KU School of Medicine Executive Dean's Mentoring Awards
Each year, the Executive Dean presents these prestigious awards to individuals who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to mentoring junior faculty, learners, residents and post-doctoral students.
About the Distinguished Mentoring Awards
Nominated by their colleagues and learners, the Distinguished Mentoring Awards are given to deserving individuals to recognize the vital role that mentoring plays in developing the next generation of medical educators. The awards are presented at the Annual Faculty Retreat.
The Awards:
Learn about each of the Executive Dean's Distinguished Mentoring Awards below.
2025 award recipients were announced at the SOM Annual Faculty Retreat on Friday, August 22nd.
Dr. Cora "Doc" Downs and Bette W. Hamilton Biological Science Research Award
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This award recognizes a principal investigator faculty member who is mentoring a student/resident. The faculty awardee should be involved in innovative biological science research at The University of Kansas School of Medicine.
- The faculty mentor and the mentee will each receive a $5,000 award and recognition at the Annual School of Medicine Faculty Retreat.
Rolfe A. Becker, MD and Sylvia Becker Mentoring Award
- This award seeks to recognize outstanding mentorship of learners (medical students, residents, and/or fellows) and to support efforts for enhanced mentorship. Award recipients each receive a $1500 award.
- Up to three awards will be given out, with one award given to a faculty member from the Kansas City, Wichita, and Salina campuses respectively.
Lifetime Achievement in Mentoring Award - "The Jayhawk"
- This award is recognizes individuals who have achieved Professor rank and have worked at the KUMC School of Medicine for over 20 years. During that time they must have demonstrated a commitment to fostering the intellectual, creative, scholarly, and professional growth of their junior faculty.
Excellence in Mentoring Award
- This award acknowledges the exceptional efforts of senior faculty members who ensure junior faculty achieve their full potential in the areas of service, research, and teaching
Achievement Award for Mentoring Residents
- This award provides residents (current or alumni) a way to honor faculty mentors who embodied the spirit of mentorship during their residency. This award recognizes the commitments made by faculty members and the dedication to their mentees to reach success in their chosen field or specialty.
Achievement Award for Mentoring Post-docs
- This award provides post-doctoral fellows (current or alumni) a way to honor faculty mentors who embodied the spirit of mentorship during their post-doc programs. This award recognizes the commitments made by faculty members and the dedication to their mentees to reach success in their chosen field.
Recognition of Honorees
Honorees receive membership to the KU School of Medicine Distinguished Mentors, recognition at the Annual Faculty Retreat, a $1,500 financial award (given to Becker Award, Lifetime Achievement, Excellence in Mentoring, Honorary Mentoring, Achievement Award for Mentoring Residents, and Achievement Award for Mentoring Post-Docs recipients)
Nominations are currently closed. Watch for the 2026 call for nominations in summer 2026!
Contact Elizabeth Harner with nomination questions.
Previous Honorees
- 2025
- Paul Rotert, D.O. MPH, 2025 Achievement Award for Mentoring Residents
- Marc Hoffmann, M.D., 2025 Rolfe A. Becker, M.D. and Sylvia Becker Mentoring Award (Kansas City Recipient)
- Noel Sanchez, M.D., 2025 Rolfe A. Becker, M.D. and Sylvia Becker Mentoring Award (Wichita Recipient)
- Christopher Graber, M.D., 2025 Rolfe A. Becker, M.D. and Sylvia Becker Mentoring Award (Salina Recipient)
- Ann Davis, Ph.D., MPH, 2025 Excellence in Mentoring Award
- Randolph Nudo, Ph.D., 2025 Lifetime Achievement in Mentoring Award - "The Jayhawk"
- 2024
- Gina Hendren, M.D., 2024 Achievement Award for Mentoring Residents
- Reena Rao, Ph.D., MPhil, 2024 Achievement Award for Mentoring Post-Docs
- Sarah Kessler, Ph.D., MPH, 2024 Excellence in Mentoring Award
- Sufi Thomas, Ph.D., 2024 Dr. Cora "Doc" Downs and Bette W. Hamilton Biological Science and Research Award - faculty mentor recipient
- Thuc Ly, 2024 Dr. Cora "Doc" Downs and Bette W. Hamilton Biological Science and Research Award - mentee recipient
- 2023
- Faith Buter, M.D., 2023 Rolfe A. Becker, M.D. and Sylvia Becker Mentoring Award
- Joel Hake, M.D., 2023 Achievement Award for Mentoring Residents
- Joseph McGuirk, D.O., 2023 Excellence in Mentoring Award
- Michael Soares, Ph.D., 2023 Lifetime Achievement in Mentoring Award - "The Jayhawk"
- 2022
- Margaret Smith, M.D., 2022 Rolfe A. Becker, M.D. and Sylvia Becker Mentoring Award
- Leigh Eck, M.D., 2022 Achievement Award for Mentoring Residents
- Megha Ramaswamy, Ph.D., 2022 Excellence in Mentoring
- Martha Barnard, Ph.D., 2022 Lifetime Achievement in Mentoring Award - "The Jayhawk"
- 2021
- Andrew Godwin, Ph.D., 2021 Excellence Award in Mentoring
- Kelsie Kelly, M.D., MPH, 2021 Achievement Award for Mentoring Residents
- 2020
- Glen Cox, M.D., MHSA, MBA, 2020 Lifetime Achievement in Mentoring Award - "The Jayhawk"
- Kim Kimminau, Ph.D., MA, 2020 Excellence in Mentoring Award
- Moben Mirza, M.D., 2020 Achievement Award for Mentoring Residents
- Wendi Born, Ph.D., 2020 Achievement Award for Mentoring Post-Docs
- 2019
- Dale Abrahamson, Ph.D., 2019 Lifetime Achievement in Mentoring Award - "The Jayhawk"
- Steven Weinman, M.D., Ph.D., 2019 Excellence in Mentoring Award
- David Lisbon, M.D., 2019 Achievement Award for Mentoring Residents
- 2018
- Belinda Vail, M.D. 2018 Lifetime Achievement in Mentoring Award - "The Jayhawk"
- Jeffrey Burns, M.D. 2018 Excellence in Mentoring Award
- Kim Templeton, M.D., 2018 Achievement Award for Mentoring Residents
- Ryan Schroeder, PsyD, 2018 Achievement Award for Mentoring Post-Docs
- 2017
- Edward F. Ellerbeck, M.D., MPH, 2017 Lifetime Achievement in Mentoring Award - "The Jayhawk"
- Alan Yu, MB, BChir, 2017 Excellence in Mentoring Award
- Monica Kurylo, Ph.D., ABPP, 2017 Achievement Award for Mentoring Post-Docs