Awards recognize faculty achievements in research
Published on Monday, November 13, 2017
By: Karen Bascom
The University of Mississippi Medical Center held its annual Excellence in Research Awards Nov. 9 in the Norman C. Nelson Student Union.
Hosted by the Office of Research, the ceremony recognizes faculty members for their achievements in gaining outside funding. The award levels - platinum, gold, silver and bronze - are based on the cumulative amount of extramural funding received by the investigator for their original research.
The 19 medallion recipients, including one platinum, seven gold, five silver and six bronze all contributed to UMMC’s record-high 316 grants and awards for fiscal year 2017.
Dr. Richard Summers, associate vice chancellor for research, said the event is one of his favorite days of the Medical Center year.
“It’s a time for us to celebrate our achievements and accomplishments, and enjoy fellowship amongst our colleagues,” he said.
Summers noted the year’s successes, including progress in the Medical Center’s collaboration with the Mayo Clinic to advance clinical research on both campuses.
The Office of Research also granted Discovery Awards. This year’s peer-nominated and reviewed awards recognized an early-career investigator and meritorious research service from the faculty and staff. The ceremony also recognized this year’s patent recipients.
Dr. Richrd Summers, left, congratulates Dr. Ervin Fox, platinum medallion winner.Platinum Medallion – $5,000,000 total
Dr. Ervin Fox, professor of medicine-cardiology
Fox is a leader in national and international studies of cardiovascular function and a senior investigator with the Jackson Heart Study and Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study. His current R01 grant focuses on the assessment of vascular function using pulse wave tonometry. Fox is also medical director of UMMC’s Clinical Non-invasive laboratory.
Posing with Dr. Leslie Musshafen, left, and Summers are gold medallion winners, from left, Dr. Jennifer Sasser, Dr. Kevin Freeman, Dr. Lee Bidwell, Dr. Ray Grill, Dr. Lique Coolen and Dr. Bettina Beech.Gold Medallion – $1,000,000 total
Dr. Robert Annett, professor of pediatrics-child development
Dr. Bettina Beech, dean of the School of Population Health, professor of population health science
Dr. Lee Bidwell, associate professor of neurology
Dr. Lique Coolen, professor of physiology and biophysics
Dr. Kevin Freeman, associate professor of psychiatry and human behavior
Dr. Raymond Grill, associate professor of neurobiology and anatomical sciences
Dr. Jennifer Sasser, associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology
Posing with Summers are silver medallion winners, from left, Dr. Damian Romero and Dr. Rob Rockhold.Silver Medallion – $500,000 total
Dr. Joseph Maher, professor of medicine-hematology/oncology
Dr. Michael Puskarich, associate professor of emergency medicine
Dr. Rob Rockhold, deputy chief academic officer, professor of pharmacology and toxicology
Dr. Damian Romero, associate professor of biochemistry
Dr. Angela Subauste, associate professor of medicine-endocrinology
Posing with Summers and Musshafen are bronze medallion recipients, from left, Dr. Bernadette Grayson, Dr. Fan Fan, Dr. Junie Paula Warrington, Dr. Michael Hall, Dr. Douglas Vetter and Dr. Solomon Musani.Bronze Medallion – $250,000 total
Dr. Fan Fan, assistant professor of pharmacology and toxicology
Dr. Bernadette Grayson, assistant professor of neurobiology and anatomical sciences
Dr. Michael Hall, associate professor of medicine-cardiology
Dr. Solomon Musani, associate professor of medicine-Jackson Heart Study
Dr. Douglas Vetter, associate professor of neurobiology and anatomical sciences
Dr. Junie Paula Warrington, assistant professor of neurology
Posing with Summers and Musshafen are Dr. Drazen Raucher, left, patent recipient, and Bidwell.Patent Recipients
Dr. Lee Bidwell, associate professor of neurology
Dr. Drazen Raucher, professor of biochemistry
Posing with Musshafen and Summers are discovery award winners, from left, Dr. Eric George, Dr. Parminder Vig and Connie Watson.Early Career Investigator
Dr. Eric George, assistant professor of physiology and biophysics
Meritorious Research Service-Faculty
Dr. Parminder Vig, professor of neurology
Meritorious Research Service-Support Staff
Connie Watson, CCRP, division business administrator in medicine-cardiology