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Mentoring Award

The award has been established by the School of Medicine Recognitions Committee on behalf of the Dean to recognize faculty who have demonstrated outstanding mentoring in the domains of education, service, and/or research to trainees or early career faculty during the past year.

Two people standing; one holding a glass award

2022 Winners Spotlight

Steven Roser Surgery

“Dr. Roser is the embodiment of outstanding mentorship in the Department of Surgery. Time and time again he has demonstrated his dedication and commitment to ensuring the next generation of oral and maxillofacial surgeons are equipped with the tools they need to thrive in teaching, service, and research. Since Dr. Roser joined Emory in 2004 to serve as the chief of the division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, he has gone on to take on countless roles which impact students and trainees within his department. For example, he has joined and serves on the Graduate Medical Education Committee, the Faculty Development and Promotions Committee, Director of Continuing Dental Education, and in 2020 he began serving as the program director of the Emory OMFS residency program. Not only is Dr. Roser an exceptional mentor at Emory and locally, but he also has an extensive history of international service that includes being a team leader for the Missions Abroad Program of Healing the Children Northeast. In this role, Dr. Roser has led 35 trips taking surgical teams to countries in Central and South America to provide such services as cleft lip and cleft palate repair. He is extremely passionate about instilling knowledge and providing invaluable leadership, mentorship, and guidance to his teams locally and abroad.” 

Steven Roser headshot

Ajay Kasi Medicine

“In 2021 I was recruited as a pediatric pulmonologist at Vanderbilt University and was tasked with establishing a multidisciplinary program for tracheostomy and ventilator-dependent children. Due to Dr. Kasi’s development of an excellent and similar reputable program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA), I inquired about visiting to observe and learn from his experiences. In response, he helped facilitate a multi-day visit where he set up appointments with several faculty and staff in the pediatric pulmonary technology-dependent program. This experience was invaluable and helped me benchmark from a reputed regional program. Since the visit to CHOA, I have established a multidisciplinary program for tracheostomy and ventilator-dependent children at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt which will optimize and consolidate the complex medical care for these children. Dr. Kasi’s mentorship played a key role in helping me develop this clinic program at Vanderbilt which will serve children throughout Tennessee.”

Ajay Kasi headshot

Heather Hipp Gynecology and Obstetrics

“Dr. Hipp’s commitment to teaching spans learners of all levels and is reflected by the formal teaching roles she has held. She became the Program Director of the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) Fellowship in 2021. In this role, she is directly responsible for the training and education of the subspecialty fellows in REI. Under Dr. Hipp’s leadership, graduates of the program have gone on to pursue careers in both academic and private practice REI. She also enthusiastically includes learners in her research efforts, mentoring trainees for successful careers in academic productivity. Of her 25 publications as a faculty member, more than half were co-authored by her trainees. Dr. Hipp also has a sustained track record of mentorship, serving as a Discovery Phase mentor for three medical students, as well as a formal research mentor for 12 residents and 3 fellows. Additionally, she serves as a small-group mentor for the residency program, a longitudinal mentorship relationship that spans the entire four years of OB/GYN residency.” 

Heather Hipp headshot

Guillermo Umpierrez Medicine

“Throughout his more than 30-year career as a faculty member, Dr. Umpierrez has mentored more than 50 students, junior faculty, and trainees at Emory and globally. For junior faculty at Emory, he has created many research program opportunities. As part of his team, many mentees have been able to publish first-author papers in high-impact journals and have access to a PhD-level statistician. At Grady alone, his current mentees have 5 NIH/K23 awards. Many of his mentees have been invited to speak at national and international conferences as well as give Grand Rounds at several academic institutions. Globally, Dr. Umpierrez has mentored several scientists in underserved countries in Latin America as post-doctoral fellows. In addition to research opportunities, he has been a strong advocate for women mentees specifically. Within the last 3 years, 4 of his mentees have been promoted to Associate Professor at Emory with 3 of them being women in leadership positions. The multitude of requests Dr. Umpierrez receives from researchers around the world speaks to his worldwide success and reputation as a mentor.” 

Guillermo Umpierrez headshot

Awardees

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016



Nomination Process

Up to four awards will be given. 

Deadline

Nominations will be accepted through July 8, 2022. 

Eligibility

Faculty within the EUSOM who currently mentor trainees or early-career faculty. Those who have received this award in the past 3 years are not eligible.

Nominations

Mentors must be nominated by a current or former trainee or faculty mentee. A concise narrative (500 words or less) describing the outstanding mentoring received should be included in the nomination. Up to two additional letters (500 words or less) from other current or previous mentees addressing the following mentoring criteria are encouraged:

Examples:

  • Teaching – describe how the mentor helped the mentee achieve excellence in teaching (e.g., classroom, bedside, and/or laboratory teaching/supervising; teaching awards; recommendations from trainees)
  • Service – describe how the mentor supported the mentee in engaging in service on intramural and extramural committees, community endeavors volunteer/pro bono work, clinical directorship roles, etc.
  • Scholarship – describe how the mentor helped the mentee develop as a researcher; guided them on presentations and publications; and assisted them with the preparation of federal, industry-sponsored, or investigator-initiated grants

Submission

Must use the online Award Nomination Form and include the following:

  • Nominating letter, which may be cosigned by multiple mentees (500 words or less)
  • Optional materials: Up to two additional letters of support (500 words or less) from previous or current mentees (may be cosigned by multiple mentees)

Decision

Will be made by the School of Medicine Recognitions Committee and approved by the Dean.

Award

The recipients of the Emory School of Medicine Mentoring Award will be announced and honored during the Celebration of Faculty Eminence.

Questions should be directed to SOM Office of Faculty Academic Affairs and Professional Development at somfde@emory.edu