Awards and Honors
Congratulations to the following faculty and staff for achieving special distinction this quarter:
Internal Medicine
Dr. Allison Augustus-Wallace has been named to the Steering Committee of the AAMC Group on Women in Medicine &
Science (GWiMS). GWiMS advances the full and successful participation and inclusion
of women within academic medicine by addressing gender equity, recruitment and retention,
awards and recognition, and career advancement.
UMC Chief Experience Officer Dr. Peter DeBlieux (Emergency Medicine) has been chosen as one of six recipients from across the country for the 2022 National Compassionate Caregivers of the Year (NCCY) Award by the Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare, a national nonprofit dedicated to putting compassion at the heart of healthcare. The Award recognizes extraordinary healthcare professionals from across the country who display extraordinary compassion in the care of their patients, colleagues and communities. Dr. DeBlieux is a longstanding advocate for the care of New Orleans’ marginalized communities. He has created several programs to support his colleagues – especially during COVID-19 and natural disasters.
Dr. Pierre Detiege (Emergency Medicine) was recently recognized by UMC with an Extraordinary Service Award. Dr. Detiege is credited with literally talking a patient off the ledge in the parking deck, and carrying him to safety where he could receive the help he needed.
Associate Dean for Student Affairs Dr. Cathy J. Lazarus has been chosen as a “Critics Choice” Award recipient by the Editor-in-Chief and team of Medical Education.
Dr. Stephen Lindsey (Rheumatology) was recently awarded a lifetime achievement award by the National Arthritis Foundation for his dedication to the field of rheumatology. The Rheumatology fellows asked that he be recognized for all he has done for the program.
Associate Dean for Admissions Dr. Angela McLean has been elected the Governor Elect of the Louisiana Chapter of the American College of Physicians (ACP). Dr. McLean, has been an ACP fellow since 2014 and an active member of the ACP for more than 28 years. She has served on the Nominations Committee, the Meeting Planning Committee, the Administrative Council in addition to several other committees.
Dr. Gala True (Community and Population Health) was recently honored for her work in firearm injury prevention. Dr. True received an award in the Impact Science Award category for her poster, “Community-engagement and coalition building to promote lethal means safety and prevent veteran firearm suicide” from the 2022 National Research Conference on Firearm Injury Prevention awards committee.
The following doctors have been identified as UMC Difference Makers:
Dr. Jameel Ahmed, Dr. Murtuza Ali, Dr. Ashaur Azhar, Dr. Siddhartha Bajracharya, Dr. William Baumgartner, Dr. Nicole Bergeron, Dr. Matthew Carlisle, Dr. Pedro Cox-Alomar, Dr. Kent Broussard, Dr. Charles Clines, Dr. Trent Davidge, Dr. Tammy Do, Dr. Blane Edwards, Dr. Cory Gregg, Dr. Sarah Griffin, Dr. Jody Hardy, Dr. Sean Hardy, Dr. Christen Harris, Dr. Kendall Holden, Dr. Deanna Huffman, Dr. Brianna Hurdle, Dr. Neeraj Jain, Dr. Matthew Johnson, Dr. Stephen Landreneau, Dr. Scott Laura, Dr. Edward Leonard, Dr. Omar Leonards, Dr. Sarah Lungaro, Dr. Emily Marx, Dr. Sidney Mejia, Dr. Jay Miller, Dr. Thuy-Mai Nguyen, Dr. Jesus Pineda-Ramirez, Dr. Paul Ramirez, Dr. Nabeel Saghir, Dr. Ashley Van, Dr. Jordan Vaughn, Dr. Eduardo Venegas, Dr. Evan Villemez, Dr. Norman Wall, Dr. Briggs Welch, Dr. Deena Wisa, and Dr. Andrew Wong.
Office of Medical Education
Dr. Daryl Lofaso, Director of Simulation Operations and Course Director of the Clinical Skills Lab
within the Office of Medical Education, has been nominated and agreed to serve as
the Chair for the Simulation Medical Training and Education Council of Louisiana.
Ophthalmology
Associate Professor and Residency Program Director Maria Reinoso, MD, was recently selected as one of the inaugural recipients of the Chancellor’s Excellence
Awards and was also selected to attend the AAMC Mid-Career Minority Faculty Leadership
Seminar with expenses paid.
Pediatrics
Dr. Amy Creel has been awarded the Children's Hospital Professorship in Pediatric Research. Dr.
Creel holds many titles in the department and hospital including Associate Professor
of Clinical Pediatrics, Co- director of Faculty Development for Children’s Hospital,
Chair of the Medical Education Research Collaborative, and the Associate Medical Director
of the PICU. She has demonstrated excellence in scholarly activity in medical education
by presenting her work regionally and nationally, serving as an active medical reviewer
of multiple journals, publishing manuscripts and mentoring trainees and junior faculty.
Dr. Creel was also selected as an Assessment Author for Aquifer Pediatrics based on her reputation as an innovative educator. Aquifer Pediatrics is a non-profit organization that delivers interactive online courses and resources to health professions students at over 300 programs in North America. Dr. Creel’s contributions include ensuring that assessment question content meets curriculum objectives and is appropriate level for clerkship students. Aquifer President Dr. Stephen Scott recently recognized Dr. Creel’s extraordinary contributions to the program and thanked her for her scholarly efforts for furthering the mission of providing high-quality medical education.
Dr. Alexis Morvant is one of two pediatricians in the country selected as a 2022 Leadership Scholar of the Year by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM). Dr. Morvant was awarded the leadership scholarship which provides financial support to HAPC professional members seeking to participate in leadership development engagement activities to support their growth as a leader.
Dr. Staci Olister of the Neonatology Division has been selected for the Physician of the Quarter Award for outstanding and dedicated service to East Jefferson General Hospital. This recognition is awarded quarterly to a physician who demonstrates a commitment to medical advancement, team member continuing education and support, and altruistic leadership in accordance with East Jefferson values.
Physiology
Dr. Patricia Molina was awarded the Inaugural LSUHSC Department of Physiology Alumna Award 2022.