2024 Faculty Excellence Awards honors outstanding achievements

Family, friends and colleagues gathered in the MMEC Learning Theater on Tuesday, Sept. 24 to honor clinical and basic health science faculty at the 2024 School of Medicine Faculty Excellence Awards. 

Aimee Grover, M.D., interim senior associate dean for faculty affairs, opened the ceremony by congratulating the awardees. She also thanked them, along with other faculty and staff, for making their mark on the School of Medicine, and emphasized that success in medical education requires teamwork.  

“We have said it before, but we probably can’t say it enough," Grover said. “Thank you."

Arturo Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D., dean of the School of Medicine, echoed Grover’s sentiments, and commended the awardees for being standout educators in their specialties. He stressed that while they were being recognized at the ceremony, the School of Medicine community cherishes their contributions at all times. 

“It’s not the pictures we take or commentary we make today, but the actions we live by every day and communicate to each other,” Saavedra said. “You matter, I see you and well done.” 

Teaching Excellence Awards 

Enrique Gerszten, M.D. Faculty Teaching Excellence Award 

Edmond P. Wickham III, M.D., M.P.H. 

Professor, Department of Internal Medicine and Department of Pediatrics

Edmond "Trey" Wickham III, M.D., is a beloved physician and educator whose passion for his patients and students is evident in every aspect of his work. Described by colleagues as having a "gift for inspiring" students, Wickham fosters an engaging learning environment where students thrive. He seamlessly blends complex medical concepts with practical applications, ensuring his students grasp both the "why" and the "how" of medicine. He provides individualized guidance, helping learners define their career aspirations and overcome challenges, all while fostering their confidence and independence. His impact is all-encompassing. As one student succinctly expressed, “I want to be Dr. Wickham when I grow up.” 

Irby-James Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching 

Amanda George, M.D., Ph.D. 

Assistant Professor, Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine 

The teaching prowess of Amanda “Mandy” George, M.D., Ph.D., extends beyond the bedside. Her innovative approach to revamping the residency journal club curriculum showcases her commitment to staying at the forefront of medical education. Residents describe these sessions as “incredibly well thought out” and “one of the greatest gifts” she gives to them as she helps them develop skills to effectively digest new medical literature, determine whether a novel therapy is applicable to their patient population and efficiently interpret complex statistical analysis. 

Distinguished Mentor Award 

Huiping Zhou, Ph.D. 

Professor and Interim Chair, Department of Microbiology and Immunology 

Having mentored more than 60 graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, visiting scientists and young faculty while at VCU, Huiping Zhou, Ph.D., is dedicated to fostering the next generation of scientists. This dedication is not limited to those pursuing advanced degrees; Zhou has also mentored numerous high school and undergraduate students throughout her time at VCU. She actively involves her students in professional development opportunities, such as conference presentations, manuscript writing, and grant applications, and many of them received individual NIH F31 or F30 grant support for their research in Zhou’s laboratory. The vast majority of her students have received travel awards to national and international meetings to present their research, and many of her trainees have gone on to hold prestigious positions in academia and industry worldwide. 

Educational Innovation/Educational Research Award 

Pete D. Meliagros, M.D. 

Assistant Professor, Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine 

As a consummate innovator, when Pete Meliagros, M.D., identifies a need, he develops a solution. For example, he co-founded a procedure medicine team, offering residents an elective rotation opportunity for advanced training to further hone their skills. Additionally, he implemented a system of biannual resident evaluations designed to ensure that residents are meeting the highest standards of procedural competency. Meliagros also collaborated with experts to develop standardized checklists for all procedures, ensuring consistency across the institution and minimizing the potential for errors. Meliagros' deep understanding of the challenges faced by medical trainees and his investment in their success is readily apparent in their description of him as “one of the most approachable attendings,” who is a “patient, effective teacher … constantly available for support and coaching.” 

MCV Physicians Distinguished Clinician Award 

John McCarty, M.D.

Watson James Endowed Professor of Hematology, Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Palliative Care in the Department of Internal Medicine.

Throughout his nearly three decades at VCU, John McCarty, M.D. has not just treated diseases, but transformed lives, leaving an indelible mark on the field of cellular immunotherapies and transplantation. While McCarty’s career is decorated with achievements as a researcher, educator/mentor and sought-after speaker at international conferences, it’s his empathy, commitment to his patients and his genuine, caring and upbeat personality that reflect the heart of a physician who goes above and beyond, touching the lives of his patients and colleagues. McCarty's journey is a powerful reminder that a distinguished clinician is more than just a skilled practitioner; they are a beacon of hope, a source of comfort and a champion for their patients. 

Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award 

Edmond P. Wickham III, M.D., M.P.H. 

Professor, Department of Internal Medicine and Department of Pediatrics

Edmond "Trey" Wickham III, M.D. balances theoretical knowledge with real-world clinical examples, all while bringing awareness to the barriers patients may face. Wickham also actively encourages colleagues to reconsider potentially stigmatizing language, especially when discussing obesity medicine. Trang Le, M.D. a former mentee and current colleague, states that in particular, Wickham “has been effective at communicating the effects of weight bias on patient-provider interactions and contributed to educating learners at all levels about the severe consequences of bias in healthcare.” Wickham’s proactive style of addressing sensitive topics and promoting respectful communication distinguishes him as a leader in building a more humane healthcare system.  

Women in Science, Dentistry and Medicine Professional Achievement Award 

Colleen Jackson-Cook, Ph.D. 

Professor, Department of Pathology, Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology 

Dedicated, compassionate, enthusiastic, exceptional, organized and delightful are just a few adjectives used to describe Colleen Jackson-Cook, Ph.D., who began her career at VCU in 1986 as an instructor in the Department of Genetics. By 2005, she had been promoted to professor with tenure in three departments: pathology, human genetics and obstetrics and gynecology. Since that time, Jackson-Cook has mentored more than 100 graduate students, medical residents and fellows, as well as junior faculty in her role as program director for the Clinical Laboratory Genetics and Genomics Ph.D. Fellowship training program in the Departments of Pathology and Human & Molecular Genetics.  

VCU/VCUHS Leadership in Graduate Medical Education “LGME” Awards 

Fellowship Director Award 

 Ravi Vachhani, M.D. 

 Associate Professor, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine 

As a mentor and educator, Ravi Vachhani, M.D. possesses the rare but exceptional qualities of having great clinical acumen, compassion and passion while spreading an infectious energy. He has consistently gone above and beyond to support and guide trainees. He fosters a safe learning climate filled with intellectual curiosity and debate to enhance critical thinking skills and further medical students’, residents’ and fellows’ educational foundation. 

Program Director Award 

Nicole Karjane, M.D.  

Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology  

In her role as a program director, Nicole Karjane, M.D., makes every effort to know her residents in their entirety. From the moment she meets them as applicants, she becomes their passionate advocate for life. She sets the expectation that her program considers the whole candidate during the recruitment and resident selection process. Once in training, she continues her whole person approach to support each resident's needs and desires for individualized experiences to help them reach their goals for fellowship and practice. 

Program Coordinator Award 

Catherine Remines  

Senior Program Coordinator, Department of Pediatrics 

Remines’ dedication to service is evident in her unwavering commitment to VCU Health’s pediatric GME and the broader community. She has been a strong pillar of support for fellowship program directors, fellows and coordinators resulting in success in all aspects of fellowship administration ranging from recruitment, onboarding, offboarding and organizing the logistics of pediatric fellowship curricula.