Awards and Honors: Fall/Winter 2019

Celebrating the accomplishments of Department of Medicine faculty and staff


Heather Wakelee Named President of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer

Heather Wakelee, MD, professor of oncology, is the new president of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC). Wakelee will serve a two-year term leading the association’s efforts to conquer thoracic cancers worldwide. She was selected based on her research focusing on several lung cancer subtypes, including those with EGFR , ALK , ROS1 , RET and BRAF mutations. In addition, she is an active participant in trials that evaluate adjuvant therapy, immunotherapy and anti-angiogenesis agents.

IASLC President Giorgio Scagliotti says Wakelee’s experience will “undoubtedly benefit our entire organization, allowing us to expand our reach, solidify our relevance and provide our members with the world-class experience that they deserve.” She was officially recognized at IASLC’s World Conference on Lung Cancer in September and says she is “truly honored and grateful for this amazing opportunity, and humbled by the outpouring of support.”

Wakelee is a professor with the Medical Center Line and a member of the Stanford Medicine Cancer Institute.

Steve Asch Received the 2018 Under Secretary's Award for Outstanding Achievement in Health Services Research

Steven Asch, MD, MPH, professor of primary care and population health and Vice Chief of the Division of Primary Care and Population Health, has received the highest honor for a VA health researcher: the 2018 Under Secretary’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Health Services Research.

Asch currently leads HSR&D’s Center for Innovation to Implementation (Ci2i), which fosters high-value healthcare for Veterans, specifically targeting mental healthcare, medical and surgical specialty care, and care outside VA.

During Asch’s distinguished career, he’s testified on his research before Congressional staff, federal commissions, VA’s Under Secretary for Health, and other governmental bodies, and has received national and international media attention, and he has over 380 peer-reviewed publications.  He received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers  (PECASE) in 2004, and he’s also been the Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator on 40 funded grants totaling nearly $50 million in direct funds.

In his work, Asch applies access/quality measurement techniques and implementation science methods to reduce disparities among vulnerable populations, including those involved in the justice system, or veterans with conditions like HIV, HCV, and substance use disorders.

HSR&D presented this award to Asch “for an exceptional career and continued dedication to improving the health and care of veterans.”


Abby King Named Recipient of the Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Behavioral Nutrition/Physical Activity Award

Professor of Health Research and Policy and Epidemiology Abby King, MD, professor of health research and policy and medicine, is the recipient of the Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Behavioral Nutrition/Physical Activity Award from the International Society of Behavioral Nutrition & Physical Activity. This is an inaugural lifetime achievement award recognizing her “extraordinary and innovative work to better human health in the field of physical activity and behavioral nutrition." King received the award in June at the Society's annual scientific conference in Prague, Czech Republic.

She is the founder and director of the Our Voice Global Citizen Sci Research Initiative and Network, a professor at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, a member of the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute and a member of the Stanford Diabetes Research Center.

 

Angela Rogers Wins 2019 McCormick Fellowship Award

Congratulations to Angela Rogers, MD, professor of pulmonary and critical care, winner of the 2019 McCormick Fellowship Award. This award supports the advancement of women in medicine through mentorship, training, teaching and engagement in medical research. An assistant professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine, Rogers will have the opportunity to participate in Office of Faculty Development and Diversity trainings that will aid in her development and advancement at Stanford.

Mark Nicolls, MD, chief of the Pulmonary and Critical Care division, says that Rogers is a deserving recipient based on her outstanding contributions. He describes her as a true role model, and a great intensivist and clinical researcher.

Rogers is the associate director of the Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship program and the associate program director of the Department of Medicine Residency. She is also an assistant professor with the Med Center Line and a member of Bio-X.

Lakshmi Ganesan Awarded American Society of Nephrology Grant

Pediatrics and Nephrology Fellow Lakshmi Ganesan, MD, is the recipient of a The Ben J. Lipps Research Fellowship, a prestigious grant funded through the American Society of Nephrology (ASN). Her work, titled Pediatric Peritoneal Dialysis and Uremic Solutes, is one of 46 research projects that, according to an ASN Foundation announcement, will “lead to discoveries that will improve the lives of kidney patients.”

Professor and Division Chief of Nephrology Glenn Chertow, MD, says he is thrilled for Ganesan because, as the first-ever pediatric and nephrology fellow, she “exemplifies the spirit of excellence and collaboration.”

 


School of Medicine Teaching Awards

Nine members of the Department of Medicine were honored with 2019 Teaching Awards in Medicine for their outstanding contributions to the Stanford Medicine community.

·       Lars Osterberg, MD, associate professor of primary care and population health, is the recipient of the Franklin G. Ebaugh, Jr. Award for Excellence in Advising Medical Students. In addition to his teaching position, Osterberg is a leader on campus, acting as co-director of the Teaching and Mentoring Academy, director of Educators-4-CARE and director of the Hypertension Clinic at the Palo Alto VA Hospital.

