2015-16 Awards and Honors

Daniel P. Alford, MD, MPH, FACP, DFASAM received the American Society of Addiction Medicine’s (ASAM) Educator of the Year Award that recognizes his outstanding contributions addiction medicine education through selfless leadership and a deep understanding of the art and science in the field. Alford serves as an ASAM ambassador by delivering presentations and speaking at education activities for ASAM and other medical societies and associations. He also participates in content development and mentorship activities for other providers and educators.

Karen Antman, MD, BUSM dean and provost of the Medical Campus, was named chair of the Council of Deans of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

Richard Babayan, MD, Professor and Chair of Urology, was honored by the Armenian American Medical Association (AAMA) for his significant contributions to the field of medicine and involvement in the Armenian community.  He has been an active member of the AAMA since 1977.

Howard Bauchner, MD, professor of pediatrics, was elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), one of the top honors for physicians. He has been on leave from BU since 2011, when he was named editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Robert M. Beazley, MD, FACS, and Paul Tornetta, III, MD, FABOS, FACS, were selected for induction in the 2016 Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA) national medical honor society. Beazley serves as assistant dean for Student Affairs and professor emeritus of Surgery. Tornetta is professor of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Emelia Benjamin, MD, ScM, FAHA, professor of Medicine and assistant provost for Faculty Development received the American Heart Association’s Gold Heart Award in recognition of continued, distinguished service. The Gold Heart Award is the highest honor the association gives in recognition of continued, distinguished service.

Nahid Bhadelia, MD, received the third annual Fletcher Women’s Leadership Award. Established in 2014 by the Fletcher Board of Advisors and the school’s executive leadership to honor outstanding female graduates who are making a meaningful impact in the world in the private, public and nongovernmental organization sectors. Dr. Bhadelia is an infectious disease physician in the Department of Medicine at Boston Medical Center and a director of infection control at Boston University’s National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratory (NEIDL).

Jag Bhawan, MD, professor of Dermatology and Pathology and vice chair of the department of Dermatology, received the 2015 Certificate of Appreciation from the International League of Dermatological Societies.  Recipients are selected based on the recommendations of the national and international societies of dermatology and recognize those who have given life-long dedication beyond what one would expect of a dermatologist in his or her normal practicing life.

David Coleman, MD, Wade Professor and Chairman of the Department of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Medicine at Boston Medical Center, was elected president-elect of the Association of Professors of Medicine (APM).

This three-year role began in July 2016, as president elect of the association. Following a year as president from July 2017-18, he then will serve one year as past president.  During his three-year term as an APM officer, he also will join the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine (AAIM) Board of Directors. The AAIM Board of Directors includes presidents, presidents-elect, and past presidents of APM, the Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine (APDIM), the Association of Specialty Professors (ASP), the Clerkship Directors in Internal Medicine (CDIM), and the Administrators of Internal Medicine (AIM).

Eileen Costello, MD, was named chief of ambulatory pediatrics at Boston Medical Center (BMC). Costello came to BMC from Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center where she specialized in the primary care of children with neuro-developmental disorders, including autism, as well as children with mental illness. She is an instructor at BUSM.

Gregory A. Grillone, MD, professor and vice chair in the department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, was the recipient of the Triological Society’s prestigious Edmund Prince Fowler Award. Given annually to recognize basic science research excellence, Grillone received the award for his thesis, “The Color of Cancer: Margin guidance for oral cancer resection using elastic scattering spectroscopy (ESS),” which showed that EES can be used to assess adequacy of resection margins in patients having surgery for resection of squamous carcinoma of the oral cavity.

Jason F. Hall, MD, MPH, FACS, FASCRS, was appointed chief of colon and rectal surgery and co-director of the Dempsey Center for Digestive Disorders at Boston Medical Center  and associate professor of surgery.  Hall comes to BMC/BUSM from Lahey Hospital & Medical Center and Tufts University School of Medicine.

Bulat Idrisov, MD, MS, was awarded a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) International Visiting Scientists and Technical Exchange Program (INVEST) Drug Abuse Research Fellowship to train with Jeffrey Samet, MD, MA, MPH, Chief, Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Vice Chair for Public Health, Department of Medicine and Professor of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, Boston University Schools of Medicine and Public Health. Dr. Idrisov, currently a Resident Physician at Bashkir State Medical University in Russia, worked on a Russia ARCH analysis looking at food insecurity and HIV risk behaviors.

Gabrielle A. Jacquet, MD, MPH, FACEP, assistant professor of Emergency Medicine, was named medical director of Child Family Health International (CFHI), a non-profit organization providing more than 30 Global Health Education Programs in 10 countries. Jacquet, an attending physician and director of Global Health in Emergency Medicine at Boston Medical Center and assistant director of global health programs at BUSM, will assist with pre-departure training and research as well as curriculum development.

Terence M. Keane, PhD, BUSM assistant dean for research, professor and vice chairman in the department of Psychiatry,  received the John Blair Barnwell Award recognizing him as a world leader in the field of traumatic stress. Keane also serves as the Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Development at VA Boston Healthcare System and Director of the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder’s Behavioral Science Division. Keane also received the Jerilyn Ross Clinician Advocate Award from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). The award honors the memory and lifework of Jerilyn Ross, cofounder and president from 1985 to 2010, and acknowledges a professional who exemplifies excellence and outstanding advocacy for patient education and care, training and research. It is the highest honor bestowed by the ADAA.

