Awards and Honors
Congratulations to the following faculty and staff for achieving special distinction this quarter:
Cell Biology and Anatomy
Dr. Hamilton Farris won the Aesculapian Society’s L2 Excellence in Teaching Fall Semester award.
Dr. Sonya Van Nuland won the Aesculapian Society’s L1 Excellence in Teaching Fall Semester award.
Internal Medicine
Dr. Michael Modica (Hospital Medicine) was recently named the Clinical Teacher of the Year at Touro
Infirmary for exceptional dedication to teaching and mentoring. This prestigious recognition
is a testament to Dr. Modica's unwavering commitment to advancing medical education
and fostering a culture of excellence at LSU.
Dr. R. Brooks Robey was recently made a Fellow of the International Society of Nephrology. The official
announcement was made during the World Congress of Nephrology in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Dr. Stephen Lindsey (Rheumatology) has been asked to serve on a prestigious faculty panel at the 18th Annual North American Young Rheumatology Investigator Forum in Destin, Florida.
Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology
Joy Sturtevant received a 2024 Excellence in Teaching Award from the Aesculapian Society.
Ophthalmology
Joshua Butrick, Education Coordinator, earned the National Board Certification of TAGME (Training Administrators for Graduate Medical Education).
Otalaryngology
Under Dr. Kevin McLaughlin’s leadership, the department was the first in Louisiana to be designated by Inspire
as a Center of Excellence for Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulator Implantation.
Dr. Andrew McWhorter was selected for membership into the Louisiana Beta Chapter of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.
Pathology
Dr. Ritu Bhalla was recently nominated by the AMA Council on Medical Education to a six-year term
on the ACGME Pathology Review Committee, based in part on the growth and development
of the Pathology Residency Program over the past several years. The ACGME delegates
authority to accredit programs/institutions to its review committees, which are comprised
of peer specialists in the respective fields. In this capacity, along with seven other
members, she will establish and periodically revise requirements for the pathology
specialty and its subspecialties, and review compliance with requirements and render
accreditation decisions and cycle lengths to pathology programs nationwide.
Pediatrics
Dr. Renee Gardner has been named as Emeritus Professor in recognition of her 30 years of service as
a faculty member and dedication to LSU School of Medicine's students, residents, and
fellows. Dr. Gardner retired earlier this year.
Physiology
Dr. Patricia Molina was recognized as the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism
(ISBRA) Top Cited Author in the field of Immune Dysfunctions in Alcohol Use Disorders
(AUD) between 2014-2024.
Radiology
Hector Ferral, MD, FSIR, was recognized with an Editor’s Recognition Award for Reviewing with Distinction
in recognition of outstanding services as a reviewer of manuscripts submitted for
publication in Radiographics for 2023.
Dr. Ferral was also recognized at the March 2024 Society of Interventional Radiology Annual Meeting with the JVIR People’s Choice Award: Articles Most Downloaded in 2023 for the article he co-authored, “Endovascular Assessment of Liver Hemodynamics in Patients w/Cirrhosis Complicated by Portal Hypertension.”