Recipients are chosen based on their excellence and dedication to the Department of Pathology and Immunology.

2024 Award recipients

Shining Star Awards

Billie Charlton, Administrative Professional Supporting Anatomic Molecular Pathology Division Chief

Megan Corliss, MS, CGC, Manager of Clinical Genomics Laboratory Sequencing

Amanda Martsolf, Manager of Third-party Reimbursement

Beth Obertino-Norwood, Education Pathologist Assistant (PA) in Anatomic Molecular Pathology

Outstanding Achievements in Leadership and Professionalism

Lauri Thienes, Director of Billing Operations and Clinical Revenue Cycle

Joseph P. Gaut, MD, PhD, Professor and Division Chief of Anatomic Molecular Pathology

Outstanding Achievements in Quality Improvement Award

Rebekah E. Dumm, PhD D(ABMM), Assistant Professor
Mark A. Zaydman, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor
Both in Laboratory and Genomic Medicine

Awarded for their contributions to conceptualizing, refining, and validating the novel Antibiogram process. Project was in collaboration with BJH staff, Debbie Alspaugh, MLS (ASCP) and Jynelle Moyer, MLS(ASCP)CM

Excellence in Faculty Mentoring

Xiuli Liu, PhD, Professor in Anatomic Molecular Pathology

Outstanding Contributions to Education, MD, PhD

Suzanne R. Thibodeaux, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Laboratory and Genomic Medicine

Outstanding Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Anjum Hassan, MD, Professor in Anatomic Molecular Pathology

Outstanding Papers of the Year

Ta-Chiang Liu, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Anatomic Molecular Pathology
Paper: NAD+ precursors and bile acid sequestration treat preclinical refractory environmental enteric dysfunction (Journal: Science Transitional Medicine)

Steven Van Dyken, PhD, Assistant Professor in Immunobiology
Paper: A type 2 immune circuit in the stomach controls mammalian adaptation to dietary chitin. (Journal: Science)

Daniel M. Webber, MD, PhD, Instructor in Laboratory and Genomic Medicine
Matthew C. Hibberd, PhD, Assistant Professor in Laboratory and Genomic Medicine
Paper: Bioactive glycans in a microbiome-directed food for children with malnutrition (Journal: Nature)

Department Head’s Special Recognition

Robert Schmidt, MD, PhD, Jon Ritter, MD and Pepper Dehner, MD for outstanding leadership in pathology training and international recognition.

Eric Duncavage, MD and Molly Schroeder, PhD for doing the hard work of creating and leading our new division, Genomic and Molecular Pathology.

The Division Chiefs

Joe Gaut, MD, PhD, Ann Gronowski, PhD, Gautam Dantas, PhD, Kodi Ravichandran, BVSc, PhD, Robert Schmidt, MD, PhD for leading the department to new heights.

Jenny Adams and Debbie Weber, for continued support of the department in helping
to address its most difficult issues.

Michele Goad and Mary Niedringhaus for outstanding project leadership.

Jo Anne Humphries and Eric Schnable for their Outstanding Administrative
and Strategic Leadership.

Blerina Cuka for making everyone’s lives easier.

2023 Award Recipients

Ceremony Program Book

Shining Star Awards

  • Mary Anthes-Bartlow, MS, PA (ASCP)
    Lead Pathologist Assistant, Anatomic and Molecular Pathology
  • Crista Harnetiaux
    Senior Accounting & Purchasing Assistant
  • Lisa Snipes
    Research Lab Supervisor, Neuropathology
  • J. Michael White
    Assistant Research Scientist, Immunobiology

Outstanding Achievements in Quality Improvement

  • WUPAX Initiatives Team: Jonathan Bihr, Joseph Gaut, Michele Goad, Ryan Hardy, Chieh-Yu Lin, Mena Mansour, Mary Niedringhaus, Jon Ritter, Greg Robbins, David Schoemehl

