Celebrating Faculty and Staff Success
October 22, 2026
The College of Human Medicine recognizes these outstanding faculty and staff for their achievements and contributions to medical education, research and academics.
Distinguished Academic Specialist
Laura Freidhoff, MD
Senior Curriculum Specialist
Office of Medical Education Research and Development (OMERAD)
Early Career Research Excellence Award
Vivienne Hazzard, PhD, MPH, RD
Assistant Professor
Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health
Early Career Research Excellence Award
Eunhee Yi, PhD
Assistant Professor
Physiology
Excellence in Teaching Award
Katherine Keller, DO, FAAFP
Assistant Professor
Family Medicine
Outstanding Junior Faculty Mentoring Award
Susan Barman, PhD, FAPS
University Distinguished Professor
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Outstanding Clinician Award
Fiel Cunningham, MD
Assistant Professor
Family Medicine
Outstanding Community-Based Faculty Award
Max Tamae Kakazu, MD
Associate Professor, Medicine
Program Director, Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine Fellowship (Corewell Health West-MSU)
Outstanding Curriculum Contribution Award
Kristin Parkin, PhD
Associate Professor
Microbiology, Genetics, and Immunology
Outstanding Faculty Award
Eran Andrechek, PhD
Professor
Physiology
Outstanding Volunteer Clinical Faculty Award
Benjamin Mosher, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Surgery, Trauma, and Surgical Critical Care
Research Excellence Award
Amber Pearson, PhD, MPH
Professor
Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health
Research Excellence Award
Morteza Mahmoudi, PhD
Associate Professor
Radiology and Precision Health Program
Teacher-Scholar Award
Tommy Van Vo, PhD
Assistant Professor
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Lester J. Evans Distinguished Service Award
Joseph Gardiner, PhD
Emeritus University Distinguished Professor
Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Exceptional Support Staff Award
Tae Blair
Executive Assistant
Flint
Exceptional Support Staff Award
Nicki Brown
Student Programs Administrator
Traverse City
Exceptional Support Staff Award
Michael Springer
Simulation Coordinator
East Lansing
Exceptional Support Staff Award
Lauren Zoumbaris
Student Program Administrator
Lansing