Celebrating Excellence: The 2025 Faculty Awards Ceremony
Eighteen distinguished Miller School faculty members and clinicians were recognized for their outstanding contributions to academic medicine.
Every year, leaders from UHealth-University of Miami Health System and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine proudly recognize educators, clinicians, researchers and mentors who advance the institution’s pursuit of excellence and exemplify its mission of transforming the future of medicine.
Eighteen recipients were honored at the 2025 Faculty Awards Ceremony for extraordinary achievements that improve patient care, enrich student learning, advance scientific discovery or support the growth of future leaders in medicine.
“These are people who are extraordinary. They have made contributions in every dimension of our tripartite mission,” said Henri Ford, M.D., M.P.H., dean and chief academic officer of the Miller School. “They are what make us a vibrant and dynamic academic health system and one of the nation’s premier medical schools.”
The celebration underscored a fundamental truth. At the Miller School, faculty excellence is the foundation on which the future of medicine is built.
“I want to let you know how inspired I am by you every single day. You just feel it. You just feel the energy of all of you. It’s pure magic,” said Dipen J. Parekh, M.D., chief executive officer of UHealth and executive vice president for health affairs at the University of Miami, to the gathering of award winners, colleagues and supporters. “So, thank you all for what you do. I look forward to many more celebrations like this in the future.”
Faculty Citizenship Award
Awarded to a faculty member who has shown outstanding citizenship by active participation in the mission of the organization through service and consistent support of institutional priorities.
Christian Diez, M.D., M.B.A., Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology, Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs in the Department of Anesthesiology and President of the Medical Alumni Association
Excerpt from nominator letter: “Dr. Diez is held in the highest regard by his colleagues. He is among the most outstanding educators and brings unmatched enthusiasm to the educational setting. He is an exceptional individual: hard-working, approachable, compassionate and an exemplary role model for his peers and trainees. He embodies the qualities of a caring physician and a dedicated educator.”
Michael Kolber, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine, Director of the Comprehensive AIDS Program and Vice Chair of Compliance, Quality and Care Transformation
Excerpt from nominator letter: “Dr. Kolber has exemplified extraordinary leadership and vision throughout his esteemed, four-decade-long career at the University of Miami. His mentorship and advocacy for those in need extend into the community, where he has been an invaluable asset. His commitment to providing opportunities for younger faculty underscores his deep sense of compassion and dedication.”
Community Engagement Award
Awarded to a faculty member who has demonstrated a commitment to address and advance health equity in local communities.
Edward Suarez, Jr., PsyD, M.B.A., Research Assistant Professor and Behavioral Health Director of the IDEA Exchange
Excerpt from nominator letter: “Dr. Suarez is a gifted and dedicated young clinical investigator, mentor and advocate whose scholarship and clinical work have centered on improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations. He has excelled in his commitment to community engagement, which has resulted in measurable changes in health outcomes and policy.”
Inclusive Excellence Award
Awarded to a faculty member who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to expanding inclusive excellence in the medical community.
Stephen Symes, M.D., Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Department of Medicine
Excerpt from nominator letter: “Dr. Symes has mentored countless medical students, residents and physicians, shaping the professional journeys of individuals who now carry forward his legacy of excellence and service. He advances excellence, strengthens partnerships that expand access to care and ensures that the pathway into medicine reflects the communities we serve.”
Senior Faculty Educator of the Year Award
Awarded to a faculty member with high impact in the domains of educational excellence, including teaching, learner assessment, curricular development, advising, mentoring, leadership, administration and a scholarly approach to education.
Lina Shehadeh, Ph.D., Research Professor, Department of Medicine
Excerpt from nominator letter: “Dr. Shehadeh’s approach to teaching is characterized by remarkable creativity and innovation, and her ability to envision and implement novel educational technologies has consistently enhanced student engagement and learning outcomes. Her teaching methodology emphasizes experiential learning, critical thinking and the practical application of scientific principles to clinical scenarios.”
Faculty Leadership Award
Awarded to a faculty member who has demonstrated consistent leadership and collaborative skills in furthering institutional priorities.
Jacob McCauley, Ph.D., Professor in the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics and Director of the Center for Genome Technology & Biorepository Facility at the John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics
Excerpt from nominator letter: “Dr. McCauley is a visionary leader who has advanced transformational change for research and precision medicine at the Miller School of Medicine. He established a world-class biobank at the Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, a state-of-the-art, university-wide biospecimen facility that provides secure, sustainable resources for current and future collections. His substantial and lasting contributions continue to elevate our institution’s standing in the global research community.”
Excellence in Clinical Service Award (Non-Procedural Specialty)
Awarded to a faculty member who demonstrated exceptional clinical skills, including effective communication, professionalism and humanism.
