Faculty Development-Deans' Award for Excellence List of Recipients

2022

Luis Fernando Santana, Ph.D.

Nomination Highlights:

…a highly accomplished scientists with a sustained record of major discoveries and extramural funding. His approach to science is multi-disciplinary - involving state-of-the-art biophysical, electrophysiological, imaging, cellular, molecular, and computational approaches.
He has discovered multiple kinds of Ca2+ signaling modalities and how they control cardiac and vascular smooth muscle function in health and disease. His work on Ca2+ sparks, which lead to formulation of a new local control theory of cardiac and smooth muscle function, is now part of physiology textbooks that are used in medical education.
has published over 110 peer-reviewed papers in top-tier journals, including Science, Nature, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal of Clinical Investigation, Circulation Research, Journal of General Physiology, and Science Signaling. According to Google Scholar, his papers have been cited more than 12,000 times
extramural grant funding has been excellent. Over the last three years alone, while he had substantial leadership responsibilities, his lab has been funded by 8 NIH grants. Over that period, the total funding associated with these grants is over $11.4M.
the founding co-director of the Academic Research Careers for Medical Doctors (ARC-M.D.) program. The goal of this program is to provide medical students with the foundational skills and professional development that promote a successful career as a physician scientist.
has an extraordinary record of research discoveries, innovative and effective leadership, and mentorship at UC Davis School of Medicine. That is a rare combination.

2021

Stuart H. Cohen, M.D.

Nomination Highlights:

Provided unwavering infectious disease advice for the last two years of the COVID pandemic.
His work with the pandemic over the last 2 years is astounding.
He set the pathway for exemplary leadership and learning across both the health system and the school of medicine.
The work in the pandemic is just a small slice for Dr Cohen.
Dr. Cohen has been literally a 24/7 resource for hundreds of clinicians, administrators and anyone else at UC Davis Health involved in the care of COVID19 patients for the past 2 years. I can't think of another single individual who's done more to advance the quality care of these patients than him.
Leadership and involvement in statewide and national infectious disease community has brought a number of landmark studies of COVID vaccines and other therapeutics to UC Davis Health, which has in turn, accelerated local and national progress on the clinical care of patients in the pandemic.
The epitome of a transformative leader in that he has maintained his clinical I.D. practice while leading innovative research studies and providing education to our UC Davis Health and local community all the while. This is a very rare combination.