View the Presidential Awards video
Linked by what President William L. Henrich, M.D., MACP, called a common “desire to contribute in a unique and meaningful way for the benefit of others,” extraordinary members of the faculty and staff were honored March 7 with Presidential Awards from UT Health San Antonio.
The 17 individuals and one team who were honored “embody the reason that UT Health San Antonio exists: to make lives better,” said Dr. Henrich. The awards were given in the areas of employee excellence, teaching excellence (sustained and emerging), clinical excellence, and for distinguished research scholars.
Dr. Henrich thanked the selection committees chaired by Jacqueline Mok, Ph.D., vice president for academic, faculty and students affairs, and Heather Kobbe from the Office of Human Resources.
The winners were acknowledged with a congratulatory Senate Proclamation from the State of Texas by state Sen. Jose Menendez of San Antonio as well as a monetary gift.
The honorees are:
Distinguished Senior Research Scholar
James D. Stockand, Ph.D., FAHA, FAPS, FASN, professor, Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, Long School of Medicine
Distinguished Junior Research Scholars
Bess Frost, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, Long School of Medicine
Michael A. Liss, M.D., M.A.S., FACS, associate professor, Department of Urology, Long School of Medicine
Clinical Excellence
Glenn A. Halff, M.D., professor, Department of Surgery, Long School of Medicine
Teaching Excellence–Sustained
Bennett T. Amaechi, Ph.D., M.S., B.D.S., MFDSRCPS, FADI, professor, Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, School of Dentistry
Ricky Joseph, Ph.D., M.A.-H.R.M., OTR, assistant professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Professions
Keith A. Krolick, Ph.D., professor/director, Integrated Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Long School of Medicine
Rebekah J. Salt, Ph.D., RN, associate professor, Office of Faculty Excellence, School of Nursing
LuZhe Sun, Ph.D., professor, Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, Long School of Medicine
Teaching Excellence–Emerging
Ameet S. Nagpal, M.D., M.S., M.Ed., associate professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Long School of Medicine
Ramaswamy Sharma, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, Long School of Medicine
Employee Excellence
Charlotte Anthony, M.A., marketing specialist – senior, Office of the Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Antoinette R. Brundige, M.A., manager, Research Operations, Department of Psychiatry, Long School of Medicine
Karina Patino-Guzman, financial analyst, Office of the Vice President for Research
John Turner, M.Ed., director of business operations, Office of the Dean, School of Nursing
Stephanie M. Valdez, academic program coordinator, Department of Pediatrics, Long School of Medicine
Mia Veve, Ph.D., director of Student Counseling Center, Division of Academic, Faculty and Student Affairs
Team Excellence
UT Health Imaging Center, UT Health Physicians practice
Angel Gomez-Cintron, M.D., MARC radiology director
Mary Lou Jew, M.S., B.S., RT, director, radiology services
Elizabeth Acosta, scheduler intermediate
Rosalyn F. Alli, medical office receptionist
Carlo Ernesto A. Angeles, PET technologist
Elena Balderaz, benefits coordinator
James L. Baxley, MRI technologist senior
Lamar E. Callier, CT technologist
Tameka Collins, ultrasound technologist senior
Gilbert Cortez, MRI technologist
Edelia F. De La Cerda, MRI technologist
Michael A. Escobedo, radiologic technologist senior
Rudy C. Flores, benefits coordinator
Wendy M. Flores, medical office receptionist intermediate
Jennifer L. Garcia, medical office receptionist lead
Laura A. Garcia, benefits coordinator
Yvette Garza, radiologic technologist lead
Christine L. Gonzales, medical office receptionist
Victoria G. Huerta, patient transporter senior
James G. Johnson, PET technologist
Alvera Juarez, benefits coordinator lead
Sierra Lee, medical office receptionist intermediate
Erica L. Loza, scheduler intermediate
Alicia Martinez, RN
Claudia M. McLeish, benefits coordinator
Desiderio Medina, MRI technologist
Christopher J. Page, radiologic technologist senior
Linnette A. Pape, CT technologist
Hillery L. Ramirez, scheduler intermediate
Lieyette Saunders, patient services coordinator
Emily Tarin, manager
Ana L. Vargas-Gonzales, CT technologist
Rodolfo R. Vasquez, radiologic technologist senior
Carolyn K. Williams, benefits coordinator
Yvette M. Wimberley, radiologic technologist senior
Willie I. Yglesias, MRI technologist