Awards and Honors: Winter 2021

Steven Artandi Named Senior Associate Dean for Cancer Programs

Congratulations to Steven Artandi, MD, PhD, who has been named named the inaugural senior associate dean for cancer programs.  The new appointment will “facilitate Artandi’s ability to recruit distinguished researchers and cancer specialists to Stanford, procure lab and clinical space, and support ongoing fundraising efforts and increasing cancer patient volumes.”

Steve is a talented leader and prolific researcher who is uniquely suited to guiding the future of Stanford Medicine’s cancer research and patient care,” said Lloyd Minor, MD, dean of the Stanford University School of Medicine. “As senior associate dean for cancer programs, he can further our mission of bringing the latest research advances and best possible care to our cancer patients.”

Patricia Garcia Appointed Associate Chief Medical Information Officer for Ambulatory Care

Patricia Garcia, MD, clinical associate professor of gastroenterology and hepatology, has been appointed the inaugural Associate Chief Medical Information Officer for Ambulatory Care at Stanford Health Care.  Per the announcement, Patty will lead enterprise medical informatics programs and solutions to support clinical care, population health, and academic integration throughout ambulatory care.

Garcia has a background and subspecialty focus in GI motility and is “passionate about leveraging new technologies to enhance the patient and clinician experience.  At Stanford, she has been instrumental in leading changes in ambulatory documentation to support new E/M billing practices and reduce provider burden.”

Congratulations, Patty!

Minjoung Go Named SHC-VC's Physician of the Quarter

Congratulations to Minjoung Go, MD, clinical assistant professor of medicine, for being selected as SHC-VC's Physician of the Quarter! This award recognizes a hospital provider who delivers quality & safe patient care, is well-respected by their colleagues & has demonstrated exceptional work throughout the organization.

Ravindra Majeti Receives STRIVE Award

Ravindra Majeti, MD, PhD, RZ Cao professor of medicine and chief of the division of hematology, was recently recognized for his innovative leukemia research by The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research’s Seeking Transformational Research Venture (STRIVE) Award. The honor supports exploration of how inflammation and the immune system play a role in pre-leukemia’s progression to full-scale blood cancer.  

Majeti has an extensive background in hematology, with a focus on acute myeloid leukemia stem cells and therapeutic targeting. He directs an NIH-funded laboratory dedicated to the subject and has published more than 90 peer-reviewed articles.

Majeti and his team are one of three research groups who were awarded a combined total of $750,000 in grants to explore the increased risk of blood cancer in patients with a rare hereditary blood disorder referred to as RUNX1-FPD. The group uses computational tools and experimental methods to repurpose existing drugs that target inflammation. They are also modeling the effect of additional mutations on progression of RUNX1-FPD to acute myeloid leukemia.

Katrin Ericson, PhD, executive director of the RUNX1 Research Program, says that as a STRIVE awardee, Majeti’s project “will bring us one step closer to achieving our commitment to discover cancer prevention interventions for our community.”

Congratulations to Ravi!

Anthony Pho Named Propel Postdoctoral Scholar

Congratulations to Anthony Pho, PhD, MPH, ANP-C, postdoctoral scholar and clinical scholar with The PRIDE Study and Stanford’s LGBTQ+ Health Program, who was selected as a Propel Postdoctoral Scholar at Stanford.

The Propel Postdoctoral Scholars Program is in its inaugural year and is the first program of its kind in the School of Medicine. As part of the first cohort of scholars, Anthony will work closely with his Propel postdoctoral colleagues, Propel program staff, and Propel faculty for both his research and professional development with workshops, seminars, and trainings. Propel provides a $75,000 stipend as well as benefits annually for two years.

Makeda Robinson Receives RWJF Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Award

Makeda Robinson, MD, PhD, postdoctoral fellow in infectious diseases, has received the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Award in support of her work on infectious diseases.

The Amos scholarship seeks to increase the number of individuals from historically disadvantaged communities at the senior ranks of academic medicine. As a recipient, Robinson will receive financial support for four years to study and conduct research with a senior faculty member.

Robinson has a strong interest in global health, emerging viruses and new technology that can help combat them. The $420,000 grant will allow her to further investigate the immuno-pathogenesis of severe dengue infections with the goal of identifying signatures that can predict disease progression. In her published work, she describes an urgent need to address the disease, which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and poses a major threat to global health. Early monitoring and supportive care can impact outcomes, highlighting a need for biomarkers to predict severe cases. In the past, she has explored gene sets, anti-dengue antibody properties and inflammatory markers that could yield answers.

Congratulations, Makeda!

Joelle Rosser is One of the Recipients of the 2021 Burroughs Wellcome Fund

Congratulations to Joelle Rosser, MD, PhD, postdoctoral fellow in infectious diseases, who was named one of the recipients of the 2021 Burroughs Wellcome Fund ASTMH Postdoctoral Fellowship in Tropical Infectious Diseases. 

As explained on the BWF website, "Designed to stimulate or sustain interest in research in tropical infectious diseases, this unique fellowship provides funding for physician-scientists to conduct research focused on infectious diseases of low and low-middle income countries."

Mintu Turakhia named One of Top 50 in Digital Health for 2021

Congratulations to Mintu Turakhia, MD, associate professor of cardiovascular medicine, for being named one of RockHealth.org’s Top 50 in Digital Health for 2021!  Per Rock Health’s website, the award recognizes “50 leaders who have answered the call to address the needs of underserved populations, improve health outcomes, and advance digital health innovations.”

The year's awardees were also highlighted for their "unwavering commitment to the promise and potential of digital health."