Congratulations to the following faculty and staff for achieving special distinction this quarter:
Internal Medicine
Allison C. Augustus-Wallace, PhD, MS, MNS has been named Research & Doctoral Universities Constituency Associate Director to Sigma Xi. Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Honor Society, is the international honor society of science and engineering. One of the oldest and largest scientific organizations in the world, Sigma Xi has a distinguished history of service to science and society for more than 125 years. Scientists and engineers, whose research spans the disciplines of science and technology, comprise the membership of the Society. Sigma Xi chapters can be found at colleges and universities, government laboratories, and industry research centers around the world. More than 200 Nobel Prize winners have been members.
Cynthia J. Brown, MD, MSPH Department Head of Internal Medicine, has been named the first holder of the Charles V. Sanders, M.D. Endowed Chair of Medicine. The chair was created by Dr. Sanders' colleagues, former students, and former residents to honor his life and legacy.
Dr. Brown has also been named as a fellow to the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) — the nation's largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to the field of aging. The status of fellow — the highest class of membership within the Society — is an acknowledgment of outstanding and continuing work in gerontology.
Many of the department's outstanding clinician educators were recognized for their
teaching excellence by the 4th year medical students and the SOM:
• Outstanding Clinical Teacher: Dr. Taniya De Silva (Endocrinology)
• Outstanding Clinical Dept: LSU-Internal Medicine Baton Rouge
Six of the 12 faculty elected to be Student Hooders by the senior class were from
the department:
• Dr. Taniya De Silva
• Dr. Catherine Hebert
• Dr. George Karam
• Dr. Dean Lauret
• Dr. Fred Lopez
• Dr. Randolph Roig
UMC has identified several “Difference Makers” among the department faculty and fellows, as identified by recently discharged patients, as having made a difference in the patients' care. Difference Makers identified recently include Dr. John Nanfro (Infectious Diseases); Dr. William Baumgardner and Dr. Michael Lysek (Hospital Medicine); Dr. Paul LeLorier, Dr. Pedro Cox Alomar, Dr. Murtaza Ali, Dr. Neeraj Jain, and Dr. Jameel Ahmed (Cardiology); Dr. Rajasree Chowdry (Hematology-Oncology); Dr. Stephen Landreneau (Gastroenterology).
Dr. Michael Hagensee (Infectious Disease) was selected for the Faculty Assembly Outstanding Service to the Institution award. This award recognizes those individuals who have made major, enduring contributions to the development of the LSUHSC-SOM and who have advanced its mission.
The Section of Emergency Medicine recognized the following faculty at graduation:
• Dr. Robert Mercadel, Off-site Clinical Faculty of the Year;
• Dr. Stephen Lim, Academic Faculty of the Year;
• Dr. Victor Tuckler, Jeffrey St. Clair Memorial Award for Clinical Faculty of the Year.
Dr. Cathy Lazarus was recently elected Treasurer for the governing board of the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP, "The Match"). She is currently entering her third year on the board.
Dr. Thomas Reske was named to the ABIM's Geriatric Medicine Board. Specialty Board members work with physicians and medical societies to develop Certification and Maintenance of Certification (MOC) credentials to recognize physicians for their specialized knowledge and commitment to staying current in their field.
Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology
Dr. Joy Sturtevant received the Allen A. Copping Excellence in Teaching Award for Basic Science for 2021.
Ophthalmology
Jayne S. Weiss, MD, Chair Ophthalmology, was appointed to serve as Chair of the American Academy of Ophthalmology Research, Regulatory and External Scientific Relations Committee.
Several awards were presented during the 2021 Resident and Fellow Graduation Ceremony in June:
- Aravinda Rao, MD, Associate Professor, Ophthalmology Enrichment Award
- Jamie Hatcher, MD, Assistant Professor, Outstanding Contributions to LSUHSC Ophthalmology Award
- Maria Bernal, MD, Assistant Professor, Outstanding in Clinical Teaching Award
Otolaryngology
Dr. Rohan Walvekar was selected as a 2021 “Health Care Heroes” physician honoree. Health Care Heroes honors health care professional in the New Orleans area and are selected based on industry achievement and community involvement. (https://neworleanscitybusiness.com/blog/2021/06/30/2021-health-care-heroes-honors-industry-standouts/)
One of Dr. Walvekar's inventions - a head light tracking device - was issued a U.S. Patent. This video demonstrates how it works. The inventors on this project are Dr. Walvekar and Dr. Jin Woo from LSU Baton Rouge.
Pathology
Dr. Ritu Bhalla, Pathology Residency Program Director, was the 2021 recipient of the pathology resident-voted Teacher of the Year Award.
Pediatrics
Congratulations to the department's School Based Health Center at New Orleans Charter Science and Math High School. The school-based health team competed against hundreds of applicants from across the U.S. and was awarded one of 50 Promoting Pediatric Primary Prevention (P4) Challenge Prizes of $10,000 (Phase 1) for Innovation in Pediatric Primary Care to Improve Child Health from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of HRSA. The aim of the P4 Challenge Grant is for applicants to propose and implement innovative approaches to increase access to and utilization of well-child visits and/or immunizations services within primary care settings. Working with their Children's Hospital Partners in School Health, and in partnership with the LSU Health Foundation, the LSU School Based Health Center team developed a pathway to promote immunizations and well visits by leveraging the impact of ongoing mental health services in school health settings. With consistent ongoing school-based mental health services during the Covid-19 pandemic, mental health care visits were utilized to screen and inform patients and families of the need for preventive care services focusing on missed immunizations and well care visits. This innovative “reversal of flow” to the typical Medical -> Mental Health referral system set the LSU School Based Health Team apart from other P4 Challenge applicants as they move forward to compete in Phase 2 and expand their intervention.
Dr. Lauren Davis received the Nicholas Gagliano, MD Outstanding Faculty Award, given annually by pediatric residents for excellence in teaching, and for sharing - through knowledge and example - the facts and feelings that prepare residents for a lifetime of service to children.
The Louisiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics announced that Dr. Bonnie Desselle will receive the 2021 Master Pediatrician Award. She was presented with the award during the annual LA-AAP conference in Shreveport in August.
Dr. Amanda Dumas has been nominated and selected for the Faculty Assembly Outstanding Service to the Community Award by the SOM Faculty Assembly, in conjunction with the Dean. The purpose of this award is to acknowledge selfless acts by an individual faculty member for the benefit of others served by either the SOM community and/or humanity in general. In recognition of her selection the committee noted, “Dr. Dumas brings a triple-threat of research expertise, clinical skills and community focus having a demonstrable impact for our families, students, clinics, and community. She models the ideal community academic physician for trainees and faculty alike and gives each of us something to strive toward.”
Dr. Dumas also received a 2021 Louisiana AAP Chapter Special Achievement Award for "her partnership with the Louisiana Chapter and consistently pushing for Medicaid policy that is supportive, evidence-based and child centric."
Dr. Leron Finger received the Suskind Outstanding Pediatric Faculty Award, given annually to the faculty member who has made an outstanding academic contribution to the education, research, clinical service and advocacy missions of the department.
Dr. Stefani Samples was appointed Echocardiography Laboratory Director for the Heart Center. Dr. Samples has worked tirelessly for the Heart Center and the Echocardiography Laboratory. Recently, she was instrumental in obtaining accreditation for the Echo Lab through the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission.