School of Medicine Celebrates Outstanding Contributions

The following awards were presented:

• Jean Wactawski-Wende, PhD
  professor and associate chair of social and preventive medicine
  UB vice provost for strategic initiatives

Elected to membership in the American Epidemiological Society, Wactawski-Wende is a noted researcher of women’s health issues. For 20 years, she has helped to lead UB’s key role in the landmark Women’s Health Initiative clinical trial and observation study.

She also has worked to create critical cross-discipline initiatives to help UB achieve its strategic goals.

She will deliver the Stockton Kimball Lecture in 2014.

The award and lecture recognize an outstanding scholar and researcher who has also contributed significantly to the school. It is named in memory of Stockton Kimball, MD ’29, dean of the medical school from 1946 to 1958.

• Margarita L. Dubocovich, PhD
  professor and chair of pharmacology and toxicology
  senior associate dean for inclusion and cultural enhancement
  director of UB’s CLIMB (Collaborative Learning and Integrated Mentoring in the Biosciences) program

In presenting this award, Vice President for Health Sciences and Dean Michael E. Cain, MD, described Dubocovich as “a champion and a remarkable advocate for inclusion and cultural enhancement,” while also praising her leadership as a department head.

Cain lauded Dubocovich for her “tireless efforts” to implement transformational change and advance the school’s mission.

This award recognizes an individual who has provided extraordinary service to the school and has gone above and beyond the call of duty to make a difference.

• Andrew P. Koenig
  local area network analyst
  associate facilities manager

This 30-plus year employee provides expert guidance and assistance, overseeing networking and various technology services.

He also is playing an integral role in the planning process for the school’s new state-of-the-art building in downtown Buffalo.

Named for a former medical school dean, this award recognizes outstanding staff members or volunteers who contribute significantly to the advancement of the medical school and its mission.

• Susan Graham, MD
  clinical professor of medicine

This award recognizes Graham’s outstanding patient care and volunteer teaching.

Graham is an “invaluable member of our faculty” who has played an integral role in the coronary care unit, notes Anne B. Curtis, Charles and Mary Bauer Professor and chair of medicine.

This award is named for a Buffalo internist and medical school alumnus who was actively involved in teaching medical students and residents.

• Rajendram V. Rajnarayanan, PhD
  assistant professor of pharmacology and toxicology

Rajnarayanan has created pipelines and obtained support allowing underrepresented science students to participate in numerous biomedical research opportunities at UB. 

He is the associate director of UB’s CLIMB program and directs his department’s undergraduate research and summer programs.

He also is a leader in UB’s iSEED (Institute for the Strategic Enhancement of Educational Diversity).

In addition, he has worked to enhance the medical school’s recruitment efforts and is developing a Web-based data-collection tool to help measure their effectiveness.

• Lighthouse Free Medical Clinic

This award recognizes all former and current medical students who have helped operate and manage this drop-in clinic on Buffalo’s East Side.

David Lloyd and Tonya Lemonious, two of the clinic’s managers, accepted the award on behalf of all awardees.

• Jay Garaycochea
  fourth-year PhD student in UB’s Neuroscience Program

Garaycochea is a CLIMB scholar and frequent contributor to department, program and school activities. He also serves as a peer mentor for CLIMB UP, facilitating ‘how-to’ poster and presentation workshops for participating undergraduate students.

In addition, Garaycochea represents UB at national conferences to recruit underrepresented students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields, particularly in biomedical research.

• Barbara Burke
  senior advisor and past interim director,
  UB Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Burke played a key role in developing the medical school’s new Office of Inclusion and Cultural Enhancement.

She was lauded for her “extraordinary contributions, vision and valuable expertise” towards increasing diversity and inclusion in the school.

Presented for the first time in 2013, these awards recognize exemplary work to create a welcoming climate of respect and inclusiveness for all in the medical school, at UB and in Western New York communities.

• Michael Garrick, PhD
  professor of biochemistry

• Elizabeth Harding
  executive director of resource management, Department of Medicine
• James Hassett, MD
  professor of surgery
• Gerald Logue, MD
  professor of medicine and chief of hematology
• Richard Rabin, PhD
  professor of pharmacology and toxicology

Also recognized were winners of the 2013 Louis A. and Ruth Siegel Awards for Excellence in Teaching.