Multiple Karmanos physicians, researchers honored during the annual faculty ceremonies
The Office of Faculty Affairs and Professional Development at Wayne State University’s (WSU) School of Medicine held its 2024 School of Medicine Faculty Awards and Promotion and Tenure Ceremony on Sept. 26. This is an annual recognition of faculty who have made outstanding contributions to teaching, mentoring, research, and leadership.
This year, several Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute faculty, researchers and medical staff at the Karmanos Cancer Center received these awards, highlighting their significant contributions to education and other fields. Others received promotions and tenure at WSU and Karmanos.
School of Medicine Awards
Many faculty members were honored with the College Teaching Award. This honor is presented to faculty based on the evaluation of instructional expertise as assessed by students in the undergraduate medical education program, residents in the graduate medical education programs, graduate students, and the department chairs’ annual evaluation and other factors. This year’s honorees include:
- Eric Sebzda, Ph.D., member of the Tumor Biology and Microenvironment (TBM) Research Program at Karmanos, associate professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology
- Luis Afonso, M.D., FACC, FASE, cardiologist, member of the Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant (BMT) and Multiple Myeloma and Amyloidosis Multidisciplinary Teams (MDTs), professor in the Department of Internal Medicine
- Radhika Gogoi, M.D., Ph.D., gynecologic oncologist, member of the Gynecologic Oncology MDT and the Molecular Therapeutics (MT) Research Program, associate professor in the Department of Oncology
- Benjamin Kidder, Ph.D., member of the TBM Research Program, associate professor in the Department of Oncology
- Seongho Kim, Ph.D., member of the MT Research Program, professor in the Department of Oncology
- Ramesh Boggula, Ph.D., member of the Molecular Imaging (MI) Research Program, assistant professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology
- Jacob Burmeister, Ph.D., member of the MI Research Program, professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology
- Kaladhar Reddy, Ph.D., member of the TBM Research Program, professor in the Department of Pathology
- Mary Morreale, M.D., psychiatrist, member of the Supportive Oncology MDT and the Population Studies and Disparities Research (PSDR) Program, professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences
Dean’s Office Awards
Excellence in Clinical Science Teaching Award. This year, Ayman Soubani, M.D., pulmonologist, member of the BMT and Thoracic Oncology MDTs, and professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, received the Excellence in Clinical Science Teaching Award. This award is presented annually and recognizes a faculty member who has left a mark of excellence and provided learners with a critical understanding of clinical medicine through long and meritorious clinical or behavioral science teaching.
Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award. Teena Chopra, M.D., Ph.D., medical staff member at the Karmanos Cancer Center and professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, 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 School of Medicine and demonstrates a gift and passion for mentoring faculty.
Promotion and Tenure Awards
In addition, the WSU School of Medicine Board of Governors has approved higher academic statuses for the below faculty members who were recognized during the President’s Promotion and Tenure Reception.
Tenure
- Benjamin Kidder, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Oncology
- Hilary Marusak, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, member of the PSDR Program
Promotions
Faculty promoted to professor:
- Asfar Azmi,D., Department of Oncology, leader of the MT Research Program
- Gregory Dyson,D., Department of Oncology, member of the PSDR Program
- Yubin Ge, Ph.D., Department of Oncology, member of the MT Research Program
- Zhanjun Hou,D., Department of Oncology, Member of the MT Research Program
- Ira Winer, M.D., Ph.D., FACOG, Department of Oncology, gynecologic oncologist, member of the Gynecologic Oncology and Phase I Clinical Trials MDTs, member of the MT Research Program
- Guojun Wu, Ph.D., Department of Oncology, member of the MT Research Program
- Jay Yang, M.D., Department of Oncology, hematologist and medical oncologist, leader of the Hematology Oncology MDT, member of the MT Research Program
Faculty promoted to associate professor:
- Najeeb Al Hallak, M.D., MS, Department of Oncology, medical oncologist, co-leader of the Gastrointestinal (GI) and Neuroendocrine Oncology MDT, member of the Phase I Clinical Trials MDT and the MT Research Program
- Hadeel Assad, M.D., Department of Oncology, medical oncologist, co-leader of the Breast Cancer MDT, member of the Phase I Clinical Trials MDT and the MT Research Program
- Benjamin Kidder, Ph.D.
- Hirva Mamdani, M.D., Department of Oncology, leader of the Thoracic Oncology MDT, member of the Phase I Clinical Trials MDT and the MT Research Program
- Dipenkumar Modi, M.D., Department of Oncology, member of the BMT MDT, Hematology Oncology MDT, and the MT Research Program
Faculty promoted to adjunct professor:
- Nancie Petrucelli, MS, CGC, Department of Oncology, member of the Breast Cancer MDT, GI MDT, Gynecologic Oncology MDT, and the PSDR Program
Faculty promoted at Karmanos:
Congratulations to the faculty members who were awarded higher academic status and to the 2024 Faculty Award winners.