·       Professor of Hospital Medicine Dean Winslow, MD, received the Alwin C. Rambar-James BD Mark Award for Excellence in Patient Care in recognition of his compassionate nature while working with patients and their families, excellence in providing medical treatment and effectiveness in interacting with patient-care staff. He is also recognized with the Outstanding Lecture/Presentation Award. Winslow serves on the Professoriate Appointment and Promotions Committee and the Department’s Professional Practice Evaluation Committee.

·       Tracy Rydel, MD, clinical associate professor of primary care and population health, is honored with the Award for Excellence in Promotion of the Learning Environment and Student Wellness. Rydel acts as director of the Family Medicine Core Clerkship Program.

·       Ann Chuang, MD, adjunct clinical assistant professor of primary care and population health, received the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation Award for Excellence in Preclinical Teaching.

·       Beth Martin-Kool, MD, clinical assistant professor of hematology, is also a recipient of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation Award for Excellence in Preclinical Teaching.

·       Clinical Associate Professor of Nephrology Pedram Fatehi, MD, is honored with a Kaiser Teaching Award for his dedication and commitment to education. Professor of Nephrology Glenn Chertow says he is pleased Fatehi has earned the recognition because he “has devoted a tremendous amount of time and effort toward teaching of students, residents and fellows.”

In addition to teaching, Fatehi holds the following positions on campus: co-director of Q6 Pathophysiology Capstone Course; associate director of the Nephrology Program; medical director of the CRRT and Acute Dialysis Program; member of the Stanford Hypertension Center; associate with the Educators-4-CARE program; and lecturer of Pathophysiology.

·       Adjunct Professor of Anesthesiology Perioperative and Pain Medicine Laural Braitman, MD, is recognized with an Award for Excellence in Promotion of Humanism.

·       Veronica Santini, MD, clinical associate professor of neurology and neurological sciences, is the recipient of an Award for Excellence in Promotion of Humanism. Santini is active on campus, working with the Educators-4-CARE program, as co-leader of the Q3 Practice of Medicine I, as director of the Parkinsons Disease Duopa Program, as associate director of the neurology clerkship and as co-director of the Multidisciplinary Huntingtons Disease and Ataxia Clinic.

·       Erika Schillinger, MD, clinical professor of primary care and population health, received an Award for Excellence in Promotion of Humanism. She is section chief of medical education for the Division of Primary Care and Population Health, director of SHIELD and director of the Predoctoral Education in Family Medicine program.

 


David Maron Named Division Chief of SPRC

David Maron, MD, clinical professor of cardiovascular medicine, was named the new Division Chief of the Stanford Research Prevention Center (SPRC), on August 1, 2019. Maron received his undergraduate degree at Stanford and his medical degree at USC.  He did his internal medicine residency at UCLA and then came back to Stanford for research training and clinical training in cardiology.  He was a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar as a Postdoctoral Research Scholar in cardiovascular epidemiology and prevention in SPRC.

After 20 years at Vanderbilt University, where he rose to Professor of Medicine and assumed various leadership roles, Maron returned to Stanford.  In 2014 he was named Clinical Professor of Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine and director of preventive cardiology.

His research is in the areas of lipid management, acute chest pain evaluation and the management of stable ischemic heart disease, and he’s currently the PI and Study Co-Chair of the NHLBI-funded clinical trial, ISCHEMIA (International Study of Comparative Health Effectiveness with Medical and Invasive Approaches), which evaluates the best approach to managing patients with high-risk stable ischemic heart disease. 

Bob Harrington, MD, Chair of the Department of Medicine, calls Maron “an accomplished clinician, researcher, and educator” and adds, “We look forward to seeing him extend the late Jack Farquhar’s vision in making SPRC a world premier center of health prevention research."

Tyler Paul Johnson Accepted into ASCO Education Scholars Program

Tyler Paul Johnson, MD, clinical assistant professor of oncology, has been accepted into the

2019‐2020 class of ASCO’s (American Society of Clinical Oncology) highly competitive Education Scholars Program.  Johnson is one of 12 participants, selected for his “leadership potential and commitment to making a difference in oncology education.”

The year-long training program seeks to create a cohort of oncologists with the “knowledge and skills to advance medical education and lead by example.”  The end goal is to create teachers who can disseminate cancer research and educate others in the oncology community about the latest treatments and research.

Johnson earned his MD from the University of Pennsylvania and came to Stanford for residency training, eventually becoming a chief resident in internal medicine.  He’s currently a member of the GI oncology faculty where he leads the inpatient oncology house staff service as well as serving as the senior associate program director for the oncology fellowship program.  He’s also a core faculty member of the "Educators-4-CARE" program in the medical school, where he mentors small groups of medical students.

Bhuvana Ramachandran Named Division Manager of Hematology

Bhuvana Ramachandran, previously the SCCR Finance Manager has been named Division Manager of Hematology after a search.  In her previous position Ramachandran had a wide mandate with a broad range of financial responsibility including analysis, forecasting, budgeting, and research financial management.  She also handled SCCR’s large and varied grant profile, which was composed of more than $100 million in grants and collaborative projects, including Baseline and the Apple Heart Study.

