The George Washington University (GW) academic medical enterprise celebration highlighted the exceptional people who contribute to the GW academic medical enterprise mission of clinical care, education, research, and community service, during the 2025 GW Medicine Faculty and Staff Recognition event Feb. 11.
In her welcoming remarks, Barbara Lee Bass, MD, RESD ’86, vice president for health affairs, dean of GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS), and Walter A. Bloedorn Chair of Administrative Medicine, acknowledged her impending retirement.
“As many of you know, this is a bittersweet moment for me. At the end of the month, I will be retiring,” she said. “Much to my delight, my career in medicine has been bookended by GW.”
Dean Bass noted that the ceremony honors exceptional faculty and staff from both the school and the GW Medical Faculty Associates.
“While my time as dean may be drawing to a close, my pride in what we have done together will never fade,” she said. “Whether you work in a lab, a classroom, a clinic, or an administrative office, you are the backbone of this academic medical enterprise. Your high-performing work and your commitment to excellence are what allow us to serve our vital missions in medicine, education, and discovery.”
This year’s nominees were recognized for fostering collaboration, supporting colleagues, and enhancing workplace effectiveness and efficiency.
Alison Hall, PhD, senior associate dean for research, presented awards honoring excellence in research and discovery.
The Elaine H. Snyder Cancer Research Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to cancer research over the past year across laboratory, clinical, behavioral, and population-based studies, was presented to Vishal Patel, MD, associate professor of dermatology and a leader in cutaneous oncology. As director of cutaneous oncology at the GW Cancer Center and director of dermatologic surgery, Patel has led three international Phase II/III clinical trials in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, helping establish the first FDA-approved adjuvant immunotherapy for non-melanoma skin cancer.
Wenge Zhu, PhD, professor of biochemistry and molecular medicine, received the Distinguished Researcher Award, which honors sustained, high-impact biomedical and health services research. Since 2010, Hall noted, Zhu has maintained continuous NIH and American Cancer Society funding, including four active National Cancer Institute R01 grants, “reflecting an unbroken record of peer-reviewed funding and long-term research excellence.”
The Early Career Clinical Scientist Research Achievement Award was presented to Briony Varda, MD, assistant professor of urology and pediatrics, for her contributions to pediatric urology research. Since 2020, Varda has published 22 peer-reviewed manuscripts focused on reducing low-value care for patients with spina bifida and advancing longitudinal outcomes research for cloacal malformations. She founded the ColLAB interdisciplinary research group, serves as Urology Sub-Committee Chair for the Pediatric Colorectal and Pelvic Learning Consortium, and is site principal investigator at Children’s National Hospital for the PCORI-funded BCALS trial evaluating bowel management in spina bifida. She has also mentored more than 25 trainees through a structured Summer Research Bootcamp.
Pedro Gazzinelli, PhD, assistant professor of microbiology, immunology, and tropical medicine, received the Early Career Basic Scientist Research Achievement Award. His research on type-2 immune responses in parasitic infections and allergic diseases has been published in leading journals and supported by nearly $2.6 million in competitive funding, including an NIH Director’s New Innovator Award—the first awarded to a GW investigator.
Yolanda Haywood, MD, RESD ’87, BS ’81, CERT ’04, senior associate dean for diversity, inclusion, and faculty affairs, presented additional honors.
“This evening, we are honored to celebrate three members of our faculty for being innovative in their teaching,” said Dean Haywood. “They have demonstrated exceptionable ability in all of the following five areas: communicating information to advance learning; inspiring, motivating, and stimulating learners; being innovative in their teaching; demonstrating a sustained commitment as an educator; and establishing and maintaining a positive learning environment.”
Four faculty members received the Distinguished Teacher Award: Patrick Corr, EdD; Travis O’Brien, PhD; Pritha Ghosh, MD; and Ravi Khunkhun, MD.
The W. Scott Schroth Mentor Award, selected by members of the graduating MD Class of 2026, was presented to Michael Whalen, MD, associate professor of urology, for excellence in mentoring scholarly concentration students.
Maria Portela, MD, associate professor of family and community medicine, received the Inclusive Excellence Award for advancing diversity and inclusion. Ray Lucas, MD, professor and chair of emergency medicine, received the Distinguished Service Award for longstanding service to GW SMHS and the Washington, D.C., community.
Dean Bass also presented Staff Excellence Awards to 10 staff members. Robert Selby, chief operating officer of the GW Medical Faculty Associates, recognized 16 individuals with Pillar of Excellence Awards.
Returning to the stage, Dean Haywood honored members of the Class of 2025 Emeriti Faculty. Four of the 15 emeriti — Mohamad S. Jaafar, MD; Susan LeLacheur; Kurt D. Newman, MD; and Eric S. Wargotz, MD — attended the celebration.