C. Ola Landgren, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine, Chief of the Myeloma Division and Director of the Myeloma Institute at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Excerpt from Nominator Letter: “Dr. Landgren is the epitome of a physician who carries all the Hippocratic values and makes the Miller School of Medicine proud to call him one of their own. He is within the top five internationally renowned experts in multiple myeloma and patients from across the world schedule appointments with him. In the five years that he has been at UM, he has built and advanced our Myeloma Division and Institute into one of the top five centers across the globe that treats and runs clinical trials in myeloma.”
Excellence in Clinical Service Award (Procedural Specialty)
Awarded to a faculty member for outstanding clinical performance, excelling in their specialty in both diagnostic and procedural areas.
Guillermo Amescua, M.D., Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology and Medical Director of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute’s Ocular Surface Program
Excerpt from nominator letter: “Dr. Amescua is a recognized leader in ocular microbiology, high-risk corneal transplantation and ocular chemical/thermal burns. On average, Dr. Amescua does around 80 to 90 therapeutic corneal transplants each year and his work has significantly advanced the understanding and treatment of complex corneal conditions. He is respected for his clinical innovation, research productivity and compassionate patient care. He has repeatedly proven to be a brilliant and esteemed physician.”
Excellence in Faculty Mentorship Award
Awarded to a faculty member who has demonstrated exceptional dedication to mentoring colleagues, including advising, coaching, feedback, guidance and career planning.
Nipun Merchant, M.D., Associate Director of Translational Science at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology and the Alan Livingstone Endowed Chair in Surgical Oncology
Excerpt from nominator letter: “Dr. Merchant is a natural teacher who sees the unique potential in each trainee and creates an environment where excellence is expected but always accompanied by encouragement and support. His approach is characterized by tailoring mentorship to the individual and his influence on the careers of so many is profound and lasting. He has built a legacy of mentorship that will continue to shape the field of surgical oncology for decades to come.”
Senior Research Excellence Award
Awarded to a faculty member for their dedication to advancing and contributing to research through consistent, high-quality and high-impact investigation.
Michael Benatar, M.D., Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Neurology, the Walter Bradley Chair in ALS Research, Chief of the Neuromuscular Division, Executive Director of the ALS Center and Vice Chair of Clinical and Translational Research
Excerpt from nominator letter: “Dr. Benatar has transformed the landscape of clinical, translational research focused on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and related disorders, and he is a recognized global leader in this field. He has fostered national and international research collaborations and has a deep commitment to translating scientific advances and mechanistic understanding into novel treatments.”
Jeffery Vance, M.D., Ph.D., Professor in the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics, Professor of Neurology and Director of the Center for Genomic Education and Outreach at the John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics
Excerpt from nominator letter: “Dr. Vance is a distinguished and impactful researcher whose groundbreaking work has transformed our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases and opened new potential therapeutic pathways for millions of patients worldwide. He represents the epitome of the physician-scientist: a researcher whose work not only advances fundamental knowledge but directly translates into hope for patients and families affected by devastating neurological diseases.”
Faculty Awards for Service Excellence
The Faculty Awards for Service Excellence are given to faculty members in recognition of outstanding patient satisfaction. The seven physicians receiving the award this year earned a perfect score on the patient experience survey area, which asks patients whether they would recommend their service provider.
Recipients:
• Harry W. Flynn Jr, M.D., Professor of Ophthalmology at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and the J. Donald M. Gass Chair in Ophthalmology
• David Scott Lessen, M.D., Physician, Division of Hematology
• David Matthew Rodin, M.D., Physician, Desai Sethi Urology Institute
• Hiram Rodriguez, M.D., Staff Physician, Division of Internal Medicine
• Carlos Santa-Cruz, M.D., Assistant Professor of Clinical Urology, Desai Sethi Urology Institute
• Luis Villa, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology
• Zoukaa Sargi, M.D., M.P.H., Professor of Otolaryngology and Neurological Surgery and Medical Director of Quality Improvement Surgical Services at UHealth Tower
Tags: Dean Henri Ford, Dr. C. Ola Landgren, Dr. Carlos Santa-Cruz, Dr. Christian Diez, Dr. David Lessen, Dr. David Rodin, Dr. Dipen J. Parekh, Dr. Edward Suarez, Dr. Guillermo Amescua, Dr. Harry W. Flynn Jr., Dr. Hiram Rodriguez, Dr. Jacob McCauley, Dr. Jeffery Vance, Dr. Joan St. Onge, Dr. Lina Shehadeh, Dr. Luis Villa, Dr. Michael Benatar, Dr. Michael Kolber, Dr. Nipun Merchant, Dr. Ola Landgren, Dr. Stephen Symes, Dr. Zoukaa Sargi, faculty award