Honors

Three Michigan Medicine faculty members were elected to the National Academy of Medicine: Justin Dimick, M.D., the Frederick A. Coller Distinguished Professor of Surgery and chair of the department; Karin Muraszko, M.D., the Julian T. Hoff, M.D., Professor of Surgery, chair of the Department of Neurosurgery, and professor of pediatrics and of plastic surgery; and Henry Paulson, M.D., Ph.D., the Lucile Groff Professor of Neurology for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders, director of the Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Center, and co-director of the U-M Protein Folding Diseases Initiative.

The Michigan Medicine surgical ICU nursing team placed second among 69 entries in the Healthcom Media 2020 All-Pro Nursing Team Awards. The awards recognize the best teams in the U.S. based on several professional criteria, including communications, responsiveness, and adaptability.

Huda Akil, Ph.D., the Gardner C. Quarton Collegiate Professor of Neurosciences, professor of psychiatry, and research professor at the Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, received the Society for Neuroscience 2019 Julius Axelrod Prize, which honors a researcher for distinguished achievements in neuropharmacology and exemplary efforts in mentoring young scientists. Research in Akil's lab provided the first physiological evidence of a role for endogenous opioids in the brain.

James Albers (M.D. 1972), Ph.D., professor emeritus of neurology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and psychiatry, won the 2019 American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) Lifetime Achievement Award. The AANEM awards committee calls him "a giant in the field of clinical neurotoxicology" who has "increased our understanding of multiple neuromuscular disorders and improved standards of care for neuropathy patients worldwide."

Asheesh Bedi (M.D. 2002, Residency 2007), the Harold W. and Helen L. Gehring Early Career Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and director of the Michigan Center for Human Athletic Medicine and Performance (MCHAMP), received the Arthur C. Rettig Award for Academic Excellence from the NFL Physicians Society (NFLPS). Bedi is the team orthopaedic physician and medical director for the Detroit Lions. His research — "Blood Flow Restriction Training Does Not Improve Quadriceps Muscle Function after Anterior Ligament Reconstruction: A Randomized Controlled Trial" — was presented at the NFLPS scientific meeting during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine.

Curtis Bergquist, M.D., and Alexander A. Brescia, M.D. (M.Sc. 2019), both integrated cardiothoracic surgery residents, won the International Cardiothoracic Surgery Jeopardy championships at the Society of Thoracic Surgeons annual meeting in January.

Sally Camper, Ph.D., the Margery Shaw Distinguished University Professor of Human Genetics and professor of internal medicine, received the 2021 Sidney H. Ingbar Distinguished Service Award from the Endocrine Society. The award honors her research on the pituitary gland as well as her service on many Endocrine Society committees.

John Carethers, M.D. (Fellowship 1995), the John G. Searle Professor of Internal Medicine, professor of internal medicine and chair of the department, and professor of human genetics, received the 2020 Harriet P. Dustan Award for Science as Related to Medicine, one of the highest honors bestowed by the American College of Physicians.

Carolyn Commissaris (M.D. 2016, Residency 2020), an emergency medicine lecturer and fellow, received the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine's Resident Educator Award, for exceptional aptitude and passion for teaching during residency.

Jeffrey Curtis, M.D., professor of internal medicine in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, won the 2019 VA Barnwell Award for his seminal work on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other lung diseases. It is the highest honor awarded by VA Clinical Science Research and Development.

T. Anthony Denton, J.D., M.H.A., senior vice president and chief operating officer of the U-M Health System, was elected treasurer of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association.

Alison Durham (M.D. 2008, Residency 2012), associate professor of dermatology, was named the Lewis and Lillian Becker Professor of Dermatology in October.

Johann Gudjonsson, M.D., Ph.D. (Residency 2006), the Arthur C. Curtis Professor of Skin Molecular Immunology and associate professor of dermatology, has been elected to membership in the American Society for Clinical Investigation and also was elected as a member of the American Dermatological Association.

Jill Hasen, P.A., a physician assistant who cares for patients in the Musculoskeletal Oncology Service in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, was appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to the Michigan Task Force on Physician Assistants. Hasen will serve a four-year term.

Reshma Jagsi, M.D., D.Phil., the Newman Family Professor of Radiation Oncology, deputy chair of radiation oncology, and director of the U-M Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine, was named one of 12 new Hastings Center fellows, honored for their work on ethical issues in health, health care, science, and technology.

Celina Kleer, M.D. (Residency 1999), the Harold A. Oberman Collegiate Professor of Pathology, won the 2019 American Association for Cancer Research Investigator Award for Breast Cancer Research. Kleer's work has generated key insights into the development of aggressive forms of breast cancer.

Joseph Kolars, M.D. (Fellowship 1989), the Josiah Macy, Jr., Professor of Health Professions Education and professor of internal medicine, was named a Master of the American College of Physicians, becoming the 14th U-M faculty member to achieve this designation since mastership began in 1923.

Elizabeth Koschmann, Ph.D., assistant research scientist in psychiatry, was named to Governor Gretchen Whitmer's Return to School Advisory Council. Koschmann is the director of TRAILS (Transforming Research into Action to Improve the Lives of Students), a program that disseminates evidence-based mental health practices to K-12 schools.

Paul P. Lee (M.D. 1986), J.D., the F. Bruce Fralick Professor of Ophthalmology and chair of the department, won the 2019 Heed-Gutman Award, which is given to a former Heed Fellow for distinguished leadership, original discoveries and investigations, and contributions to ophthalmology. In addition to his many leadership roles in national health organizations, Lee has published more than 270 papers on glaucoma and eye care delivery.

William Meurer, M.D., associate professor of emergency medicine, received the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine's Mid-Career Investigator Award, which recognizes society members who have demonstrated commitment and achievement in research during the mid-stage of their academic career.

Robert Neumar, M.D., Ph.D., professor of emergency medicine and chair of the department, received the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine's John Marx Leadership Award, for exceptional contributions to emergency medicine through leadership.

Henry Paulson, M.D., Ph.D., the Lucile Groff Professor of Neurology for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders, director of the Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Center, and co-director of the U-M Protein Folding Diseases Initiative, won this year's Landis Award for Outstanding Mentorship from the NINDS (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke at the National Institutes of Health).

Mark Peterson, Ph.D., associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation, received a Fulbright scholarship to Sweden to expand his work on health and wellness outcomes in individuals with cerebral palsy as they age into adulthood.

Katharine Seagly, Ph.D., assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation, was named co-director of the brain injury rehabilitation program in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Paul Talusan, M.D., assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery, was selected as an American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society 2020 Traveling Fellow. The fellows visit leading foot and ankle research and educational institutions to collaborate with fellow researchers and share new ideas, observe operating rooms, learn new surgical techniques alongside accomplished surgeons, and present their own research and clinical experiences.

Frank Wang, M.D., associate professor of dermatology, was named the William B. Taylor Endowed Professor of Clinical Dermatology in September.

Kevin Ward, M.D., professor of emergency medicine, received the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine's Excellence in Research Award, for outstanding contributions to emergency medicine through the creation and sharing of new knowledge.


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Medicine at Michigan
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Medicine at Michigan
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Medicine at Michigan
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