Henri Lee, MD, director of BMC’s Hospital Medicine Unit and BUSM assistant professor of Medicine, and Rebecca Mishuris, MD, MS, MPH, BMC’s assistant chief medical information officer and assistant professor of General Internal Medicine, were accepted into the highly competitive American Association of Medical Colleges Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) Certificate Program. LEAD is an intensive, two-year, cohort-based leadership development program that provides the knowledge, skills, values, and practical experience educational professionals in academic medicine need to be successful leaders.

Karsten Lunze, MD, DrPH, MPH, FACPM, FAAP, research assistant professor of Medicine, was awarded the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award, given annually for outstanding achievements and contributions to humanism in medicine.  At its yearly meeting in Washington, DC, the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) recognized his global health work as demonstrating how public health can contribute to and facilitate humanism in medicine, and highlighted his work for people who use drugs and his engagement for victims of war and terror.

Ann McKee, MD, professor of Neurology and Pathology, received the Jack Spivack Excellence in Neurosciences Award for 2016.  Mr. Spivack established this award in 2013 to recognize and support the research of an outstanding BUSM faculty member conducting either clinical or basic research in Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and other neurological disorders. McKee’s research has significantly increased our understanding of sports- and military-related concussions and traumatic brain injury. She also is the CTE Center director, ADC Center associate director, AD & CTE Center Neuropathology Core director.

Rafael Ortega, MD, professor of Anesthesiology and vice-chairman for Academic Affairs in the Department of Anesthesiology, was recognized by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts House of Representatives for “Outstanding accomplishments in the medical field and valuable service to the community.” Ortega also serves as Associate Dean of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs.

Thomas Perls, MD, professor of Medicine specializing in the study of centenarians, was named to the Census Bureau’s National Advisory Committee. This Committee advises the Census Bureau on a wide range of variables that affect the cost, accuracy and implementation of the programs and surveys, including the once-a-decade census. The committee, which is composed of up to 32 members from multiple disciplines, recently held a meeting to address counting hard-to-reach populations such as children, race and ethnic populations, as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender populations.

Susan P. Perrine, MD, professor of Pediatrics, Medicine, Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, received the 2016 Harrington Scholar-Innovator Award for therapeutic for sickle cell anemia and beta-thalassemia. The award supports breakthrough work of physician-scientists whose drug discovery research shows promise of advancing the standard of care.

 Katya Ravid, DSc, professor of Medicine and Biochemistry, received a Fulbright Scholar Award to France. She is the first to receive this honor in biomedical research at BU.

 Jean Ramsey, MD, associate professor of Ophthalmology and Pediatrics and associate dean for Alumni Affairs, received the 2015 Outstanding Advocate Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The award recognizes Ramsey’s tireless advocacy on behalf of children at a state and national level. She was a major champion of a Massachusetts vision screening bill, which included universal screening and eye care for all children in Massachusetts.

Catherine Rich, MD, assistant professor of Medicine, was elected president of the New England Region Chapter of the Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM). This three-year role begins with Rich serving as president-elect. The following year she will serve as president and then past-president during her third and final year.

Kitt Shaffer, MD, PhD, received the 2016 Alliance of Medical Students Educators in Radiology (AMSER) Excellence in Education Award, which honors an educator who has made outstanding contributions in medical student radiology education. Shaffer, professor of Radiology and vice chairman of education at Boston Medical Center, was presented this award during the meeting of the Association of University Radiologists.

Denise M. Sloan, PhD, professor of Psychiatry, received the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) Distinguished Mentorship Award. She was chosen by the ISTSS Student Section. Sloan, who is also associate director, Behavioral Science Division, VA National Center for PTSD at the VA Boston Healthcare System, was presented with this award in recognition of her commitment and dedication to helping her students grow and meet their goals.

Amy Sobota, MD, MPH, assistant professor of Pediatrics, received a 2016 Scholar Award from the American Society of Hematology (ASH). One of its most prestigious award programs, the ASH Scholar Award program financially supports fellows and junior faculty dedicated to careers in hematology research as they transition from training programs to careers as independent investigators. Sobota was one of three junior faculty award recipients.

Minh Tam Truong, MBBS, BSc, has been appointed chief of Radiation Oncology at BMC and chair of the BUSM department of Radiation Oncology.

Erika Wolf, PhD, a clinical psychologist in the National Center for PTSD/VA Boston Healthcare System and an assistant professor in the department of psychiatry, received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). Wolf was one of 105 recipients to receive this honor, which is the highest bestowed by the U.S. government for early career scientists and engineers. Nominees are considered the most meritorious scientists and engineers whose early accomplishments show the greatest promise for assuring America’s preeminence in science and engineering and contribute to the awarding agencies’ missions.

Benjamin Wolozin, MD, PhD, professor of Pharmacology and Neurology, was one of six researchers awarded a two-year, $500,000 award in Alzheimer’s Disease Drug Discovery Research by the Edward N. & Della L. Thome Memorial Foundation.