Outstanding Achievements in Leadership and Professionalism

  • Michele A. Goad
    Senior Manager of Business Development and Strategic Planning
  • Molly Schroeder, PhD
    Assistant Professor, Laboratory and Genomic Medicine
    Medical Director of Clinical Genomics Laboratory

Excellence in Faculty Mentoring

  • Brenda Grossman, MD, MPH
    Professor, Laboratory and Genomic Medicine

Outstanding Contributions to Education

  • Brian Edelson, MD, PhD
    Associate Professor, Laboratory and Genomic Medicine

Outstanding Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

  • Nidia Messias, MD
    Associate Professor, Anatomic and Molecular Pathology

Outstanding Junior Faculty Papers

  • Jasmin Herz, PhD
    Assistant Professor, Immunobiology
    Paper: Age-dependent immune and lymphatic responses after spinal cord injury
  • Lulu Sun, MD, PhD
    Assistant Professor, Anatomic and Molecular Pathology
    Paper: Expression of Potential Biomarker Targets by Immunohistochemistry in Cervical Carcinomas
  • Mark A. Zaydman, MD, PhD
    Assistant Professor, Laboratory and Genomic Medicine
    Paper: A Single Reference Interval for Interpreting Serum Free Light Chains across Patients with Varying Renal Function

Department Head’s Special Recognition Awards

  • Rocky Giwa and John Moley for Exceptional Emergency Management
    Brestoff Lab
  • Brenda Grossman, MD, MPH for Outstanding Contributions to the Department
  • Jo Anne Humphries and Eric Schnable for Exceptional Leadership
    Co-Executive Business Directors
  • Suzanne Thibodeaux, MD, PhD for her Outstanding Contribution to the Gateway Curriculum
  • Janet Braun, Office of Faculty Development, Assistant to Vice Chair
2022 Award Recipients

Outstanding Achievements in Leadership and Professionalism

  • Ann Gronowski, PhD
    Professor; Co-Chief of Laboratory & Genomic Medicine

Outstanding Paper of the Year for Junior Faculty

  • Christopher Farnsworth, PhD
    Associate Professor, Laboratory & Genomic Medicine
    Serial Cardiac Biomarkers for Risk Stratification of Patients with Covid-19.
    Link to paper
  • Eynav Klechevsky, PhD
    Assistant Professor, Immunobiology
    STAT3 Gain-of-Function Mutations Underlie Deficiency in Human Nonclassical CD16 + Monocytes and CD141 + Dendritic Cells.
    Link to paper

Excellence in Faculty Mentoring

  • Carey-Ann Burnham, PhD
    Professor, Laboratory & Genomic Medicine

Outstanding Achievements in Quality Improvement

  • Revenue Cycle Team: Vanessa Dale Alexander; Kristina Bain; Kierra Becton; Hannah Heitzman; Barbara Fowler; Tracey Hammontree; Janis Lynn Hardin; June Huang; Ciera Jones; McKinley Kemp; Yiyi Kong; Debra McGee; Rosa Montileone; Kelly Morgan; Sherrie Morrow; Mary O’Dell; Ibukunoluwa Ojewola; Sheila Rozmirsky; Kylee Sabo; Susan Jane Sample; Paula Sydow; Carrie Wellman; Samantha White

Outstanding Contributions to Education

  • Erika Crouch, MD, PhD
    Professor, Anatomic and Molecular Pathology

Shining Star Awards

  • Patsy Alldredge, MS
    Clinical Research Specialist
  • Corazon Dungo-Arthur
    Research Laboratory Manager
  • Vicky Fuehne
    Senior Research Administrator
  • Melvin Stewart
    Clinical Lab Technologist

Dr. Cote’s Special Recognition Awards

  • Elizabeth Brunt, MD
    Emeritus Professor, Pathology and Immunology
    Her passion, leadership and commitment to our patients, trainees and clinicians have been an inspiration. Her international recognition has been a bright highlight for this department, school and university.
  • AP/CP Residency Integration Team

