Louis Duhring Outstanding Clinical Specialist Award

Mario A. Cristancho, MD

Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry

The Duhring Award recognizes a clinical specialist physician who blends biomedical science, recent advances in clinical research, and insight to provide cutting-edge services to patients and colleagues. The awardee is able to apply clinical knowledge innovatively and creatively and maintains a commitment to patients that goes beyond the norm and exemplifies Penn Medicine’s goal for clinical care and professionalism.

Dr. Mario Cristancho is a distinguished leader in interventional psychiatry whose expertise in complex psychopharmacology and advanced neuromodulation techniques have transformed care for patients with treatment-resistant mood disorders.  As founding director of Penn’s Interventional Psychiatry Program and Chief of Interventional Psychiatry, he has built a collaborative model that integrates innovative therapies across the health system while inspiring trainees and colleagues through mentorship and scholarly engagement.  His clinical acumen, vision, and unwavering commitment to patient-centered care have advanced both local and international practice in the treatment of refractory mood disorders.

Sylvan Eisman Outstanding Primary Care Physician Award

Kristine Pamela Garcia, MD

Associate Professor of Clinical Family Medicine and Community Health

The Eisman Award recognizes a physician in family or general internal medicine, general pediatrics, or obstetrics/gynecology who strives for continuous improvement and the highest quality of practice, while maintaining a commitment to patients that goes beyond the norm and exemplifies the Penn Medicine goals for clinical care, professionalism, and standards for excellence.

Dr. Kristine Pamela Garcia is a dedicated physician whose exceptional care for socially and economically marginalized patients - including refugees and immigrants, individuals with substance use disorders, and those living with HIV and Hepatitis - exemplifies the highest standards of clinical excellence.  She has pioneered innovative programs, including mobile street medicine for communities at high risk of overdose, co-located primary care for persons living with HIV, and patient-centered primary care medical home for refugees, while providing comprehensive primary care and mentoring the next generation of physicians.  Through her compassionate, community-focused approach, Dr. Garcia sets a standard of excellence in patient care and equitable healthcare delivery.

Luigi Mastroianni, Jr. Clinical Innovator Award

Scott O. Trerotola, MD

Stanley Baum Professor of Radiology

The Mastroianni Award recognizes a physician who has made significant contributions toward the invention and development of new techniques, approaches, procedures, or devices that change medical practice and are of major benefit to patient care.

Dr. Scott Trerotola is a leading innovator in endovascular medicine whose high-impact devices and procedural techniques have transformed patient care.  His development of the Arrow-Trerotola Percutaneous Thrombolytic Device, ultra-high pressure balloon angioplasty, balloon-assisted gastrostomy placement, and the forceps technique for complex IVC filter removal have set new standards in treatment, enabling minimally invasive, outpatient procedures that benefit tens of thousands of patients.  Through extensive publications and eight medical device patents, Dr. Trerotola has ensured these innovations are widely adopted across specialties, fundamentally advancing the field of interventional medicine.

Alfred Stengel Health System Champion Award

Jeffrey T. Tokazewski, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine and Community Health

The Stengel Award recognizes a physician who has made significant contributions toward the clinical integration and efficiency of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, along with demonstrated commitment to the improvement of quality care.

Dr. Jeffrey Tokazewski is an exceptional family physician, informaticist, and leader whose visionary work has transformed clinical efficiency and safety across Penn Medicine.  His development of medication refill protocols in PennChart saves practitioners hours each week and has made Penn a national leader in this workflow, while his service to the Opioid Task Force has enhanced patient safety through systematic tracking and clinician education.  By expanding Penn Medicine On-Demand to provide after-hours coverage for all Penn Primary Care practices, he has helped champion goals of simultaneously reducing clinician burnout, improving patient access, and transforming call coverage into sustainable telehealth encounters.

Arthur K. Asbury Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award

Kristy B. Arbogast, PhD

Professor of Pediatrics

The Asbury Award recognizes a faculty member who has fostered the professional development of other faculty by providing inspiring and effective counsel in a manner that enables professional growth and development.

Dr. Kristy Arbogast is a leading scientist in pediatric injury prevention whose research has shaped laws, safety standards, and clinical practices worldwide. Equally distinguished is her deep and sustained commitment to mentorship, guiding generations of students, post-docs, and faculty, many of whom are now independent leaders advancing injury prevention and public health. Through her generosity, empathy and insight, she has strengthened the next generation of injury scientists who continue to expand her legacy of impact through breakthroughs in technology, clinical care, policy and education.

Duncan Van Dusen Professionalism Award for Faculty

George Dalembert, MD, MSHP

Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics

The Van Dusen Award recognizes a faculty member whose respectful approach, integrity, self-awareness, and personal accountability are exemplary of the campaign for the ongoing elevation of the culture at Penn and for the promotion of exceptional patient care experiences.

Through his visionary leadership and deep commitment to equity, Dr. George Dalembert has transformed pediatric health care at Penn, CHOP, and beyond.  As founder of the Medical Financial Partnership and co-founder and director of the Leadership in Equity, Advocacy, and Policy (LEAP) residency track, he has forged innovative connections between medicine, finance, and community advocacy, helping families access vital resources while training the next generation of compassionate physician-leaders.  A humble and authentic role model, Dr. Dalembert embodies mission-driven leadership in all that he does, advancing health equity through quiet strength, collaboration, and a steadfast dedication to the communities he serves.

Marjorie A. Bowman New Investigator Research Award

Elinore J. Kaufman, MD, MSHP

Assistant Professor of Surgery

The Bowman Award recognizes achievements in the health evaluation sciences, with a particular emphasis on patient-oriented research that addresses fundamental clinical problems as well as the organization and delivery of health care.

Dr. Elinore Kaufman is a preeminent trauma surgeon and health services researcher whose groundbreaking work in violence and firearm injury epidemiology has shaped both policy and patient care. Her seminal contributions - including advancing causal methods to evaluate injury prevention policies, improving acute care outcomes, and establishing the Penn Trauma Violence Recovery program - have transformed the care and recovery of patients affected by violence. Her work combines rigorous clinical research with policy relevance to advance both the science and practice of injury care.

Michael S. Brown New Investigator Research Award

Yi-Wei Chang, PhD

Assistant Professor of Biochemistry & Biophysics

Established in honor of Nobel Laureate Michael S. Brown, a 1966 Penn School of Medicine alumnus, the Brown Award recognizes emerging faculty investigators engaged in innovative discoveries.

Dr. Yi-Wei Chang is a pioneering structural biologist whose lab uses cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) to study macromolecular machines directly inside cells, revealing their native conformations, interactions, and roles in complex processes like host-pathogen interactions.  His work has illuminated mechanisms underlying malaria, toxoplasmosis, and cryptosporidiosis, while also enabling studies of diverse systems, from influenza RNA-protein assemblies to unfixed human brain tissue.  As both a structural biology innovator and collaborative leader, Dr. Chang is transforming our understanding of infectious diseases and advancing in-tissue structural analysis with major translational implications.

Stanley N. Cohen Biomedical Research Award

Guo-li Ming, MD, PhD

Perelman Professor of Neuroscience

Hongjun Song, PhD

Perelman Professor of Neuroscience

The Cohen Award was established in honor of Dr. Stanley N. Cohen, a 1960 Penn School of Medicine alumnus whose contributions launched a new era in biological research technology. The award recognizes achievement in the broad field of biomedical research.

Drs. Guo-li Ming and Hongjun Song are internationally recognized leaders in neuroscience whose groundbreaking research has transformed our understanding of brain development, plasticity, and disease.  Their innovative work spans adult hippocampal neurogenesis, epitranscriptomics in the nervous system, and the development of next-generation brain organoid technologies - including breakthrough patient-derived tumor models that preserve critical microenvironmental features.  Their multidisciplinary approaches have generated paradigm-shifting insights with profound implications for developmental disorders, brain tumors, and personalized therapeutic strategies.

Health Equity Scholarship or Research Award

Carmen E. Guerra, MD, MSCE

Ruth C. and Raymond G. Perelman Professor of Medicine

The Health Equity Award recognizes a Penn Medicine faculty member whose scholarly work has significantly advanced health equity. It honors long-term contributions that reduce health disparities, expand healthcare access, and drive transformative impact for underserved or marginalized communities.

Having dedicated her career to advancing health equity through groundbreaking research, policy leadership, and direct community impact, Dr. Carmen Guerra is the inaugural winner of the Health Equity Scholarship or Research Award.  She has established cancer screening navigation programs that have helped thousands of underserved Philadelphians access life-saving care, co-authored cancer screening guidelines that shape clinical practice nationwide, and led the National Academies' transformative 2024 report reframing how race and ethnicity should be understood in biomedical research.  A generous mentor, colleague, and institutional citizen, Dr. Guerra’s work exemplifies how rigorous scholarship, compassionate advocacy, and sustained community engagement can drive systemic change for marginalized populations both locally and nationally.

Samuel Martin Health Evaluation Sciences Research Award

Nandita Mitra, PhD

Professor of Biostatistics

Established in 1996 to honor the late Dr. Samuel P. Martin, III, Executive Director of the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics and Chair of the Health Care Systems Unit of the Wharton School, the Martin Award is granted to a member of the School of Medicine faculty for a body of work with an emphasis on health services research.

Dr. Nandita Mitra is an internationally recognized leader whose trailblazing work in causal inference has transformed health services research and advanced equity-driven policy evaluation.  Her innovative methods have been applied to pressing issues ranging from beverage taxes and SNAP policies to exposing systemic racial bias in capital punishment trials - work that directly led to the vacating of a death sentence and is shaping legal reform nationwide.  Through this scholarship, she bridges rigorous statistical innovation with urgent demands for justice and public health impact.

William Osler Patient Oriented Research Award

Kurt T. Barnhart, MD, MSCE

William Shippen, Jr. Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology

Established in 1996 to honor Dr. Osler, a “Father of Clinical Medicine” who, in the 1880’s at the School of Medicine, revolutionized clinical teaching research, the Osler Award recognizes achievement for research in which an investigator directly interacts with human subjects.

