The Wayne State University School of Medicine recently recognized and celebrated outstanding members of its faculty during the 2023 School of Medicine Faculty Awards and Promotion and Tenure Ceremony.
Faculty members who received tenure this year included Yuan He, Ph.D., associate professor of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology; Zhibing Zhang, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Physiology; and Samson Jamesdaniel, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences.
Rhonda Dailey, M.D., assistant professor of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, received the Outstanding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Faculty Scholar Award. The award was created to recognize faculty members who, by their leadership and efforts, have specifically promoted the advancement of diversity, equity and inclusion-related education, mentorship, service and scholarship.
“Locally and nationally, Dr. Dailey has been at the forefront of diversity, equity and inclusion solutions,” said Hayley Thompson, Ph.D., professor of Oncology and director of the Center for Health Equity & Community Knowledge in Urban Populations in her nomination of Dr. Dailey. As scientific director of the Office of Community Engaged Research, Dr. Dailey has been able to “build and expand platforms to disseminate effective strategies that enhance DEI.”
In addition, Dr. Dailey has “directly influenced the perspectives and practices of numerous current and future medical professionals and researchers in Michigan and beyond.” In addition to serving as a member of the Michigan Governor Implicit Bias Training Curriculum Subgroup, she has mentored and provided one-on-one guidance to seven students from racial/ethnic groups underrepresented in the health sciences across a range of disciplines, Dr. Thompson said.
Nashat Imran, M.D., associate professor of Internal Medicine, received the Excellence in Clinical Science Teaching Award, presented annually to a faculty member who has served as an outstanding mentor to other faculty at the WSU School of Medicine and who demonstrates a gift and passion for mentoring faculty.
Describing Dr. Imran as an innovative lecturer and speaker, Ghulam Saydain, M.D., professor and associate chair of the Department of Internal Medicine, wrote that Dr. Imran “has unique ability to maintain the learner’s interest while navigating through the most challenging topics and making those areas clear to the listener. Needless to say, his deep knowledge of clinical medicine and associated basic science is a prerequisite to his ability to convey that knowledge to others.”
M. Safwan Badr, M.D., M.B.A., professor and chair of the department, called Dr. Imran a “leader in educating, inspiring and mentoring our next generation of doctors. His individualized approach to nurturing and guiding residents and fellows has helped many achieve their goals, whether they desired chief resident positions, next-level training or the pursuit of an academic career.”
Dennis Goebel , Ph.D., associate professor of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, received the Moghissi Basic Science Teaching Award. The award is presented annually to a faculty member who, through long and meritorious teaching of basic sciences, has left a mark of excellence and provided students with a critical understanding of the faculty member's discipline. The purpose of the award is to recognize faculty achievement, to encourage continued progress and to provide assistance to faculty who demonstrate significant contributions to the teaching of basic science courses during the first two years in the School of Medicine.
Paul Walker, Ph.D., professor of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, who nominated Dr. Goebel, said he is “one of our most sought-after instructors and frequently stays for long periods after the end of (gross anatomy) lab to help students who are struggling with their understanding of anatomy.”
In 2016, Dr. Goebel developed a series of popular lectures highlighting the development of the respiratory system, gastrointestinal system, renal-urinary system and the reproductive systems with the goal of integrating the information vertically between the disciplines of gross anatomy and embryology. “He also provides gross anatomy instruction to Post Baccalaureate students as part of our diversity, equity and inclusion mission,” Dr. Walker wrote.
The Outstanding Research Achievement Award is presented annually to the faculty member in a basic science or clinical department who has made significant and career-long contributions to the advancement of an area of biomedical, behavioral, clinical or medical research. Nominees must have a sustained record of meritorious publication and scholarship, and must have demonstrated a record of nationally and internationally recognized research. This year, Mark Greenwald, Ph.D., professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, was selected for the honor.
Dr. Greenwald, said David Rosenberg, M.D., chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, “has forged innovative paths and is an internationally recognized pioneer in drug addiction and treatment.”
He directs one of the few human laboratories in the world focused on therapeutic approaches that are targeted to reduce actual drug-seeking behavior. Dr. Greenwald is recognized nationally and internationally as an expert in pharmacotherapy for opioid addiction, and is a leader in addressing the ongoing opioid epidemic, Dr. Rosenberg wrote.
In 2020, Dr. Greenwald was appointed the Gertrude Levin Endowed Chair in Addiction and Pain Biology. His “exemplary performance in this role,” Dr. Rosenberg said, contributed to a benefactor’s recent decision to donate a transformative $20 million gift to establish the Ben L. Silberstein Institute for Brain Health at WSU.
Craig Rush, Ph.D., professor of Behavioral Science at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, wrote that as a result of his “prolific grant-funded research program,” Dr. Greenwald has published more than 130 articles in rigorously peer-reviewed journals. His research is widely cited and has “significantly influenced the substance abuse research field,” placing him “among an elite group of substance abuse researchers who have prominent national/international reputations.”
Felicity Harper, Ph.D., professor of Oncology, was selected to receive this year’s Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award. The award is given annually to a faculty member who has served as an outstanding mentor to other faculty at the WSU School of Medicine and demonstrates a gift and passion for mentoring faculty.
“Dr. Harper seeks to help her mentees develop as the best version of themselves, rather than prompting them into areas they may not wish to go,” Lauren Hamel, Ph.D., associate professor of Oncology wrote in her nomination letter. “For example, she will always ask her mentees what their individual goals are with respect to their careers, ask precise follow-up questions, and help develop a personalized strategy while providing the benefit of her experiences as an investigator and clinician. She is also very adept at making critical connections for her mentees. When she identifies a gap in expert guidance she immediately searches through her vast local and national network to bring together individuals whose work complements one another and helps facilitate the collaboration.
Dr. Harper, she added “is direct, straightforward, and seeks feedback from her mentees on ways she can improve their mentor-mentee relationship. She maintains a vigilant eye on all her mentees’ progress and offers guidance on a continual basis. She provides a clear set of expectations for her mentees and provides or facilitates all the tools they need to be successful. She is respectful of her mentees’ decisions and encourages their independence as investigators.”
Ann Schwartz, Ph.D., M.P.H., professor of Oncology and deputy center director of the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, said Dr. Harper’s greatest strength has been providing a strategic pathway for the expansion of population sciences research at WSU and across the Karmanos network. “While putting this plan in place, she has engaged the faculty and provided opportunities and support for their work. She is particularly focused on making sure that junior faculty are engaged, encouraging their development, providing institutional resources and serving as an example of success at WSU,” Dr. Schwartz said.
She also noted that Dr. Harper is a “strong voice in discussions of diversity, equity and inclusion that serve as a backdrop for ensuring that faculty and students from many backgrounds succeed.”
Teen Chopra. M.D., M.P.H., professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, received this year’s Women in Medicine & Science Leadership Award. The award is given to an individual who has supported and/or brought recognition to women faculty members or activities for women faculty members.
“As a highly respected and esteemed member of the faculty at Wayne State University School of Medicine, Dr. Chopra has made exceptional contributions to the field of medicine and science, specifically in the areas of mentorship, leadership and the advancement of women faculty,” said Dena Nazer, M.D., professor of Pediatrics. “Dr. Chopra's mentorship has been instrumental in shaping the careers of many women in medicine and science and she serves as a remarkable role model for women faculty at the Wayne State University School of Medicine.”
Dr. Chopra, who serves as the corporate medical director of Hospital Epidemiology, Infection Prevention and Antibiotic Stewardship at the Detroit Medical Center and Wayne State, and is one of the founding leaders of the WSU Center for Emerging and Infectious Diseases, “actively encourages talented women to take on leadership positions, both within the School of Medicine and in professional organizations, contributing to the advancement of women in the field,” Dr, Nazer said. She is the program director of a fellowship in Epidemiology and Infection Prevention, and through that fellowship helped train five women epidemiologists who were each leading COVID-19 campaigns at their institutes.
