18 Medical School Awardees Honored for Excellence

By Dirk Hoffman

This highest State University of New York rank recognizes exceptional faculty merit and outstanding academic contributions.

Marianthi Markatou, PhD
SUNY Distinguished Professor of biostatistics in the School of Public Health and Health Professions and assistant director of the Institute for Healthcare Informatics in the Jacobs School

Steven D. Schwaitzberg, MD
SUNY Distinguished Service Professor and chair of surgery

Gil I. Wolfe, MD
SUNY Distinguished Professor and Irvin and Rosemary Smith Chair of neurology

This award honors faculty members who make extraordinary contributions to their fields.

Adnan Siddiqui MD, PhD
Professor of neurosurgery

Robert Zivadinov, MD, PhD
Professor of neurology and biomedical informatics

This award honors those who consistently demonstrate superb teaching at the undergraduate, graduate or professional level.

Mark R. O’Brian, PhD
Professor and chair of biochemistry

Established by the Office of Postdoctoral Scholars in 2009, this award is presented to faculty members who excel in the mentoring of postdoctoral scholars. A good mentor not only teaches their mentees but also serves as an advocate, adviser and positive role model during the period of direct training and most often, in the following years.

Steven J. Fliesler, PhD
SUNY Distinguished Professor and the Meyer H. Riwchun Endowed Chair Professor of ophthalmology

This honor recognizes unprecedented accomplishment and a distinguishing body of work with enduring importance.

Ralph H. Benedict, PhD
Professor of neurology

Michal K. Stachowiak, PhD
Professor of pathology and anatomical sciences

Mark Sutton, PhD
Professor of biochemistry

Stewart Clark, PhD
Associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology

Founded in 1892, the American Psychological Association is the leading U.S.-based scientific and professional organization for promoting psychological science and knowledge to benefit society and improve lives. Fellows are APA members who have made outstanding contributions in the field of psychology.

Jeffrey M. Lackner, PsyD
Professor of medicine and chief of its Division of Behavioral Medicine

The Association for Psychological Science is home to thousands of leading psychological science researchers, practitioners, teachers, and students around the world. Fellows have made enduring contributions to the science of psychology through research, teaching, service, and/or application. 

Jeffrey M. Lackner, PsyD
Professor of medicine and chief of its Division of Behavioral Medicine

The Julius Axelrod Award in Pharmacology was established in 1991 to recognize pharmacologists who, like the award’s namesake, have made significant contributions to understanding the biochemical mechanisms underlying the pharmacological actions of drugs and who have demonstrated mentorship to other pharmacologists.

Margarita L. Dubocovich, PhD
SUNY Distinguished Professor of pharmacology and toxicology and senior associate dean for diversity and inclusion

Founded in 1903, the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine promotes investigation in the biomedical sciences by encouraging and facilitating interchange of scientific information among disciplines. The Best Paper Award recognizes the best paper published each year in the society’s journal, Experimental Biology and Medicine. 

Jian Feng, PhD
Professor of physiology and biophysics

Malcolm M. Slaughter, PhD
Professor of physiology and biophysics

Elaine C. Taylor
Residency Program Coordinator
Department of Ophthalmology

This award honors members of the professional staff whose extraordinary service contributions have significantly enriched the university.

Sofia A. Tangalos
Senior staff assistant for the senior associate and associate deans in the Office of Faculty Affairs

Elizabeth A. White
Administrative director for research and graduate education in the Office of Research and Graduate Education

The Celebration of Faculty and Staff Academic Excellence took place Oct. 27 in Slee Hall on UB’s North Campus.