Closing out the evening, Dean Bass took a moment to remember former SMHS Chief of Staff Sharon Boyd who passed away earlier in the semester after a nearly three-year battle with cancer.
“She was an amazing young woman who we lost too soon,” Bass said, recalling how Boyd championed the creation of the annual Faculty and Staff Recognition event. “We want to recognize her contribution because she, like all of us, really valued our staff, our faculty, everyone that works to make this school and our clinical programs the very exceptional places that they are.”
Faculty Research Awardees
Elaine H. Snyder Cancer Research Award
Vishal Patel, MD, associate professor of dermatology
Distinguished Researcher Award
Wenge Zhu, PhD, professor of biochemistry and molecular medicine
Early Career Clinical Scientist Research Achievement Award
Briony Varda, MD, assistant professor of urology and of pediatrics
Early Career Basic Scientist Research Achievement Award
Pedro Gazzinelli, PhD, assistant professor of microbiology, immunology and tropical medicine
Faculty Awardees
Distinguished Teacher Awardees
Patrick Corr, EdD, assistant professor of clinical research and leadership
Travis J. O’Brien, PhD, professor of pharmacology and physiology
Pritha Ghosh, MD, associate professor of neurology and rehabilitation medicine
Ravi Khunkhun, MD, clinical instructor of medicine
W. Scott Schroth Mentor Award
Michael Whalen, MD, associate professor of urology
Inclusive Excellence Award
Maria Portela, MD, associate professor of family and community medicine
Distinguished Service Award
Raymond Lucas, MD, professor and chair of emergency medicine
Staff Excellence
Juan David Alzate Alvarez, postdoctoral associate, Chang lab, medicine school instruction
Willie F. Dunn Jr., executive assistant, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine
Giselle Diaz Fernandez, MFA, lead medical assistant, Department of Medicine, GW Specialty Care
Marissa Gigantana-Collado, administrative associate, Office of Animal Research
Andrew Godleski, associate director, didactic education, Department of Physician Assistant Studies
Emma Levine, assistant director, Department of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences
Sara Elizabeth Levy, RN, nurse navigator, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine
Janessa Silcox, senior business analyst, Health Sciences Administration
Alex Velto, MSc, associate program director, Office of Student Support
Janelle Williams, practice manager, GW Cancer Center
Pillars of Excellence Awards
Chynere Best, PhD, senior research associate, Center for Global Mental Health Equity
Jalina Booker, program manager, Office of Diversity and Inclusion
Sarah Boutwell, MD, assistant professor of medicine, director, Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine
Catherine Burke, MBA, CRA, research program manager, Medical Research Support Team (RST-3)
Monica Burmicky, MS, associate director, Office of Student Professional Enrichment
Elizabeth Catherwood, ALS instructor, Department of Emergency Medicine
Alyzza Hudson, DrPH(c), MPH, research data scientist, Center for Population Health Sciences and Health Equity
Conor Kelley, web associate, GW Medicine Communications and Marketing
Anthony Milton, registrar associate, Office of the MD Registrar
Sam Moghtaderi, MD, assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Travis J. O’Brien, PhD, professor of pharmacology and physiology, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology
Sarah Schermer, MRA, research grant associate, Medical Research Support Team (RST-3)
Victoria Vinarsky, DO, clinical instructor of neurology, Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine
Monique White, executive coordinator, Department of Urology
Michael Williams, PharmD, clinical pharmacist, GW Medicine Pharmacy
Zareen Zaidi, MD, PhD, professor of medicine and co-director, Academy of Education Scholars, Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine
Recognition of Emeriti Faculty
David A. Belyea, MD, Professor Emeritus of Ophthalmology
Leo M. Chalupa, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Pharmacology and Physiology
Jay Greenberg, MD, Clinical Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics
Pamela S. Hinds, PhD, Professor Emerita of Pediatrics
Mohamad S. Jaafar, MD, Professor Emeritus of Ophthalmology and of Pediatrics
Susan LeLacheur, DPH ’08, MPH ’89, BS ’80, Professor Emerita of Physician Assistant Studies
Joyce R. Maring, EdD, DPT, Professor Emerita of Health, Human Function and Rehabilitation Sciences
Bruce M. Markle, MD, Associate Professor Emeritus of Radiology and of Pediatrics
Jeffrey P. Moak, MD, Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics
Kurt D. Newman, MD, Professor Emeritus of Surgery and of Pediatrics
Eglal Shalaby-Rana, MD, Associate Professor Emerita of Radiology and of Pediatrics
Eric S. Wargotz, MD, Clinical Professor Emeritus of Pathology
William Weglicki, MD, Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine
Gil Wernovsky, MD, Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics
John Zinner, MD, Clinical Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
Visit the 2025 Promotions and Tenue web page to see the full list of Promoted Faculty.
