The UC Riverside School of Medicine presented the Faculty, Staff, and Student Awards and dinner at a ceremony on Thursday, May 16, 2024 at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Ontario, California.
Photos from the dinner and the award winners in attendance can be found here.
Senior Associate Dean of Medical Education Pablo Joo, MD, was the host of the event. Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences and Mark and Pam Rubin Dean of the School of Medicine Deborah Deas, MD, MPH provided the welcome address.
"It fills me with pride to acknowledge the incredible contributions made by members of our community. Each of you plays a pivotal role in advancing our collective mission of improving health care access and outcomes in the inland Southern California region," Deas said in her remarks. "In the realm of education, our faculty and education team members are exceptional teachers and mentors, guiding the next generation of physicians and biomedical scientists with wisdom, compassion, and expertise. Today, we recognize those who have gone above and beyond in their commitment to our students, instilling in them the values of integrity, innovation, inclusion, excellence, accountability and respect."
Presenters included:
- Margi Burnett, Director of Academic Affairs
- Sylvia Vasquez, Director of Human Resources
- Denise Martinez, MD, Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Vladimir Oge, MPH, Director of Strategic Initiatives
- Rose Bishay, first-year medical student
- Esther McGowan, MD, Co-director of LACE Program
- Anne VanGarsse, Associate Dean, Clinical Medical Education
The award recipients are:
Research Achievement Award in Biomedical or Basic Science Research
The Research Achievement Award in Biomedical or Basic Science Research is aimed at recognizing faculty for achievements demonstrated by research published during the fiscal year.
Natalie Zlebnik, PhD, Assistant Professor, Division of Biomedical Sciences
Research Achievement Award in Clinical Research
Kimberley Lakes, PhD, Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
Research Achievement Award in Population Health Research
Evelyn Vazquez, PhD, Assistant Professional Researcher, Department of Social Medicine, Population and Public Health
Basic Science Educator of the Year Award
Monica Carson, PhD, Chair, Division of Biomedical Sciences, professor of biomedical sciences and S. Sue Johnson Presidential endowed chair in Glial-Neuronal Interactions
Clinical Educator of the Year Award
Toshia Yamaguchi, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
Community Educator of the Year Award
Jason Sacdalan, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine
Lifetime Achievement Award
Christian Lytle, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Biomedical Sciences
Outstanding Mentor of the Year Award
This award is in recognition of faculty providing outstanding contributions to mentoring faculty, postdoctoral fellows, residents, and/or students.
Iryna Ethell, PhD, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and Professor of Biomedical Sciences
Distinguished School of Medicine Service Award
The Distinguished School of Medicine Service Award is presented in recognition of outstanding service to SOM; SOM Committees (standing and non-standing), with priority given to service on the seven standing SOM committees; LCME committee; and faculty recruitment committees.
Kenneth Ballou, MD, Professor and Interim Chair, Department of Family Medicine
Distinguished SOM Service to UCR Cross-Campus Community Award
In recognition of faculty who serve on campus-wide committees, and/or provide cross-campus center leadership.
Sika Zheng, PhD, Professor of Biomedical Sciences and Director of the Center for RNA Biology and Medicine
Distinguished SOM UC Systemwide Service Award
The Distinguished SOM UC Systemwide Service Award is presented in recognition of faculty who serve on UC-wide committees, and/or who represent UCR in UC-wide activities.
Meera Nair, PhD, Associate Professor, Biomedical Sciences
SOM Junior Faculty Distinguished Service Award
In recognition of junior faculty, encompassing school, campus, and/or systemwide service.
