric Prestenburg, Anesthesiology 

L4 Resident/Fellow Award

  • Winner: Dr. Connor Bennett, Internal Medicine - Baton Rouge
  • Dr. Melody Salmanian, Internal Medicine – Baton Rouge
  • Dr. Mary Holohan, Internal Medicine – Baton Rouge
  • Dr. Chandler Black, OBGYN

Last year's winner: Dr. Stan Fuentes, Psychiatry 

L4 Staff Award

  • Winner: Dr. Guido DeJesus, Internal Medicine – Baton Rouge
  • Dr. Tabitha Quebedeaux, OBGYN
  • Dr. Elizabeth Florence, OBGYN

Last year's winner: Dr. Alison Smith, Surgery Critical Care 

Junior Faculty Award (must have less than 5 years’ experience at LSUHSC)

  • Winner: Dr. Shelby MacRae, Pulmonary Critical Care
  • Dr. Alyssa Ice, Internal Medicine - Baton Rouge
  • Dr. Nick Cullotta, Dermatology

Last year's winner: Dr. Allyson Bennett, Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics

Department Award

  • Winner: Internal Medicine - Baton Rouge
  • Pulmonary Critical Care – New Orleans
  • Neurology – New Orleans

Last year’s winner: Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy