School of Medicine

The Pulse

Awards and Honors

Congratulations to the following faculty and staff for achieving special distinction this quarter:

Center for Advanced Learning and Simulation
Peter Deblieux
, MD was named the 2025 Spirit of Charity Award Recipient by the Foundation at University Medical Center New Orleans. The Foundation annually pays tribute to exceptional physicians and healthcare leaders who have truly changed lives through their invaluable contributions to medicine and the healing power of compassion cultivated during their career at the renowned Charity Hospital New Orleans.

Interdisciplinary Oncology
Dr. Hari Koul was awarded the 2025 Distinguished Service Award from the Society of Basic Urologic Research. 

Medicine
The following physicians were recently named to New Orleans Magazine’s 2025 Top Doctors list:

  • Dr. Jameel Ahmed (Cardiology)
  • Dr. Murtuza “Zee” Ali (Cardiology)
  • Dr. Brian Boulmay (Hematology/Oncology)
  • Dr. David Borne (Comprehensive Medicine)
  • Dr. Rajasree “Pia” Chowdry (Hematology/Oncology)
  • Dr. Meredith Clement (Infectious Diseases)
  • Dr. Barrett Ford (Rheumatology)
  • Dr. Agustin Garcia (Hematology/Oncology)
  • Dr. Stephen Kantrow (Pulmonary/Critical Care)
  • Dr. Paul LeLorier (Cardiology)
  • Dr. Angela McLean (Comprehensive Medicine)
  • Dr. Daniel Raines (Gastroenterology)
  • Dr. Paula Seal (Infectious Diseases)
  • Dr. Frank Smart (Cardiology)
  • Dr. Ben Springgate (Community and Population Medicine)

Dr. Brian Boulmay and Dr. Michelle Loch (Hematology - Oncology) each received a Gold Certificate of Excellence for Exceptional Enrollments to Treatment and Cancer Control Trials for 2024 – 2025 from the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP). This national network of cancer care investigators, providers, academia, and other organizations care for diverse populations in health systems. 

Dr. Angela Johnson (Baton Rouge) was recently selected by the American Medical Women’s Association as an AMWA INSPIRE Award winner (full article, here).

Dr. Cathy Lazarus was selected as one of the 2025 Academic Medicine Excellence in Reviewing Award winners. The journal annually identifies volunteers who consistently demonstrate excellence in the peer review process as measured by editors’ assessment of review quality, timeliness, and number of reviews completed in the calendar year.

Neurology
Dr. Brian J. Copeland received the AALN “Faculty Leadership Award” at the Association of Academic Leaders of Neurology’s [formerly the Association of University Professors of Neurology (AUPN)] 2025 meeting in Baltimore, MD (full article, here). 

Orthopaedic Surgery
Dr. R. Carter Clement is the recipient of the 2025 Biedermann Innovation Award. His project, Improving Materials for Vertebral Body Tethering Using Soft Tissue Allografts, was awarded $72,699 over two years to advance innovation in spinal deformity treatment. He received the award during the 60th Annual SRS Meeting.

Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery
Kevin McLaughlin, MD received an Honor Award from the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.

Jill D’Souza, MD was named one of New Orleans Magazine’s 2025 Top Doctors and featured in the August issue.

Pathology
Dr. Ridin Balakrishnan, Assistant Professor, was the 2025 recipient of the Resident Education and Commitment Award.  

Pediatrics
Dr. Robin English (Pediatric Hospital Medicine) received the Master Pediatrician Award at the Louisiana American Academy of Pediatrics’ annual conference.

Physiology
Dr. Lisa Harrison-Bernard has been selected as this year's recipient of the Claude Bernard Distinguished Lectureship by the Teaching Section Steering Committee of the American Physiological Society. Dr. Harrison-Bernard was chosen in recognition of her contributions to the field of physiology education and American Physiology Society.