The Values in Action Award were announced at the Dean's Town Hall on Tuesday, August 31, 2021, with faculty member Lucas Friedman, M.D., M.Ed. and staff member Kate Dorff receiving recognition.

The Values in Action Awards (VIAA) recognize faculty or staff members, students, or community-based teaching faculty members who, as nominated by their peers, best exemplify the values of the UCR School of Medicine – Inclusion, Integrity, Innovation, Excellence, Accountability and Respect.

Friedman, a pediatric emergency medical physician at Riverside Community Hospital and the director of the UCR SOM Ultrasound Thread, was cited in the nomination as an "incredibly talented instructor with a heart for his students and it shows in everything that he does" who "consistently goes above and beyond in his willingness to help students."

He hosted and designed the “Ultrasound Games”, an all-day event featuring multiple skills stations, trivia events, and competition used to select second-year students who will teach ultrasound to all first years and put on educational events that instructed physician assistant students from Cal Baptist University and the University of La Verne in various ultrasound techniques.

“He has taken our Ultrasound program from a dream into reality and our students are reaping the benefits,” the nomination concluded.

Dorff, the manager of external relations and protocol in the Office of Strategic Initiatives, was recognized for her work in planning and organizing back-to-back White Coat Ceremonies for the classes of 2024 and 2025, overcoming a variety of challenges, including the fact that many regular on-campus resources were not available.

"She takes ownership of all that she does, communicates effectively to team members and the result was a series of outstanding events for the SOM and Biomed students," the nomination read. “Kate shows great respect to every colleague, student and guest. She is a perfect example of what the School of Medicine stands for.”