Stephanie Handler, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of OB/GYN
Award for Healthcare Innovation
John Agapian, MD, Associate Clinical Professor, Health Sciences, Department of Surgery
Professionalism Award
Jason Sacdalan, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Health Sciences, Family Medicine
Award for Excellence in Patient Care
Moazzum Bajwa, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Health Sciences, Family Medicine
Staff Mission Award - Education
Marleen Mendoza, Academic Technologies Project Manager, Office of Medical Education
Michelle Fulbright, Admissions/Student Affairs Manager, Office of Student Affairs
Staff Mission Award - Research
Angelica Bazan, Senior Financial and Administrative Analyst, Division of Biomedical Sciences
Staff Mission Award - Clinical
Jessica Flores, Medical Assistant, UCR Health
Rubie Herrera-Onate, Medical Assistant, UCR Health
Staff Mission Award - Administration
Kristen West, Project/Policy Analyst, Finance and Administration
Faculty Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award
Presented in recognition of faculty with excellence in promoting and advancing goals and initiatives and/or outreach/service efforts related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
Janet Cruz, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Health Sciences, Department of OB/GYN
Staff Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award
Presented in recognition of staff with excellence in promoting and advancing goals and initiatives and/or outreach/service efforts related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
Tracey Bereal, Associate Director, Educational Instruction
Outstanding Community Service Award for Staff
Herlinda Bergman, Class of 2024
Outstanding Community Service Award for Faculty
Adwoa Osei, MD, Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Outstanding Graduating Student Family Medicine
Garrick Johnson, Class of 2024
Outstanding Graduating Student Internal Medicine
Shamieh Banihani, Class of 2024
Outstanding Graduating Student OB/GYN
Violeta Covarrubias, Class of 2024
Outstanding Graduating Students Pediatrics
Moices Uribe & Manpreet Singh, Class of 2024
Outstanding Graduating Student Psychiatry
Aaron Fichtner, Class of 2024
Outstanding Graduating Student Surgery
Hana Abdirahman, Class of 2024
Stewart and Elaine Shankel Award
Shamieh Banihani, Class of 2024
Thomas Haider Clinical Award of Excellence
Nolan Winicki, Class of 2024
Dean's Mission and Values Award
Hana Abdirahman, Class of 2024
Dean's Social Justice Award
Alma Esparza Castaneda, Class of 2024
Excellence in Public Health Award
Cintya Beltran Sanchez, Class of 2024
Alumni Recognition Award for Excellence
Stephanie Handler, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of OB/GYN
Neal L. Schiller Award
Anne VanGarsse, MD, Associate Dean of Clinical Medical Education
Outstanding Year 1 Instructor
Monica Carson, PhD, Professor and Chair, Division of Biomedical Sciences
Outstanding Year 2 Instructor
Paul Kellerman, MD, Professor of Medicine, Nephrology
Outstanding Year 3 Instructors
Esmaeil Sebti, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Psychiatry and Neuroscience
Stephanie Handler, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of OB/GYN
Esther McGowan, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Pediatrics and LACE Co-Director
Outstanding Specialty (Year 4) Instructor
Lucas Friedman, MD, Emergency Medicine, Riverside Community Hospital and Ultrasound Division Director
Outstanding LACE Doctor Year 1
Dhaval Kapadia, MD, Family Medicine, Kaiser Permanente
Outstanding LACE Doctor Year 2
Thomas Oliveira, MD, Family Medicine, Kaiser Permanente
Outstanding LACE Doctor Year 3
Frank Mercardante, MD, Pediatrics, Kaiser Permanente
Outstanding Community Faculty
Nicholas Sheets, MD, Community Faculty Member, Critical Care Surgery
Outstanding LACE Student MS1
Lindsey Ondieki, Class of 2027
Outstanding LACE Student MS2
Christine Khanbijian, Class of 2026
Outstanding LACE Student MS3
Katrina Villavert, Class of 2025
Outstanding PIP Projects MS3
Roy Mendoza and Marcia Trochez, Class of 2025
“Racial Disparities in Melanoma Metastasis: A Comparative Study of White and Hispanic Patients”
Outstanding PIP Projects MS3
Keerat Kaur, Class of 2025
“Does greater medical complexity call for more patient-provider time?”
Outstanding Clerkship Students MS3
Catherine Lowe, Class of 2025
Allen Seylani, Class of 2025
Violeta Covarrubias, Class of 2024
