2023 President's Achievement Award Winners - Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS), Norfolk, Hampton Roads

Congratulations, Award Winners!

EVMS celebrated the accomplishments of the award winners at the 2023 EVMS Service and Recognition Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 15.

These individuals were nominated by their colleagues for their exemplary service to EVMS and the community.

President’s Champion of Diversity & Inclusion Award

LaConda Fanning, PsyD
Director, GME Early Assessment/Mentorship and Assistant Professor, Internal Medicine

President’s Staff Achievement Awards

Staff Rising Star

Angela Schlender, MS
Office Coordinator, LAS/MHPE Programs - School of Health Professions

Mary Westbrook, MFA
Director, Marketing and Communications

Staff Philanthropy Champion

Kela Cowan-Gant, MA
Assistant Director for Engagement, Office of Education

Staff Community Service

Bobby Booker, MA
Community Engagement Specialist, Pediatric Research

Staff Mentoring

Melissa Donaghay, MS
Program Manager II, Research and Development
Obstetrics and Gynecology, CONRAD

Staff Excellence in Clinical Care & Operations

Leslie Nestor
Assistant EVMS Medical Group Quality Officer,
EVMS Medical Group

Staff Excellence in Customer & Client Services

Cherese Parker, MHA
Patient Advocate, EVMS Medical Group

Staff Excellence in Efficiency & Effectiveness

Karen James, MBA
Executive Director, Business Management

Staff Excellence in Leadership & Management

Nathan Michalak, AuD
Director of Audiology, Otolaryngology

Staff Excellence in Problem-Solving & Innovation

Renee Witherspoon
Senior EHR Project Manager, EVMS Medical Group

Staff Excellence in Student Impact & Success

Alena Stewart, MSEd
Assistant Director for Community-Engaged Learning, Strategic Planning-Service Learning

Staff Outstanding Achievement

Ronald Humphrey
Public Safety Officer, Police and Public Safety

President’s Team Achievement Award

Project

Reproductive Clinical Science Research Innovations and IVF Hands-On Training

Team Leader

Liang Yu, PhD
Program Director and Associate Professor, Reproductive Clinical Science, PhD and MS Programs

Team Members

Nicole Banks, MD
Assistant Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology

Minglei Bian, PhD
Assistant Professor, School of Health Professions

Silvina Bocca, MD, PhD
Professor, School of Health Professions

Frank Castora, PhD
Professor, Physiological Sciences

Tina Cunningham, PhD
Associate Professor, School of Health Professions

Eva Forgacs-Lonart, PhD
Associate Professor, Physiological Sciences

Earl Godfrey, PhD
Teacher, School of Health Professions

Gyorgy Lonart, PhD
Professor, Pathology and Anatomy

Mahmood Morshedi, PhD
Professor, School of Health Professions

April Pace, DHSc, MLS
Associate Director, Library Services and Educator, School of Health Professions

Gerald Pepe, PhD
Chair and Professor, Physiological Sciences

Laurie Wellman, PhD
Associate Dean for Pre-Clinical Education, Academic Affairs
Vice Chair and Professor, Pathology and Anatomy

Fine Family Academy Of Educators Awards

FFAOE Award for Educational Leadership

Mily Kannarkat, MD
Assistant Vice Dean, Pre-Clinical Education and Associate Professor, Internal Medicine

President’s Faculty Achievement Awards

Faculty Rising Star

Amanda Burbage, PhD
Assistant Professor, School of Health Professions

Natascha Heise, PhD
Assistant Professor, Pathology and Anatomy

Faculty Philanthropy Champion

O. John Semmes, PhD
Director, Leroy T. Canoles, Jr. Cancer Research Center and Professor, Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology

Faculty Mentoring

Rehan Qayyum, MBBS, MHS
Chair and Professor, Internal Medicine

Faculty Excellence

Mary Roberts, PhD
Director, Art Therapy and Counseling, MS Program
Professor, School of Health Professions

Sarah Shaves, MD
Vice Chair, Associate Program Director and Associate Professor,
Radiology

Sami Tahhan, MD
Associate Chair for Faculty Development
Professor, Internal Medicine

Judith Taylor-Fishwick, MSc
Director, Faculty Professional Development
Assistant Professor, Pediatrics

Community Faculty Excellence

Thomas Joly, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology

Faculty Outstanding Achievement

Craig Derkay, MD
Vice Chair and Professor, Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery