The UCR School of Medicine presented the 2025 Faculty and Staff Awards during its Town Hall meeting on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. In total, six people received awards, which included values in action, the staff diversity, equity, and inclusion award, and clinical faculty awards.
Award presenters included:
- Denise Martinez, MD, Associate Dean, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Kenneth Ballou, MD, Program Director, Family Medicine Residency and Clerkship Director, Family Medicine
- Vladimir Oge, MPH, Director of Strategic Initiatives
The full list of the 2025 Faculty and Staff Awards is below:
Values in Action Award
FY 26 Q1 Winner: Daphne Zamora
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.
2025 Staff Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Award
This award is 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).
Velika Patterson, PRIME Coordinator
2025 Clinical Faculty Awards
Excellence in Patient Care Award
In recognition of a Clinical Faculty member’s commitment to excellence in patient care.
Kathy Calderon, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor in the Division of Clinical Sciences, Department of Family Medicine
Healthcare Innovation Award
In recognition of a Clinical Faculty member’s commitment to innovation in healthcare.
Nana Afoh-Manin, MD, Clinical Instructor in the Division of Clinical Sciences, Department of Family Medicine
Professionalism Award
In recognition of a Clinical Faculty member’s commitment to professionalism in healthcare.
Emily Dubina, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor in the Division of Clinical Sciences, Department of Surgery
2025 Community Service Staff Award
Herlinda Bergman, CCRP, Clinical Research Program Administrator
