News

Health Sciences community invited to celebrate faculty, staff at Chancellor’s Awards ceremony

Posted on

Health Sciences community invited to celebrate faculty, staff at Chancellor’s Awards ceremony

West Virginia University Health Sciences is recognizing eleven individuals and two teams with Chancellor’s Awards, as well as one individual with a WISH (Women in Science & Health) Award, for their significant contributions to its mission.

A ceremony to honor the 2023 award winners will be held Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 4 p.m. in Pylons Commons. A live stream will be available via YouTube.

Each year, the Chancellor’s Awards and WISH Awards honor faculty and staff who have been recognized by their peers for their outstanding accomplishments. Winners were nominated by their peers and selected by their respective achievement award committees.

Faculty Awards

Master Clinician Award: Manual Vallejo, MD, School of Medicine, Department of Graduate Medical Education, Department of Medical Education, Department of Anesthesiology
This award recognizes faculty for sustained outstanding achievement in providing quality patient-centered care with compassion, integrity and honesty.

Outstanding Achievement in Local or Regional Service: Juan Bugueno, DDS, School of Dentistry, Department of Diagnostic Sciences
This award recognizes faculty for outstanding achievement in advancing the service mission of WVU Health Sciences at the local or regional level.

Outstanding Achievement in Research: Roberta Leonardi, PhD, School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine
This award recognizes faculty for outstanding achievements in research, scholarship or creative activities.

Community-Engaged Research Award: Ranjita Misra, PhD, School of Public Health, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Academic and Student Affairs
This award honors faculty who develop effective collaboration with community-based organizations (e.g., schools, non-profit organizations, private clinics or other community organizations) that result in outstanding scholarly and community outcomes.

Outstanding Achievement in Teaching: Steven Frisch, PhD, School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine
This award recognizes faculty for outstanding achievement in advancing the teaching mission of WVU Health Sciences.

Mentor Award: Elizabeth Claydon, PhD, School of Public Health, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
This award recognizes faculty who have provided outstanding mentorship to students or to faculty colleagues within WVU Health Sciences.

Staff Awards

Chancellor’s Award for Administrative Assistant/Coordinator/Clerical: Teresa Lodge, School of Pharmacy, Office of the Dean

Chancellor’s Award for Administrative/Managerial: Joe Andria, Office of Research and Graduate Education

Chancellor’s Award for Paraprofessional/Technical: Timmy Nguyen, School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology

Chancellor’s Award for Physical Plant/Maintenance: Diana Ridgway, Facilities Management

Chancellor’s Award for Professional Non-Teaching: Phillip Engelkemier, School of Nursing, Office of Student Services

Team Awards

Go First Award: Medical Weight Management

  • Physicians: Laura Davisson, MD, Treah Haggerty, MD, Tara Rickard, MD, Ayesha Hassan, MD, Shailendra Singh, MD, Lawrence Tabone, MD, Nova Szoka, MD, and Salim Abunnaja, MD
  • Advanced Practice Providers: Amber Shaffer, Robin Elkins and Lyn DeChristopher
  • Psychologists: Jennifer Ludrosky, PhD, Stephanie Cox, PhD, and Laura Aylward
  • Registered Nurses: Caroline Rosenberger and Sue Faverio
  • Registered Dietitians: Cathy Shaw and Judith Siebart
  • Patient Navigator: Brice Haines
  • Human Performance Lab: Paul Chantler, PhD, and David Donley

This award honors a team of faculty, of staff or a team of faculty and staff that has demonstrated positive outcomes and enhanced the missions of WVU Health Sciences through implementation of innovations or quality improvement measures in their respective area.

Team Achievement Award: Parkinson's Music, Activity and Voice Group

  • Hannah Bush
  • Jacob Greenfield, OTD
  • Kayleigh Nolan
  • Anna Gravelin, PhD

This award recognizes a team of faculty, of staff, or a team of faculty and staff for their combined effort in accomplishing a goal, such as a specific project, initiative or event.

WISH (Women in Science & Health) Award

Krista Pfaendler, MD, School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
This award recognizes a woman faculty member who demonstrates sustained exceptional achievements in diversity and inclusion, education and mentorship, research and scholarship, leadership, and service to the state of West Virginia while supporting the WVU Health Sciences mission and WVU values.