Promotions

  • Promotions to Professor:
    Maxim N. Artyomov, PhD
    Scott A. Handley, PhD
    Mai He, MD, PhD
    John L. Frater, MD
    Nima Mosammaparast, MD, PhD
    Mark A. Watson, MD, PhD
  • Promotions to Associate Professor
    John S.A. Chrisinger, MD
    Christopher W. Farnsworth, PhD
    Chieh-Yu Lin, MD, PhD
    Stephen Roper, PhD
    Igor Smirnov, DVM
    Suzanne R. Thibodeaux, MD, PhD
    Jacqueline E. Payton, MD, PhD with Tenure
    Melanie L. Yarbrough, PhD
    Wei Zou, MD, PhD
  • Promotions to Assistant Professor
    Matthew C. Hibberd, PhD
    Xiaoxiao Wan, PhD

Employee Milestones

  • Forty-Five Years
    Robert E. Schmidt, MD, PhD
  • Thirty Years
    Theresa L. Murphy, PhD
    Christopher A. Nelson, PhD
  • Twenty-Five Years
    Stephen C. Horvath
  • Twenty Years
    Marco Colonna, MD
    Susan Gilfillan, PhD
    Jordana Stewart
  • Fifteen Years
    John L. Frater, MD
    Vicky Fuehne
    Jacqueline E. Payton, MD, PhD
  • Ten Years
    Patricia Alldredge
    Gaya K. Amarasinghe, PhD
    Maksym Artyomov, PhD
    Cory T. Bernadt, MD, PhD
    Dorjan Brinja
    Sonika M. Dahiya, MD
    Erika Fuess
    Jennifer M. Greenbaum-DiRuscio
    Erica M. Lantelme
    Nima Mosammaparast, MD, PhD
    Anne Paredes
    Gwendalyn J. Randolph, PhD
    Kate Stehl
    Anthony N. Vomund
2021 Award Recipients

Outstanding Achievements in Leadership and Professionalism

  • Charles Eby, MD
    Professor, Laboratory & Genomic Medicine
  • Julie Gutierrez
    Administrator for Department Operations

Outstanding Paper of the Year for Junior Faculty

  • Jonathan R. Brestoff, MD, PhD, MPH
    Assistant Professor, Laboratory & Genomic Medicine
    Intercellular Mitochondria Transfer to Macrophages Regulates White Adipose Tissue Homeostasis and Is Impaired in Obesity
    Link to paper
  • Cheryl F. Lichti, PhD
    Assistant Professor, Immunobiology
    Identification of spliced peptides in pancreatic islets uncovers errors leading to false assignments
    Link to paper
  • Chieh-Yu Lin, MD, PhD
    Assistant Professor, Anatomic and Molecular Pathology
    SARS-CoV-2 Infects Human Engineered Heart Tissue and Models COVID-19 Myocarditis
    Link to paper

Excellence in Faculty Mentoring

  • Mitchell Scott, PhD
    Professor, Laboratory & Genomic Medicine

Outstanding Achievements in Quality Improvement

  • Saliva SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance Testing Group
    • Pathology & Immunology: Jared Amann-Stewart, Victor Brodsky, Yang Cao, Charles Eby, Jon Heusel, Mike Isaacs, Julie Neidich
    • Genetics: Lauren Burcea, Richard Head, Jeff Milbrandt, Shelly O’Laughlin, Chris Sawyer
    • Informatics Institute: Albert Lai
    • Occupational Health: Eva Aagaard, Amanda Wilkins
    • Office of General Counsel: Patty Hastings
    • Student Health: Stephanie Hammer, Cheri LeBlanc

Outstanding Contributions to Education

  • Takeshi Egawa, MD, PhD
    Associate Professor, Immunobiology

Shining Star Awards

  • Daisy Daleo
    Clinical Laboratory Manager
  • Jenni Dickinson
    Senior Grant Specialist
  • Jordana Stewart
    Executive Administrator, Neuropathology