Dr. Kurt Barnhart is a pioneering clinician-researcher whose work in reproductive medicine has transformed the diagnosis and management of early pregnancy complications, including ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage.  Through landmark clinical trials, rigorous epidemiologic studies, and the development of internationally adopted standards of care, his research has directly improved patient safety and outcomes while shaping practice guidelines worldwide.  In addition to his scientific contributions, Dr. Barnhart has demonstrated enduring leadership in mentorship, research integrity, and institutional service, solidifying his legacy in women’s health.

Leonard Berwick Memorial Teaching Award

Erica B. Baller, MD

Assistant Professor of Psychiatry

The Berwick Award  was established in 1981 as a memorial to Leonard Berwick by his family and the Department of Pathology. It recognizes “a member of the medical faculty who in his or her teaching effectively fuses basic science and clinical medicine.” It is intended that this award recognize persons who are outstanding teachers, particularly among younger faculty.

Dr. Erica Baller is dedicated to advancing trainee education in the care of medically ill patients with neuropsychiatric disorders. In addition to her role as director of neuroscience education for the Department of Psychiatry’s residency program, she is a national leader in the National Neuroscience Curriculum Initiative (NNCI), where her widely adopted teaching materials have been used in 178 countries and incorporated into primary care training in Canada. She has developed more than 15 educational modules for the NNCI and actively mentors residents in creating neuroscience teaching tools used internationally.

Robert Dunning Dripps Memorial Award for Excellence in Graduate Medical Education

Robert E. Roses, MD

Professor of Surgery

The Dunning Dripps Award was established by the Department of Anesthesia in 1984. As a pioneer in the specialty of anesthesia and chair of the department from 1943 to 1972, Dr. Dripps was instrumental in the training of more than 300 residents and fellows, many of whom went on to chair other departments. This award is to recognize excellence as an educator of residents and fellows in clinical care, research, teaching, or administration.

Dr. Robert Roses is a consummate educator who has dedicated over a decade to shaping the next generation of surgeons through his leadership of the Department of Surgery’s principal weekly educational conference and personalized chief resident rotations.  His apprenticeship-style approach and skill in granting progressive autonomy have earned him a number resident-selected teaching awards, with trainees consistently praising his mentorship in their clinical and technical development.

Jane M. Glick Graduate Student Teaching Award

Kurt A. Engleka, PhD

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Cell & Developmental Biology

The Glick Award was established in 2009 by the Glick family in remembrance of Jane Glick and her dedication to the Biomedical Graduate Studies (BGS) programs.

Dr. Kurt Engleka has made lasting contributions to graduate education, inspiring students to approach science with rigor, creativity, and integrity. Through his dedication to mentorship and curriculum leadership, he has helped shape the next generation of scientists, embodying the qualities of innovation, integrity, and educational impact that the Jane Glick Award seeks to honor.

Michael P. Nusbaum Graduate Student Mentoring Award

Akiva S. Cohen, PhD

Research Professor of Anesthesiology & Critical Care

The Nusbaum Award was established in 2017 to honor Mikey Nusbaum as he stepped down from his role of BGS Director.  Mentors embody the skills, experience, and wisdom essential to success in science; they serve as models for how one conducts his or her life in balance with a demanding career; and certain faculty – such as Mikey – play pivotal roles in guiding students in reaching their scholarly potential. All BGS faculty are eligible for this award, which will recognize excellence in graduate (PhD) mentoring.

Dr. Akiva Cohen is widely recognized for his dedication to mentoring and supporting graduate students. Through his work on the academic review committee and beyond, he fosters an environment in which trainees can explore their interests, pursue research opportunities, and thrive academically and professionally. His thoughtful, holistic approach to mentorship and unwavering commitment to student success exemplify the values of guidance, engagement, and excellence that are central to BGS.

Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching

Arupa Ganguly, PhD

Professor of Genetics

Scott E. Kasner, MD, MSCE

Ruth M. and Tristram C. Colket, Jr. President's Distinguished Professor of Neurology

Nandita Mitra, PhD

Professor of Biostatistics

The Lindback Award was established in 1961 with the help of the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation to recognize excellence in teaching. Awards are granted each year for distinguished teaching in health and non-health areas.

Drs. Arupa Ganguly, Scott Kasner, and Nandita Mitra’s Lindback Awards recognize their outstanding dedication to education and the profound influence that they have had on the intellectual and personal growth of their students.  This distinction honors both their exceptional teaching and inspiring efforts to foster a vibrant, supportive learning community at Penn.

Provost Award for Distinguished Teaching

Flint Y. Wang, MD

Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine

The Provost’s Award for Distinguished Teaching was established in 1988 to recognize distinguished teaching in health and non-health areas.

Dr. Flint Wang's Provost’s Award for Distinguished Teaching honors his exceptional commitment to medical education. Through leadership in clinical coaching, hospital medicine, and IT training for residents, he has had a lasting impact on the intellectual and professional development of students and trainees.