Dean Deas speaking at Graduation Awards Dinnner
May 31, 2023

School of Medicine Announces End-of-Year Awards

More than 60 Faculty, Students, and Staff Recognized for Excellence

Author: UCR SOM Staff
May 31, 2023

With the end of the 2022-23 academic year now upon us, the UC Riverside School of Medicine hosted several awards ceremonies for students, faculty and staff members.

Listed below are the award recipients. Congratulations to all of our honorees.


Staff and Faculty Awards Lunch

These awards were presented at the Staff and Faculty Awards Lunch at the Alumni and Visitors Center on May 10, 2023.

Faculty Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award - Takesha Cooper, MD

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).

Staff DEI Award - Michelle Burroughs, MPH

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).

Outstanding Mentor of the Year Award - Ann Cheney, PhD

This award is in recognition of faculty providing outstanding contributions to mentoring faculty, postdoctoral fellows, residents, and/or students.

Research Achievement Award in Biomedical or Basic Science Research - Declan McCole, PhD

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.

Distinguished School of Medicine Service Award - Declan McCole, PhD

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.

Distinguished SOM UC Systemwide Service Award - Declan McCole, PhD

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.

Distinguished SOM Service to UCR Cross-Campus Community Award - Maurizio Pellecchia, PhD

In recognition of faculty who serve on Campus-wide committees, and/or provide cross-campus center leadership.

SOM Junior Faculty (Assistant Professor) Distinguished Service Award - Erica Heinrich, PhD

In recognition of Junior Faculty, encompassing School, Campus, and/or Systemwide Service.


Graduate Dinner Awards

These awards were presented at the Graduation Awards Dinner at the Alumni and Visitor's Center on May 30, 2023.

Alumni Recognition Award for Excellence - Emma Simmons, MD, MPH

Neal L. Schiller Award - Adwoa Osei, MD

Golden Brain Award - Iryna Ethell, PhD

Golden Lung Award - Aarti "Nikki" Mittal, DO

Golden Apple Award - Stephanie Handler, MD

Golden Heart Award - Christian Lytle, PhD

Thomas Haider Clinical Award of Excellence - Patrick Samones

Stewart and Elaine Shankel Award - Keon Hessamian

Dean's Mission and Values Award - 10 recipients

Luis Bautista, Patrick Samones, Skylar Rains, Joey Jaime Abadilla, Omar Abbas, Alden Dahan, Alexa Pazos, Natalie Albasha, Claudia Lee, Victoria Gutierrez

Dean's MS4 Social Justice Award - Austin Nguy

Outstanding Graduating Student: Psychiatry - Austin Nguy

Outstanding Graduating Student: Ob/Gyn - Victoria Gutierrez

Outstanding Graduating Student: Pediatrics - Skylar Rains

Outstanding Graduating Student: IM - Somiya Maheshwari

Outstanding Graduating Student: Family Medicine - No award

Outstanding Graduating Student: Surgery - Mohamed El-Farra


Faculty and Staff Awards

These awards were presented at the Faculty, Staff, and Student Awards Ceremony on May 25, 2023 at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, Calif.

Title slide for the Faculty, Staff, and Student Awards

Office of Medical Education Staff - Olivia Doyle

Student Affairs Staff - Office of Financial Aid, Kathy Buckner and Teresa Luther

General Staff - Velika Patterson

Outstanding Doctoring Instructor - Rosanna Jhawar, MD

Outstanding Clinical Skills Instructor - William Hunt, MD

Outstanding CBL Instructor - Hania Shahin

Outstanding LACE Doctor - Elliot Weinstein, MD

Outstanding LACE Doctor - Jean Everly LaFontant, MD

Outstanding LACE Doctor - Uziel Sauceda, MD

Outstanding Block 1 Instructor - Monica Carson, PhD

Outstanding Block 2 Instructor - Chris Lytle, PhD

Outstanding Block 3 Instructor - Nicholas DiPatrizio, PhD

Outstanding Block 4 Instructor - Ahmed Alassal, MD

Outstanding Block 6 Instructor - Meera Nair, PhD

Outstanding Block Anatomy Instructor - Zhenyun Yang, MD

Outstanding Block 8 Instructor - Maurizio Pellecchia, PhD

Outstanding Block 9 Instructor - Elizabeth Morrison-Banks, MD

Outstanding Instructor: Surgery - Beatriz Leong, MD

Outstanding Instructor: Family Medicine - Nathan McLaughlin, MD

Outstanding Instructor: Pediatrics - Esther McGowan, MD

Outstanding Instructor: Internal Medicine - Jhon Arismendy Orozco, DO

Outstanding Instructor: Emergency Medicine - Rawad Reyes, MD

Outstanding Instructor: Psychiatry - Claudia Perez, MD

Outstanding Instructor: Neurology - Bhavesh Trikamji, MD

Outstanding Instructor: Ob/Gyn - Stephanie Handler, MD

Outstanding Public Health Faculty - Ann Cheney, PhD

Outstanding Standardized Patient - Cristian Palacios

Outstanding Sub-Internship Instructor - Aarti "Nikki" Mittal, DO

Outstanding Transition to Residency Instructor - John Nevin, MD

Outstanding Critical Care Instructor - Sahar Osman, MD

Outstanding Clinical Elective Instructor - Alina Popa, MD


SOM Awards Ceremony

These awards were presented at the Faculty, Staff, and Student Awards Ceremony on May 25, 2023 at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, Calif.

Outstanding PIP Projects MS3 - Ayesha Tariq

Outstanding PIP Projects MS3 - Vivek Bhatt, Jeffery Ezennia, Garrick Johnson, & Rajhvir Singh

Outstanding LACE Student MS1 - Nolan Langford

Outstanding LACE Student MS2 - Xaida Wright

Outstanding LACE Student MS3 - Shamieh Banihani

Outstanding CILC Student MS4 A - Skylar Rains

Outstanding CILC Student MS3 B - Branden Barger