The University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville held its Faculty Awards and Appreciation Celebration Tuesday, Feb 28.

Awardees are exceptional faculty who are committed to educating students and to making the School of Medicine Greenville (SOMG) a premier medical school in South Carolina. 

“Tonight is about those faculty who are being recognized for going above and beyond,” said Dean Marjorie Jenkins. “Thank you not only for what you’ve done over this past academic year, but for the consistent support that you’ve shown our students and our school, as we were moved through the challenges of a global pandemic.”

Faculty are an essential part of what helps SOMG achieve its mission of teaching a generation of physicians “better prepared to be physician leaders in the ever-increasing complexity of healthcare delivery and patient care,” says Dean Marjorie Jenkins. 

“There has never been one time when a chair, a vice chair, or a faculty has ever said ‘I can’t do that,’ when our students really needed it,” said Jenkins. “And that is what our students tell us time and time again. The door is always open. You are always there for them.” 

This year’s Faculty Awards and Appreciation Celebration marked the first time the annual faculty appreciation and awards event was held in person in two years. 

“This is the first time in two years we’ve been able to sit together in a room and show appreciation for the faculty who do such a great job teaching our students,” said Dr. MacGilvray, Sr. Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. “From the bottom of our hearts thank you so much for everything that you do each and every day for our students. We are grateful for you.”

Faculty are nominated for the awards by their peers and academic chairs. 

SOMG is integral to conducting research and training the future medical workforce, said William S. Cobb, M.D., Clinical Vice president, Prisma Health Medical Group – Upstate and Profess of Surgery USC School of Medicine Greenville, in closing remarks. 

“These folks are really committed to education, committed to students, and teaching,” Cobb said. 

The following SOMG faculty were recognized for their efforts:

Golden Peach Excellence in Education Award:

• Alison Huppmann, M.D., Excellence in Pre-Clinical Education
• Veeral M. Oza, M.D., Excellence in Clinical Education
• Megan W. Zappitelli, M.D., Excellence in Residency/Graduate Medical Education

The Golden Peach Award for Excellence in Education recognizes faculty members deemed to have most demonstrated excellence in education in the biomedical sciences curriculum, integrated practice of medicine curriculum, or M3-M4 clinical curriculum.  Such excellence may be exhibited through a combination of effective classroom teaching and/or small-group teaching, development of curricula or educational media, scholarly activity related to education, fostering student motivation, development, and independent learning, or other achievements. Documentation of such achievements may include student ratings of instruction, peer evaluations of teaching, recognized improvement in learning outcomes, implementation of curricula or educational media, dissemination of the results of scholarly activities related to education, and other sources of evidence.

Faculty Research Award: 

• Jason L. Guichard, M.D., Ph.D., Clinical Research Award

The award recognizes individuals whose productive scholarly activity makes important contributions to their respective fields, the reputation of the shared academic health system, and the quality of education and/or total health care provided by Prisma Health. 

Outstanding Mentor Reward: 

• Blakely Amati, M.D., Outstanding Mentor Clinical Faculty
• Anna V. Blenda, Ph.D., Outstanding Mentor Biomedical Faculty

The Outstanding Mentor Award recognizes one clinical and one biomedical sciences faculty who exemplify excellence in mentoring students.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award: 

• Lisa J. Green, M.D., MPH

For dedication to addressing and removing bias, welcoming and honoring diversity, and advocating for inclusivity. 

LeadingG (Lead-in-SOM-Greenville) Through Change Award:

• Prerana Jain Roth, M.D. 

The LeadinG (Lead-in-SOM-Greenville) Through Change Award recognizes ne faculty member who consistently exceeds expectations and demonstrates optimism and adaptability in the face of adversity. The recipient provides encouragement to all and delivers outcomes which directly progress the mission of the School of Medicine Greenville. 

Dean’s Award:

• Renee J Chosed, Ph.D.

The Dean’s Award recognizes individuals who demonstrate excellence, commitment, and outstanding contributions to the mission and vision of the medical school and/or advance one or more strategic initiatives that make measurable progress in achieving primary institutional goals. 

In recognition of Excellence, Commitment, and Outstanding Contribution to the Mission of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville. 

 

2021 Award Recipients 

 

Golden Peach Award:

• Mohammed Khalil, DVM, MSed, Phd, Excellence in Pre-Clinical Education
• Mary Blumer, MD, Excellence in Residency/GME

Bench to Bedside Faculty Research Award:

• Anna Blenda, PhD

LeadinG Through Change Award:

• Anand Pariyadath, MD

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award:

• Ann Blair Kennedy, LMT, BCTMD, DrPH

Outstanding Mentor Award – Clinical:

• Camiron Pfenning-Bass, MD, MHPE

These awardees from 2021 were also honored at the awards event on Feb. 28.