The 2024 Faculty Awards and Recognition Ceremony was a night of recognition and reflection as Dean Carolyn C. Meltzer, the Keck School Faculty Council and the Office of Faculty Affairs, Advancement, and Inclusion honored the outstanding contributions of Keck School faculty members in clinical practice, diversity, mentorship and more.

The Keck School of Medicine of USC held its annual Faculty Awards and Recognition Ceremony on Thursday, October 24, 2024, in the Mayer Auditorium at the Health Sciences Campus. Faculty members from all levels across the Keck School attended the event, both in person and via livestream from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), to support one another.

Under the guidance of Dean Carolyn C. Meltzer and in collaboration with the Keck School Faculty Council and the Office of Faculty Affairs, Advancement, and Inclusion, the ceremony set out to honor the incredible achievements of faculty members. This year, awards were given in various categories, shining a spotlight on excellence in clinical practice, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, as well as mentoring, scholarship, service, and teaching throughout the 2023-2024 academic year.

The evening opened with a warm welcome from Susie Kim, president of the Keck School Faculty Council and assistant professor of clinical medical education, and opening remarks from Dean Meltzer.

“We live in a time where our society is riddled with divisiveness,” said Kim. “In this milieu, it is a breath of fresh air that we take a moment to pause and to unite as a community.”

Meltzer took the opportunity to celebrate not just the awards, but also the significant milestones of faculty members over the past year. From academic promotions and tenure achievements to appointments to endowed professorships and honors from prestigious organizations, the accomplishments were numerous.

Endowed Chairs
Named during the period July 1, 2023 through June 20, 2024

• Susan B. Gurley, MD, PhD, Kenneth T. Norris Chair in Medicine
• Robert Rissman, PhD, W.M. Keck Chair in Medicine
• Bodour Salhia, PhD, Royce and Mary Trotter Chair in Cancer Research

Appointments to University Professor or Distinguished Professor
Named during the Spring 2024 semester

• Peter Kuhn, PhD, University Professor, Dean’s Professor of Biological Sciences and professor of biological sciences
• Sofia Gruskin, JD, MIA, Distinguished Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences
• Ricky Bluthenthal, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences

“Since joining the Keck School, I have been continually impressed with and inspired by the multidimensional talents of our colleagues,” said Carolyn C. Meltzer, MD, dean of the Keck School of Medicine. “It is so important to me that we pause to reflect, share, and celebrate our accomplishments and achievements together.”

A night of recognition: The Dean’s Awards for Excellence

Christina Runge, PhD, vice dean for faculty affairs, advancement, and Inclusion, alongside Jamlik-Omari Johnson, MD, chair of radiology, and associate dean for faculty professional and leadership development, proudly presented this year’s Dean’s Awards for Excellence faculty awards.

The selection process for these prestigious awards is fueled by nominations from our dedicated faculty members, showcasing the collaborative spirit and mutual respect that define the Keck School community. The Keck School Faculty Council meticulously reviews each nomination, paving the way for recommendations that ultimately guide the Dean’s final choices.

This year’s award recipients stand out for their exceptional dedication and impactful contributions across a range of disciplines. They embody the Keck School of Medicine’s unwavering commitment to clinical excellence, diversity, mentorship, and fostering a culture of inclusion within USC’s academic community.

A heartfelt congratulations to all the remarkable recipients of the Dean’s Awards for Excellence!

Meet the awardees below: 

Dean’s Award for Excellence in Clinical Practice

Sarah Sheibani, MD, assistant professor of clinical medicine

Sheibani developed a nationally recognized program for inflammatory bowel disease over a span of ten years, significantly enhancing patient care and research in this field. Her leadership has been crucial in advancing both the medical and surgical aspects of care, focusing on high-quality, person-centered services that prioritize accessibility and quality. Her patients have complete trust in her guidance, and she has been described as “a phenomenon of total excellence, accomplishment, and compassion.”

 

Dean’s Early Career Award for Excellence in Clinical Practice

Raymond Hah, MD, associate professor of clinical orthopaedic surgery

Hah is a leading adult deformity spine surgeon in the U.S., known for handling complex revision spine cases referred by his peers in Los Angeles. He has been a pioneer in single-position spine surgery, which allows for simultaneous anterior and lateral approaches, reducing operating time, costs, and improving patient outcomes. Hah values teamwork, encourages open communication, respects diverse viewpoints, and promotes multidisciplinary discussions.

