A recent graduate of and now resident at the Wayne State University School of Medicine has been recognized with a prestigious award for outstanding leadership.

Richard Hsu, M.D., a 2021 graduate of the School of Medicine, has received the Franklin D. Loffer, M.D., Exceptional Resident Award from the Foundation of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists.

Established in 2018, the award, given to one resident annually, recognizes residents who demonstrate leadership in their training program and a commitment to minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. The award was established to acknowledge the outgoing AAGL president’s leadership and demonstrates the association’s commitment to mentoring future leaders.

Dr. Hsu accepted the award during the association’s annual Global Congress Meeting on Nov. 16 in New Orleans.

“Receiving the Franklin D. Loffer, M.D., Exceptional Resident Award is deeply meaningful to me as it reinforces my commitment to addressing the critical women's health care challenges in Detroit,” he said. “This recognition fuels my passion to tackle the stark disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes, particularly in underserved communities. The award inspires me to continue developing innovative approaches to bring health care directly to those who need it most and be an advocate for evidence-based practices to make a difference in the lives of women in Detroit.”

He said the recognition “reflects positively on the excellent education and preparation I received at Wayne State University School of Medicine.”

Originally from New York, Dr. Hsu has lived in Michigan for 10 years. He is in the last year of his four-year residency at the Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University School of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Upon completion of his residency, he will enter a two-year Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Fellowship in Delaware, after which he hopes to return to Michigan to practice.

“I chose to pursue medical school in Detroit because I wanted to learn how to tackle various health disparities, particularly in Black maternal health,” Dr. Hsu said of his reason for selecting WSU for his medical training. “The decision stems from my deep concern about the stark reality that Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes. By training in Detroit, I have seen firsthand the complex factors contributing to these disparities, including variations in health care quality, underlying chronic conditions, structural racism and implicit bias. Wayne State University School of Medicine equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute meaningfully to ongoing efforts in the community.”

He said he chose Obstetrics and Gynecology as his specialty to find solutions in addressing racial disparities in Black maternal health.

“In my last year of residency, I have seen directly the impact of poor maternal health outcomes, particularly for Black women and other underserved populations,” he said. “In these past four years, at the individual and community level, I have consistently strived to find ways to change that narrative by eliminating implicit biases in health care and contribute to practices that can help close the gap in maternal health disparities.”