MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Arthur J. Ross, III, M.D., M.B.A., dean of the West Virginia University School of Medicine, presented the 11th annual Dean’s Awards for Excellence on Monday night.

The awards recognize individuals who have contributed significantly to the school in the areas of clinical service, research, educational innovations, community service and service to the school. The event also includes the Distinguished Teacher Awards.

This year’s Awards for Excellence winners are:

Award for Excellence in Clinical Service
Ronald Pellegrino, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine

Marybeth Hummel, M.D., professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Section of Genetics

Corrie Mancinelli, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Physical Therapy

Award for Excellence in Education
Hollynn Larrabee, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine, program director for the Emergency Medicine Residency Program and medical director for HealthNet I

Keith Zullig, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Community Medicine and director of the Ph.D. Program in Public Health Sciences

Award for Excellence in Research
Jefferson Frisbee, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology and investigator in the WVU Center for Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences

Nancy Lan Guo, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Community Medicine and researcher at the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center

Award for Excellence in Service to the Community
Ann Chester, Ph.D., assistant vice president for social justice at the WVU Health Sciences Center, director of the HSTA program and adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Community Medicine

CARDIAC Program, co-founded and directed by William Neal, M.D., professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Cardiology

Award for Excellence in Service to the School
Leslie Gumbita-Miele, M.S., chief administrative officer in the School of Medicine and chief of institutional planning and program development for the WVU Health Sciences Center

Award for Dedication to the Profession
Barbara Ducatman, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Pathology, associate dean for faculty services at the School of Medicine and director of the WVU National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health

Harakh Dedhia, M.D., professor in the Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care

Distinguished Teacher Award winners include:

Professional Degree Programs – Senior Level
James W. Lewis, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology and the WVU Center for Neuroscience

M.D. Degree Program – Junior Level
Charles J. Hochberg, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

M.D. Degree Program – Senior Level
Holly G. Ressetar, Ph.D., senior lecturer and associate professor in the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy

“We had many outstanding nominees, and the selection process was really difficult. We are very fortunate to have such an amazing group of faculty members who call the WVU School of Medicine home,” Dr. Ross said. ”The winners of this year’s awards are representative of those who go above and beyond the call of duty to make WVU a leader in education, research and clinical service."

The event was held in the Okey Patteson Auditorium at the WVU Health Sciences Center.