 

Dean’s Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Senta Georgia, PhD, associate professor of pediatrics and stem cell biology & regenerative medicine

Georgia is the first African-American woman to receive tenure at the Keck School of Medicine and has been a champion of diversity, equity & inclusion at multiple levels. She founded the $2.7 million CIRM COMPASS program to support underrepresented minority undergraduates in the stem cell field. As the director of the Programs in Biomedical and Biological Sciences (PIBBS) admissions committee, she has helped make it one of the most diverse PhD programs in the nation. Since 2008, she has been involved in various outreach and empowerment initiatives and, in 2023, received the K26 NIDDK Investigator Award to Support Mentoring of Early Career Researchers from Diverse Backgrounds.

 

Dean’s Early Career Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Nada Elbuluk, MD, MSc, clinical associate professor of dermatology (clinician educator)

Elbuluk developed a departmental diversity program at USC over the past six years, leading initiatives to enhance DEI awareness and promote community service for minority and underserved populations. As Director of Curriculum Equity at the Keck School, she created the promotion of respect, inclusion, diversity, and equity (PRIDE) tool for faculty. An expert in skin-of-color dermatology, she also founded USC’s skin-of-color and pigmentary disorders program.

 

Dean’s Award for Excellence in Mentoring

Gage Crump, PhD, professor of stem cell & regenerative medicine

Crump’s trainees – who include 16 PhD students, 15 postdocs, and numerous MS, UG, and visiting students – have earned an impressive array of prestigious fellowships, with several achieving notable success in academia and industry. He encourages innovative, independent research projects, preparing them for their own research programs. With an open-door policy, he provides continuous feedback to help refine their skills. Recently, he established an undergraduate Minor in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, allowing students from underrepresented backgrounds to apply for the COMPASS program, which offers substantial tuition remission.

 

Dean’s Early Career Award for Excellence in Mentoring

Charleston Chiang, PhD, associate professor of population and public health sciences

Chiang fosters a flexible and supportive environment for his mentees, conducting weekly one-on-one meetings with each trainee in his group of 10-11 members, ranging from postbaccalaureate interns to senior research associates. Every December, he dedicates a week to discuss professional and personal growth goals, and hosts open-topic lab meetings each semester. He respects work-life balance and adapts to individual schedules. All his eligible PhD students have won NIH pre-doctoral fellowships, and each student and postdoc leaves with at least one major publication. Chiang proudly emphasizes, “it’s their work, not mine.”

 

Dean’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship

Justin Ichida, PhD, associate professor of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine

Ichida has emerged as an international leader in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and neurodegenerative disorder research, using induced motor neurons from ALS patients for modeling and drug screening. He has authored 36 papers in 11 years as PI and secured 46 grants, currently receiving $2.2M annually. Known for exceptional collaboration, he engages with the stem cell and neuroscience communities, as well as patient advocates in the ALS community.

 

Dean’s Early Career Award for Excellence in Scholarship

Lorraine Kelley-Quon, MD, MSHS, assistant professor of clinical surgery and population & public health sciences

Kelley-Quon is recognized for her strong representation of CHLA and the Division of Pediatric Surgery, focusing on Pediatric Surgical Outcomes and Opioid Utilization in children. She has authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications, led 90 projects at meetings, and featured in over 60 media outlets. Her work addresses opioid use in children and adolescents, committing to solutions and quality improvement initiatives. Her colleagues highlight her as an exemplary leader, innovator, mentor, clinician, and scholar in academic surgery.

 

Dean’s Award for Excellence in Service

Grace Kung, MD, clinical professor of pediatrics (clinician educator)

Kung is being honored for her dedicated service at the Keck School of Medicine, USC, and CHLA. She actively supports the career development of students, residents, fellows, and junior faculty. Known as a sought-after mentor and reliable contributor, she frequently serves on committees like the Keck Faculty Council and the Academic Senate’s Executive Board.

 

Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching

Sravanthi Reddy, MD, professor of clinical radiology (educational scholar)

Reddy is an award-winning master teacher and leader in Emergency Radiology, having established a top-ranked ER division and fellowship program at USC. She mentors future radiologists, fosters scholarship and innovation, and has developed educational programs, including pathways for premedical students and online curricula for medical students. Committed to creating safe learning environments, she is a strong advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and wellness.

 

Dean’s Early Career Award for Excellence in Teaching

Andrea Matho, MD, clinical assistant professor of pediatrics and medicine (clinician educator)

Matho is an innovative teacher known for her excellent evaluations and cross-disciplinary projects. After a fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, she won the 2024 Barbara Korsch Award to develop a point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) training program at CHLA. She mentors students and residents, promotes hands-on learning, and leads multi-departmental initiatives while advocating for the ethical use of POCUS nationally.