Dr. Cote’s Special Recognition Awards

  • Workday Implementation Team: (pictured, left to right): Vicky Fuehne; Jenny Adams; Eric Schnable; Andwele Jolly; Jo Anne Humphries; Lynn Coats; Sobia Shahab; Keith Page
  • Healthcare Equity
    Suzanne Thibodeaux, MD, PhD
    Assistant Professor
    For her commitment to healthcare equity through her leadership with CareSTL

Promotions

  • Promotions to Professor:
    Rebecca Chernock, MD
    Sonika Dahiya, MBBS, MD
    Eric Duncavage, MD
    Joseph Gaut, MD, PhD
  • Promotions to Associate Professor
    Neil Anderson, MD
    Michael Barrett, PhD
    Ali Ellebedy, PhD
    Chang Liu, MD, PhD
    Ta-Chiang Liu, MD, PhD
  • Promotions to Assistant Professor
    Christopher Farnsworth, PhD
    Parker Wilson, MD, PhD

Employee Milestones

  • Fifty-Five Years
    Louis P. Dehner, MD
  • Thirty-Five Years
    Orlando B. Crisp
    Susan J. Johnson
    Kathleen C. Sheehan, PhD
  • Thirty Years
    Jennifer R. Adams
    Karl G. Hock
    Theresa L. Murphy, PhD
    Christopher A. Nelson, PhD
  • Twenty Years
    Marina Cella, MD
    Marco Colonna, MD
    Susan Gilfillan, PhD
    Jo Anne Humphries
  • Fifteen Years
    John L. Frater, MD
    Vicky Fuehne
    Jacqueline E. Payton, MD, PhD
  • Ten Years
    Cory T. Bernadt, MD, PhD
    Jonathan D. Bihr
    Carey-Ann D. Burnham, PhD
    Sonika M. Dahiya, MD
    Eric J. Duncavage, MD
    Dijana Durakovic
    Kimberly D. Green
    Jennifer M. Greenbaum-DiRuscio
    Kate E. Stehl
    Gwendalyn J. Randolph, PhD
    Julie L. Shafferkoetter
    Anthony N. Vomund
2020 Award Recipients

Outstanding Achievements in Leadership and Professionalism

  • Christopher Farnsworth, PhD
    Assistant Professor, Laboratory & Genomic Medicine

Outstanding Paper of the Year for Junior Faculty

  • Ali Ellebedy, PhD
    Associate Professor, Immunobiology
    A Potently Neutralizing Antibody Protects Mice Against SARS-CoV-2 Infection
    Link to paper

Excellence in Faculty Mentoring

  • Rebecca Chernock, MD
    Associate Professor, Anatomic and Molecular Pathology

Outstanding Achievements in Quality Improvement

  • COVID-19 Team
    • Neil Anderson, MD
    • Bijal Parikh, MD, PhD
    • Although not all team members are represented in the above image, all involved were vital to our success. Thank you!

Outstanding Contributions to Education

  • Robert E. Schmidt, MD, PhD
    Professor, Anatomic and Molecular Pathology

Shining Star Awards

  • Jessie Hardges
  • Becky Speidel
  • Meghan Wallace

Dr. Cote’s Special Recognition Awards

  • COVID Clinical Heros: Neil Anderson, MD; Carey-Ann Burnham, PhD; Christopher Farnsworth, PhD; Bijal Parikh, MD, PhD; Joan Rossi; Mark Watson, MD, PhD
  • COVID Research Heros: Gaya Amarasinghe, PhD; Ali Ellebedy, PhD; Daved Fremont, PhD
  • Digital Pathology Heros: Joseph Gaut, MD, PhD; Michael Isaacs; Jon Ritter, MD
  • Special Commendation: Marco Colonna, MD

Promotions

Employee Milestones