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Award Recipients

Women in Medicine and Science recognizes female faculty and trainees as they achieve academic career success. We continue to honor past recipients.

Rising Star Award

  • 2024 - Heather Wilkins, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology - Basic Scientist Recipient
  • 2024 - Carolyn Bates, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics - Clinician Recipient
  • 2023 - Erin Young, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Pain, and Perioperative Medicine - Basic Scientist Recipient
  • 2023 - Kelsey Larson, M.D., FACS, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery - Clinician Recipient
  • 2022 - Jill Morris, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology
  • 2021 - Melissa Thomas, M.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine
  • 2020 - Kerri Thurmon, M.D., MPH, Assistant Professor, Department of Urologic Surgery
  • 2019 - Stepheny Berry, M.D., FACS, Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery
  • 2018 - Taneisha Scheuermann, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Preventive Medicine and Public Health
  • 2017 - Andrea Nicol, M.D., Assistant Professor, Anesthesiology
  • 2016 - Joan Lewis-Wambi, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Cancer Biology
  • 2015 - Julie Christianson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Anatomy and Cell Biology
  • 2015 - Jessie Huisinga, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation; Science Director of the Human Performance Laboratory, Landon Center on Aging
  • 2014 - Catherine Siengsukon, PT, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science

Soaring Star Award

  • 2024 - Mihaela Sardiu, Ph.D., Assocate Professor, Department of Biostatistics & Data Science - Basic Science Recipient
  • 2024 - Jennifer Hartwell, M.D., F.A.C.S, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery - Clinician Recipient
  • 2023 - Sharla Smith, Ph.D., MPH, Associate Professor, Department of Population Health - Basic Scientist Recipient
  • 2023 - Kelsie Kelly, M.D., MPH, Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health - Clinician Recipient
  • 2022 - Lauren Ptomey, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
  • 2021 - Deepika Polineni, M.D, MPH, Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
  • 2020 - Michele Pritchard, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics
  • 2019 - Julie A. Carlsten Christianson, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology
  • 2018 - Not awarded
  • 2017 - Pamela Tran, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Anatomy and Cell Biology
  • 2016 - Monica Kurylo, Ph.D., ABPP, Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Rehabilitation Medicine; Director, Neurorehabilitation Psychology
  • 2015 - Megha Ramaswamy, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Preventive Medicine and Public Health
  • 2014 - Lisa Gilmer, M.D., Associate Professor; Director, Pediatric Residency Program

Patricia A. Thomas Diversity & Inclusion Award

  • 2024 - Alice Zhang, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy Education; Department of Pediatrics
  • 2023 - Jerrihlyn McGee, DNP, RN, CNE, Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • 2022 - Carrie Francis, M.D., Associate Professor, Department of Otolaryngology
  • 2021 - Not awarded
  • 2020 - Carol Ulloa, M.D., Associate Professor, Department of Neurology
  • 2019 - Not awarded
  • 2018 - Not awarded
  • 2017 - Crystal Lumpkins, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Family Medicine
  • 2016 - Pamela L. Scott, M.S., Director, Diversity & Multicultural Affairs
  • 2015 - Awarded posthumously to Patricia A. Thomas, M.D., MA, FACP, FASCP

Discontinued Awards

The following awards are no longer maintained, but we continue to honor the previous recipients.

  • 2016 - Joan Sherar Hunt, Ph.D., University Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Anatomy and Cell Biology
  • 2015 - Carol Beier, J.D., Justice, Kansas Supreme Court
  • 2014 - Betty M. Drees, M.D., FACP
  • 2017 - Nelda Godfrey, Ph.D., ACNS-BC, FAAN
  • 2016 - Not awarded
  • 2015 - Carol Fabian, M.D., Professor of Medicine, University Distinguished Professor
  • 2014 - Jo Halverson, Director, Office of Faculty Affairs and Development
  • 2013 - Barbara Lukert, M.D., Professor Emeritus
  • 2012 - Amy O'Brien-Ladner, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Chair, Department of Internal Medicine
  • 2018 - Belinda Vail, M.D., Chair, Family Medicine
  • 2017 - Not awarded
  • 2016 - Susan E. Carlson, Ph.D., AJ Rice Professor of Nutrition, Department of Dietetics and Nutrition
  • 2015 - Lauren Aaronson, RN, Ph.D., Professor, School of Nursing; Deputy Director, Frontiers: The Heartland Institute for Clinical and Translational Research
  • 2014 - Lisa Stehno-Bittel, PT, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences
  • 2013 - Karen L. Miller, RN, Ph.D., FAAN, Dean, schools of Nursing and Health Professions; Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs
  • 2012 - Kim Templeton, M.D., Orthopedic Surgery
  • 2012 - Beth Levant, Ph.D., Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics
  • 2011 - Dianne Durham, Ph.D., Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
  • 2011 - Susan K. Pingleton, M.D., FACP, Master Fellow, ACCP, Internal Medicine
  • 2017 - Shrikant Anant, M.D., Associate Director, The University of Kansas Cancer Center
  • 2016 - Rick Kellerman, M.D., Professor and Chair, Family and Community Medicine
  • 2015 - Dale Abrahamson, Ph.D., University Distinguished Professor; Chair, Anatomy and Cell Biology
  • 2015 - Stewart Babbott, M.D., Division Director, General and Geriatric Medicine; Professor, Internal Medicine
  • 2014 - Robert M. Klein, Ph.D., Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Graduate Studies; Professor of Anatomy and Cell Biology