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 annually recognizes faculty who have made outstanding contributions in 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 more. Others received promotions and tenure at Wayne State.
School of Medicine Awards
The Research Excellence Awards were given to faculty members who demonstrate excellence and achievement through research in basic science, as a clinical scientist and physician scientist. Those recognized with the Research Excellence Award are:
Basic Science
Clinical Scientist
- Seongho Kim, Ph.D., member of the MT Research Program at Karmanos and professor in the Department of Oncology
Physician Scientist
- Evanthia Bernitsas, M.D., Karmanos Cancer Center medical staff member and professor in the Department of Internal Medicine
- Michael Simon, M.D., MPH, co-leader of the Breast Cancer Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), member of the MT and PSDR Research Programs at Karmanos, and professor in the Department of Oncology
Many faculty members were honored with the College Teaching Award, given to those who have shown achievement and excellence through teaching at WSU’s School of Medicine. This year’s winners include:
- Najeeb Al Hallak, M.D., MS, member of the Gastrointestinal (GI) and Neuroendocrine Oncology and the Phase 1 Clinical Trials MDTs at Karmanos, and assistant professor in the Department of Oncology
- Eliza Beal, M.D., MS, surgical oncologist, member of the GI Oncology and Melanoma MDTs, member of the PSDR Program, and assistant professor in the Department of Surgery
- Rodney Braun, Ph.D., member of the Molecular Imaging (MI) Research Program at Karmanos and associate professor in the Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences
- David Carr, M.D., Karmanos Cancer Center medical staff member and assistant professor in the Department of Pathology
- John Cramer, M.D., otolaryngologist, member of the Head and Neck Oncology MDT at Karmanos, and assistant professor in the Department of Otolaryngology
- Steven Daveluy, M.D., FAAD, dermatologist, member of the Bone Marrow & Stem Cell Transplant and the Melanoma MDTs, member of the MT Research Program at Karmanos, and associate professor in the Department of Dermatology
- Zahia Esber, M.D., Karmanos Cancer Center medical staff member and assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine
- Michael Dominello, D.O., member of Breast Cancer and Neuro Oncology MDTs, member of the MI Research Program at Karmanos, and associate professor in the Department of Oncology
- Russell Finley, Ph.D., member of the MT Research Program at Karmanos and professor at the Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics
- Lauren Hamel, Ph.D., co-leader of the PSDR Program at Karmanos and associate professor in the Department of Oncology
- Deslyn Hobson, M.D., Karmanos Cancer Center medical staff member and assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Asim Kagzi, M.D., Karmanos Cancer Center medical staff member and assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine
- Hyeong-Reh Kim, Ph.D., member of the Tumor Biology and Microenvironment (TBM) Research Program at Karmanos and professor in the Department of Pathology
- Christopher Kliethermes, M.D., Karmanos Cancer Center medical staff member and assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Diane Levine, M.D., Karmanos Cancer Center medical staff member and professor in the Department of Internal Medicine
- Peter LeWitt, M.D., Karmanos Cancer Center medical staff member and professor in the Department of Neurology
- Karin List, Ph., member of the TBM Research Program at Karmanos and professor in the Department of Pharmacology
- Rachel Mahas, Ph.D., MS, MPH, Karmanos Cancer Center medical staff member and assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences
- Sajith Matthews, M.D., Karmanos Cancer Center medical staff member and assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine
- Zubin Mukadam, M.D., Karmanos Cancer Center medical staff member and assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine
- Latonya Riddle-Jones, M.D., MPH, member of the PSDR Program at Karmanos, assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine
- James Selwa, M.D., Karmanos Cancer Center medical staff member and assistant professor in the Department of Neurology
- Ira Winer, M.D., Ph.D., FACOG, member of the Gynecologic Oncology and Phase 1 Clinical Trials MDTs, member of the MT Research Program at Karmanos, and associate professor in the Department of Oncology
Dean’s Office Awards
Excellence in Clinical Science Teaching Award. This award 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. This year, Nashat Imran, M.D. FASN, FACP, Karmanos Cancer Center medical staff member and associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, received this honor.
Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award. This award honors a faculty member who has been an exceptional mentor to other faculty. Felicity Harper, Ph.D., member of the Supportive Oncology MDT and the PSDR Program at Karmanos and professor in the Department of Oncology, received the 2023 Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award.
Outstanding Research Achievement Award. This honor recognizes a faculty member in a basic science or clinical department who has made significant and career-long contributions to advancing an area of biomedical, behavioral, clinical, or medical research. Mark Greenwald, Ph.D., member of the PSDR Program at Karmanos and professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, received the Outstanding Research Achievement Award.
Women in Medicine and Science (WIMS) Leadership Award. The faculty member given this recognition has specifically promoted the advancement of women faculty members within the School of Medicine WIMS organization by providing mentorship, encouraging women faculty to participate in leadership positions locally and nationally, and is a current or former member of the WIMS organization. This award was given to Teena Chopra, M.D., MPH, Karmanos Cancer Center medical staff member and professor in the Department of Internal Medicine.
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 in May.
Tenure
- Yuan He, Ph.D., member of the TBM Research Program at Karmanos and associate professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, received full tenure.
- Samson Jamesdaniel, M.D., Ph.D., member of the MT Research Program at Karmanos and associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, received 75% tenure.
Promotions
Faculty who have been promoted to associate professor are:
- John Cramer, M.D., otolaryngologist and member of the Head and Neck Oncology MDT at Karmanos, Department of Otolaryngology
- Yuan He, Ph.D., Karmanos Cancer Center medical staff member, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology
- Samson Jamesdaniel, M.D., Ph.D., Karmanos Cancer Center medical staff member, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences
- Sajith Matthews, M.D., Karmanos Cancer Center medical staff member, Department of Internal Medicine
- Geoffrey Potts, M.D., Karmanos Cancer Center medical staff member, Department of Dermatology
- Nitin Vaishampayan, M.D., radiation oncologist, member of the Breast Cancer, Genitourinary Oncology and Hematology Oncology MDTs, and member of the MI Research Program at Karmanos, Department of Oncology
- Indryas Woldie, M.D., member of the MT Research Program at Karmanos, Department of Oncology
Faculty who have been promoted to professor rank are:
- Evanthia Bernitsas, M.D., Karmanos Cancer Center medical staff member, Department of Neurology
- Ashok Kumar, Ph.D., member of the TBM Research Program at Karmanos, Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences
- April Marie-Idalski Carcone, Ph.D., MSW, member of the PSDR Program at Karmanos, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences
- Yahya Osman, M.B.B.S, Karmanos Cancer Center medical staff member, Department of Internal Medicine
- Housam Sarakbi, M.D., Karmanos Cancer Center medical staff member, Department of Internal Medicine
- Ammar Sukari, M.D., medical oncologist, member of the Breast Cancer, Head and Neck Oncology, Phase 1 Clinical Trials and Thoracic Oncology MDTs, and co-leader of the MT Research Program at Karmanos, Department of Oncology
- Xiaohung (Mary) Zhang, Ph.D., member of the TBM Research Program at Karmanos, Department of Oncology
Congratulations to the faculty members who were awarded higher academic status and to the 2023 Faculty Award winners. View photos from the promotion and tenure awards ceremony here.