2023 Promotion and Tenure Awards
Department of Anesthesiology
Justin Hruska, M.D. – associate professor
Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology
Yuan He, Ph.D. – associate professor with tenure
Department of Dermatology
Aliya Hines, M.D., Ph.D. – associate professor
Geoffrey Potts, M.D. – associate professor
Department of Emergency Medicine
Trifun Dimitrijevski, M.D. – associate professor
Bram Dolcourt, M.D. – associate professor
Christopher Guyer, M.D. – associate professor
Lyudmila Khait, M.D. – associate professor
Anne Messman, M.D. – professor
Laura Smylie, M.D. – associate professor
Marc Anthony Velilla, M.D. – associate professor
John Wilburn, M.D. – associate professor
Department of Internal Medicine
Delair Gardi, M.D. – professor
Sajith Matthews, M.D. – associate professor
Yahya Osman, M.D. – professor
Housam Sarakbi, M.D. – professor
Rabih Touma, M.D. – professor
Dee Dee Wang, M.D. – professor
Department of Neurology
Evanthia Bernitsas, M.D. – professor
Anza Memon, M.D. – associate professor
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Nardhy Gomez-Lopez, Ph.D. – professor
Department of Oncology
Ammar Sukari, M.D. – professor
Nitin Vaishampayan, M.D. – associate professor
Indryas Woldie, M.D. – associate professor
Xiaohong Zhang, Ph.D. -- professor
Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences
Tomomi Ichinose, M.D., Ph.D. – professor
Ashok Kumar, Ph.D. – professor
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
Stephen Chang, M.D. – associate professor
John Craig, M.D. – professor
John Cramer, M.D. – associate professor
Ilaaf Darrat, M.D. – associate professor
Lamont Jones, M.D. – professor
Department of Pathology
Rafic Beydoun, M.D. – professor
A. Bradley Eisenbrey III, M.D., Ph.D. – professor
Leigh Hlavaty, M.D. – associate professor
Rachael Hone – Academic Services Officer II
Department of Pediatrics
Matthew Adams, M.D. – associate professor
Justin Jeong, Ph.D. – professor
Dena Nazer, M.D. – professor
Department of Physiology
Zhibing Zhang, M.D., Ph.D. – professor with tenure
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences
Esther Akinyemi, M.D. – associate professor
Leslie Lundahl, Ph.D. – professor
Michael and Marian Ilitch Department of Surgery
Thomas Siegel, M.D. – professor
Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences
April Idalski Carcone, Ph.D., M.S.W. – professor
Samson Jamesdaniel, M.D., Ph.D. - associate professor with tenure
Office of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access
Deborah Holland – Employment Security Status
2023 RESEARCH EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Research Excellence Awards are presented annually and are distributed among assistant professors, associate professors and professors from the Basic Science and Clinical Science departments based on criteria defined for each academic rank.
Basic Sciences Researcher
Samson Jamesdaniel, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Science
Tomomi Ichinose, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences
Jena Steinle, Ph.D., Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences
Roger Pique-Regi, Ph.D., Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics
Clinical Researcher
Erin Madden, Ph.D., M.P.H., Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences
Seth Norrholm, Ph.D., Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences
Seongho Kim, Ph.D., Department of Oncology
Physician Scientist
Mohammad Al Hallak, M.D., Department of Oncology
Evanthia Bernitsas, M.D., Department of Neurology
Michael Simon, M.D., M.P.H., Department of Oncology
2023 COLLEGE TEACHING AWARDS
College Teaching Awards are presented to faculty based on the evaluation of instructional expertise as evaluated by students in the undergraduate medical education program, residents in the graduate medical education programs and graduate students, as well as the department chairs’ annual evaluation and other factors.
C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development
Jayanth Ramadoss, Ph.D.
Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics
Russell Finley, Ph.D.
Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology
Kevin Theis, Ph.D.
Department of Dermatology
Steven Daveluy, M.D.
Department of Emergency Medicine
Andrew King, M.D.
Brian Haber, M.D.
Robert Sherwin, M.D.
Department of Internal Medicine
Asim Kagzi, M.D.
Diane Levine, M.D.
Divvya Venkat, M.D.
Latonya Riddle-Jones, M.D., M.P.H.
Sajith Matthews, M.D.
Salam Zeineddine, M.D.
Zahia Esber, M.D.
Zubin Mukadam, M.D.
Department of Neurology
James Selwa, M.D.
Peter LeWitt, M.D.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Christopher Kliethermes, M.D.
Deslyn Hobson, M.D.
Department of Oncology
Ira Winer, M.D., Ph.D.
Lauren Hamel, Ph.D.
Mohammed Al Hallak, M.D.
Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences
Elizabeth Berger, Ph.D.
Gary Abrams, M.D.
Rodney Braun, Ph.D.
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
John Cramer, M.D.
Department of Pathology
David Carr, M.D.
Hyeong-Reh Kim, Ph.D.
Department of Pediatrics
Colleen Buggs-Saxton, M.D.
Elizabeth Secord, M.D.
Jill Meade, Ph.D.
Department of Pharmacology
Andrew Garrett, Ph.D.
Karin List, Ph.D.
Lawrence Lash, Ph.D.
Department of Physiology
Patrick Mueller, Ph.D.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences
Arash Javanbakht, M.D.
Victor Ajluni, M.D.
Michael and Marian Ilitch Department of Surgery
Eliza Beal, M.D.
Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences
Rachel Mahas, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Department of Radiation Oncology
Michael Dominello, D.O.
2023 VOLUNTARY FACULTY AWARD
Sara Haidar-Elatrache, M.D., clinical assistant professor of Pediatrics at the Detroit Medical Center