Dear UT Health San Antonio faculty and staff:
Every day, our employees work tirelessly to advance our missions of education, research, clinical care and community service. Established in 1985, the Presidential Excellence Awards recognize exemplary performance by individuals who consistently excel in their positions and demonstrate a strong commitment to the mission and core values of UT Health San Antonio. The annual awards provide the university the opportunity to recognize outstanding faculty and staff contributions.
Many deserving faculty and staff were recently nominated to be honored with a Presidential Excellence Award for demonstrating exceptional service in their respective fields. I am grateful to the selection committees, led by Jacqueline Mok, PhD, vice president for academic, faculty and student affairs, and Danielle McDavid, PHR, strategic human resources partner in the Office of Human Resources, for their careful review of those nominated and their selection of the following awardees.
Please join me in congratulating our 2024 Presidential Excellence Award recipients who will be honored with a plaque and cash award during an April dinner.
Distinguished Research Scholar
Kumar Sharma, MD, Hillis Endowed Distinguished Chair in Medicine, Chief, Division of Nephrology, Vice Chair of Research, Department of Medicine, Long School of Medicine
Clinical Excellence
Edward R. Kost, MD, Professor/Clinical, Program Director, Fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Long School of Medicine
Carolina Solis-Herrera, MD, Associate Professor, Chief, Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Long School of Medicine
Teaching Excellence – Emerging
Jack Badawy, MD, Assistant Professor/Clinical, Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, Long School of Medicine
Lea El Hachem, DDS, MS, FICD, Associate Professor, Department of Periodontics, School of Dentistry
Teaching Excellence – Sustained
Paul B. Allen Sr., DSc, MPAS, PA-C, FAAPA, Associate Professor, Program Director and Chair, Department of Physician Assistant Studies, School of Health Professions
Christine A. Andre, MD, Professor/Clinical, Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, Long School of Medicine
Deborah L. Conway, MD, Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vice Dean, Undergraduate Medical Education, Long School of Medicine
Nikita Bharat Ruparel, DDS, PhD, MS, Associate Professor, Carlos E. del Rio Chair in Endodontics, Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry
Nilam J. Soni, MD, MS, FHM, FACP, Professor/Clinical, Division of Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Long School of Medicine
Staff Individual Excellence
Guiming Li, MD, Research Scientist, Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Long School of Medicine
Brandie L. Otten, Associate Director, Institutional Review Board, Office of Clinical Research
Courtney McElhaney Peebles, MPH, Director, Business and Research Operations, UT School of Public Health San Antonio
Carol Sherman, LCSW, LCSW – Senior, Mays Cancer Center
Angela M. Watts, PhD, Director, Academic Enhancement, Office of the Dean, School of Nursing
Staff Team Excellence
Orthopaedic Trauma
Team Leader: Boris A. Zelle, MD, Professor of Orthopaedics, Vice Chair of Research, Chief of Orthopaedic Trauma
Team Members:
Animesh Agarwal, MD, Professor of Orthopaedics
Jennifer Aguilar, RN, Clinical Research Nurse
Christina Brady, MD, Assistant Professor of Orthopaedics
Anna Conti, Administrative Assistant – Senior
Douglas Cromack, MD, Professor of Orthopaedics and Plastic Surgery
Christopher Delallo, MPAS, PA-C, Physician Assistant
Anil Dutta, MD, Associate Professor of Orthopaedics
Priscilla Gomez-Ramos, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, Physician Assistant
Thomas Hand, MD, Assistant Professor of Orthopaedics
Jennah Jorge, MPAS, PA-C, Physician Assistant
Ravi Karia, MD, Professor of Orthopaedics, Executive Vice-Chair
John Kodosky, DHSc, MPAS, PA-C, Assistant Professor of Orthopaedics
Case Martin, MD, Assistant Professor of Orthopaedics
Monica Ramirez, CPC, Surgical Care Coordinator
I offer my sincerest congratulations to all.
William L. Henrich, MD, MACP
President and Professor of Medicine
John R. Howe, III, MD, Distinguished Chair in Health Policy