Awards and Honors
Congratulations to the following faculty and staff for achieving special distinction this quarter:
Anatomy
Dr. Deidre Devier, Associate Professor-Clinical of Anatomy and Neurology, was awarded the Dr. Allen
Copping Award for Excellence in Teaching by the School of Medicine’s Class of 2024.
Internal Medicine
Newly-appointed professorship and chairholders were honored at a recent gathering
along with the donors who made the endowments possible:
Dr. David Aguilar (Cardiology) was appointed to the Gerald S. and Joan Berenson Chair in Healthy Aging and Longevity.
Dr. Matthew Carlisle (Emergency Medicine) was appointed to the George Washington Carver Professorship in Emergency Medicine.
Dr. Lee Engel (Dean’s office) was named to the Robert S. Daniels Professorship in Medical Education.
Dr. Kyle Happel (Pulmonary/Critical Care) was named the Louis R. Cabiran, MD Professor of Medicine.
Dr. Eric Lazartigues (Cardiovascular Center of Excellence) was appointed to the Louis Levy II, MD, M’43 Professorship in Research Cardiology.
Dr. Gala True (Community and Population Medicine) was named to the Richard A. Culbertson and Susan M. Leary Professorship.
Dr. Meredith Hall (Emergency Medicine) is the ED Sepsis GOAT award winner. Under the leadership of
Dr. Hall and the sepsis coordinator, Jamie Melancon, MSN, RN, the UMC Emergency Department
achieved their highest sepsis performance metrics in history.
The department received many accolades during the pre-commencement ceremony on May 15, 2024:
Dr. Angela Johnson (Baton Rouge) was awarded the Allen A. Copping Excellence in Teaching Award at the
LSU School of Medicine pre-commencement awards ceremony held in May.
Other recognitions included:
- Taniya De Silva, MD (Endocrinology): Conferee of the Oath of Hippocrates
- Dean Lauret, MD (Baton Rouge): Best Clinical Teacher
- Hooders: Guido DeJesus, MD (Baton Rouge); Fred Lopez, MD (Infectious Diseases); Matthew Foy, MD (Baton Rouge); Cacky Hebert, MD (Comprehensive Medicine); Angela Johnson, MD (Baton Rouge); and Dean Lauret, MD (Baton Rouge)
- Best Department: LSU-BR Internal Medicine
- Best Course: Concept Mapping (LSU-BR Internal Medicine)
Dr. Ashley Wennerstrom (Section of Community and Population Medicine; Center for Healthcare Value and Equity;
Co-Director of the MD/MPH Dual Degree Program) was awarded the Copping Excellence
in Teaching Award at the LSU School of Public Health pre-commencement awards ceremony.
Several EM faculty received awards at the Emergency Medicine graduation celebration:
- Max Oertling, RN: Nursing Excellence Award
- Jordan Vaughn, MD: Academic Faculty Award
- Jacques F. Ancelet, MD: Clinical Faculty of the Year Award (Dr. Jeffrey St. Clair)
- Robert Mercadel, MD: Clinical faculty of the year award from an off-site rotation Slidell, CHNOLA, WJ, Lallie, VA, OLOL
- Meghan Maslanka, MD: Clerkship Faculty of the Year
Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery
Dr. Laura T. Hetzler has been honored with the Prestigious 2023 Rosalind Franklin Society Award in Science
for her outstanding contributions, including the "paper of the year" in facial nerve
reanimation and research.
Takeshi Ikuma, Melda Kunduk, Andrew J. McWhorter, and Brad Story won the 1st Poster Award for Synthesis of Subharmonic Voice with Kinematic Vocal Fold Model at the Professional Voice Symposium in Philadelphia.
Pathology
Dr. Shaun Lawicki, Associate Professor of Clinical Pathology, received the 2024 Teacher of the Year
Award. This award was established in 2010 by LSU pathology residents and presented
by the Chief Residents at the end of the year to honor one faculty member who shows
an extraordinary commitment to the program and to the teaching of residents. Pictured,
Chief Residents Dr. Michael Webber and Dr. Jihuan Chen with Dr. Lawicki.
Histotechnologist Dot Kuebler received the Support Staff of the Year Award. This award was established in 2010
by LSU pathology residents to honor one supporting staff member who shows an extraordinary
commitment to the program and to the teaching and support of the residency program.
Pictured, Chief Residents Drs. Webber and Chen with Dot Kuebler.
Dr. Pamela Martin received the Dr. John Adriani Medical Award from the Louisiana American Italian Sports Hall of Fame. Dr. Martin is founder and partner of Martin And Marshall Laboratory of Dermatopathology and head of the dermatopathology section at LSU Department of Dermatology. This award recognizes excellence in medical contributions within the context of sports and athleticism.
Pediatrics
Dr. Lolie Yu was awarded the Louisiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics Master Pediatrician
Award at the annual meeting held in August.
Endocrinology Division Head Ricardo Gomez, MD, received the Nicholas Gagliano, MD Outstanding Faculty Award, given annually
by pediatric residents for excellence in teaching, and for sharing, through knowledge
and example, the facts and feelings that prepare residents for a lifetime of service
to children.
Dr. Gomez was also recently named Children's Hospital's Provider of the Quarter for his exceptional work.
Amanda Messer, MD, received the Suskind Outstanding Pediatric Faculty Award, presented annually to the faculty member who has made an outstanding academic contribution to the education, research, clinical service and advocacy missions of the department.
Psychiatry
Dr. Phil Griffin (Psychology) received The Janet R. Matthews, PhD Outstanding Psychology Mentor Award
at the Louisiana Psychological Association Annual Convention.
Radiology
Dr. David Smith was selected as Top Teacher for 2024 at UMC’s Doctor Day.