Prior to joining SCCR in late 2016, Ramachandran held a position as Accountant with the Office of Residential Education.  Ramachandran has a Bachelor’s degree in Management and Accounting and has earned a Master’s in  Accounting and Finance, as well as an MBA.

Cathy Garzio, Director of Finance Administration for the department, welcomed Ramachandran, saying, “Bhuvana has been a valued and collegial team member in SCCR and I’m glad we could retain her in DOM to help Hematology.” 

 


Ami Bhatt Named as Finalist for the FNIH Trailblazer Prize

The 2019 FNIH Trailblazer Prize for Clinician Scientists honors “outstanding contributions of early career clinician-scientists whose work has the potential to or has led to innovations in patient care,” and this year Ami Bhatt, MD, assistant professor of hematology, was named one of the four finalists.  The award consists of a $10,000 honorarium to celebrate the transformational work of clinician-scientists, who advance the medical field with “new, paradigm-shifting approaches for diagnosing, preventing, treating or curing disease and disability.”

Bhatt was named as a finalist for her work in “developing genomic and metabolomic tools to track how the microbiome affects the clinical outcomes of cancer patients.”  At Stanford Bhatt is involved in various research projects including work with her group that applies modern genetic, molecular and computational techniques to better understand host-microbe interactions.

Ravi Majeti, MD, PhD, professor of hematology and Division Chief of hematology, congratulated Bhatt, adding, “Ami is truly deserving of this honor for her pioneering work.”

Pamela Kunz Selected as Clayman Fellow

Pamela Kunz, MD, assistant professor of oncology, has been named a Clayman Fellow in the Clayman Institute for Gender Research.  Kunz specializes in the treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies with an expertise in the care of patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). She has developed broad investigative programs in the field of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), encompassing clinical trials, population sciences, and translational correlates.

As a Clayman Fellow, she collaborates with a group of interdisciplinary scholars at bi-monthly meetings in which fellows report on their own gender-based research.  Kunz’s contribution included a presentation entitled "Gender and Leadership of Clinical Trials in GI Oncology" in which she examined the findings of a National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) report that focused on sexual harassment and discrimination in medicine.  Kunz in particular examined the gender of PIs of phase III clinical trials in GI Oncology to explore if gaps in clinical trial leadership exist.

Mary Goldstein Elected to ACMI

Mary Goldstein, MD, MS-HSR, Chief of Medical Service, at the VA Palo Alto, and professor of Primary Care and Outcomes Research at Stanford University, has been elected to the American College of Medical Informatics (ACMI).  The honor was extended to nine new fellows on November 17, who were honored at the 2019 ACMI Symposium.  ACMI is an honorary college of elected informatics fellows from the United States and abroad who have “made significant and sustained contributions to the field of medical informatics and who have met rigorous scholarly scrutiny by their peers.”

Goldstein’s primary area of research expertise is health services research (HSR) involving health information technology to improve quality of health care. She leads a project team that has developed and implemented Clinical Decision Support (CDS) for primary care providers to improve care for common chronic conditions.

ACMI president William Tierney congratulated all the new fellows, adding, “Their expertise and distinguished accomplishments across the diverse field of biomedical and health informatics reflects the impact informatics and information and data science continue to have on healthcare.”

Mark Musen Awarded Open Source Software Grant

Mark Musen, MD, PhD, professor of biomedical informatics, was recently awarded a grant for his project in the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative’s s Essential Open Source Software for Science program.  The program, which supports “software maintenance, growth, development, and community engagement for critical open source tools,” allotted $5 million to be distributed among its grantees.

Musen’s project, entitled, “Migrating Protege to a Modern Web Stack,” seeks to “construct a solid foundation for the next generation of Protege using a modern web stack that will make Protege easier to maintain, extend, and — crucially — make it easier for third parties to contribute to the code base.”

Protégé, the world’s most widely used technology for building and managing terminologies and ontologies, was developed by Musen’s group.  Musen is currently the Director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Informatics Research, where he conducts research related to intelligent systems, reusable ontologies, metadata for publication of scientific data sets, and biomedical decision support.

Michael Negrette Promoted to Director of Finance and Administration for the Department of Biomedical Data Science

Michael Negrette, division manager of cardiovascular medicine, has been promoted to director of finance and administration (DFA) for the Department of Biomedical Data Science (BDS). Michael has played an instrumental role during his tenure with CV Medicine, quickly adapting to the complexities of a growing program. He aided the division in expanding its clinical trial portfolio and supporting one of Stanford Health Care’s most important destination service lines by creating a new structure capable of accommodating 80 faculty, more than 100 staff and nearly 200 fellows, post-docs, students and visitors.

Vice Chair and Director of Finance and Administration for the Department of Medicine Cathy Garzio says Michael’s accomplishments position him to be successful in his new role, and the opportunity will allow him to further develop his financial and organizational skills.

Michael joined CV Medicine in 2016 after several years as division manager in Immunology/Rheumatology. During this time, he also served as interim division manager for Infectious Disease. He began his position as DFA on November 7.