University Awards
Recognizing Excellence
TTU System Chancellor Dr. Tedd Mitchell often says that "the people in West Texas are not ones to brag..." Here at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center's (TTUHSC) we sometimes have to force ourselves to stop and take a moment to appreciate the hard work from our team members, or as Dr. Mitchell would say, “to brag.” This page is dedicated to all the awards made available to our faculty and staff. Our TTUHSC family is committed to creating, promoting and fostering an organizational environment that values growth and development opportunities for all HSC team members. Here is the comprehensive list of all awards available to the TTUHSC community.
Grover E. Murray Professorships
Since its establishment by the Board of Regents, the Grover E. Murray Professorships--named in honor of the first president of TTUHSC--have been the highest distinctions that the university can bestow onto members of its faculty. Recipients are chosen by the president for outstanding scholarly achievement in research, teaching and clinical practice.
Eligibility criteria:
Nominations are based on national and/or international recognition for excellence in research, teaching and/or clinical activity for practicing health care professionals.
Each recipient receives:
Recipients are given an annual supplement of $10,000 for the remainder of their active service at TTUHSC.
Deadlines/ Important Dates:
Each year, the president will request written nominations for Grover E. Murray Professorships from the deans by February 15. The nomination documentation must be completed and sent to the president by June 14.
Faculty members who have been previously named Grover E. Murray professors are:
Dr. Billy Philips
Dr. Thomas Abbruscato
Sherry Sancibrian, MS
Dr. Thomas W. Hale
Dr. Steven Berk
Dr. Michael Evans
Dr. Sharon Decker
Dr. Vadivel Ganapathy
Dr. Neil Kurtzman
Dr. John Orem
Dr. Gabor Racz
Dr. Cynthia Raehl
Dr. Quentin Smith
Dr. Afzal Siddiqui
Dr. Doug Stocco
Dr. Surendra Varma
Dr. Abraham Verghese
Sherry Sancibrian
Dr. Thomas Hale
Faculty President’s Awards
The TTUHSC President’s Awards are awarded each year in recognition of faculty members who have demonstrated unparalleled contributions to medical education, research and clinical care. Faculty members are presented prestigious awards in seven categories, including the excellence in teaching award, the outstanding clinician award, and the interprofessional teamwork award.
Eligibility criteria:
Award recipients will have exhibited sustained excellence in one of the seven categories: excellence in teaching, team teaching, excellence in research, early career investigator, outstanding clinician, excellence in community engagement and interprofessional teamwork.
Each recipient receives:
Award recipients are given a framed certificate, an engraved medallion, and a monetary award.
Deadlines/ Important Dates:
Nominations should be submitted electronically via the awards link on or before June 14 each year. Once committee deliberations are conveyed to the president, the President’s Office will notify applicants of the outcomes of the selection process by September 15. The conferring awards ceremony takes place in November.
2023 AWARDS
President’s Excellence in Interprofessional Collaboration Award
Sharon B. Cannon, EdD, RN, ANEF
President’s Excellence in Teaching Award
Dr. Michaela Jansen, Pharm.D., Ph.D.
President’s Excellence in Research Award
Dr. Gail Cornwall, Ph.D.
President’s Outstanding Clinician Award
Dr. Ariel P. Santos, MD, MPH
President’s Excellence in Community Engagement Award
Dr. Debra Notturno-Strong, DHS, MS, MSA, R.Ph.
President's Early Career Investigator Award
Dr. Jenny Wilkerson Ph.D.
President's Team Teaching Award
Dr. Mark Haase, Pharm.D.
Dr. Jeanie Shawhart, Pharm.D.
Dr. Carlos Alvarez, Pharm.D.
Dr. Thomas Abbruscato, Ph.D.
Dr. Amal Aburahma Ph.D.
Dr. Sivaramakrishna Koganti, Ph.D.
Dr. Charles Seifert, Pharm. D.
University Distinguished Faculty
The title of “distinguished faculty” is granted each year to members of TTUHSC faculty who have clearly exhibited outstanding achievement in teaching, research and service. Recipients hold this honor throughout the remainder of their active service at TTUHSC.
Eligibility criteria:
University Distinguished Faculty should be recognized nationally, and often internationally, for their greatness in research, teaching and/or clinical achievements, bringing distinction to TTUHSC as a result of their activities.
Each recipient receives:
Award recipients are given a framed certificate, an engraved medallion, and a monetary award.
Deadlines/ Important Dates:
In order to be considered, nominations must be sent to the president by June 14 of each year. After achieving approval from Council of Deans, nominations will be sent to the president for review and selection.
List of current and past recipients:
2022 Volker E. Neugebauer, M.D., Ph.D.
2021 Teresa E. Baker, MD
2021 Theresa Byrd, RN, MPH, DrPH
2021 Kerry K. Gilbert, PT, ScD
2021 Cynthia Jumper, MD, MPH, MACP
2021 Laura Opton, DHSc, RN, CNE
2021 Dawndra Sechrist, OTR, PhD
2021 Amanda Veesart, PhD, CNE, RN
2021 Jeff Watson, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CNE
2020 Victor J Test, MD, FCCP
2020 Yondell Masten PhD, WHNP-BC, RNC-OB
2019 Brandt Schneider Ph.D.
2018 Kevin Pruitt Ph.D.
2018 Kendra Rumbaugh Ph.D.
2018 Terry McMahon M.D.
2018 Dale Dunn M.D., MBA, FCAP, FASCP
2018 Sharmila Dissanaike M.D.
2018 Thomas Hale Ph.D., R.Ph
2016 Richard Leff PharmD
2016 Patrick Reynolds MD, Ph.D.
2016 Jannette Dufour Ph.D.
2016 Kumuda Das Ph.D.
2016 Michael Conn Ph.D.
2016 Steven Sawyer Ph.D.
2016 Hal Larsen Ph.D.
2016 Roger James Ph.D., FACSM
2016 Candace Hicks PH.D., CCC-A
2016 Melinda Corwin Ph.D., CCC-SLP
2016 Edward Yeomans MD
2016 Gary Ventolini MD
2016 Patti Patterson MD, MPH
2016 Mubariz Naqvi MD
2016 Vadivel Ganapathy Ph.D.
2016 Kathryn Sridaromont Ph.D.
2016 Melinda Mitchell-Jones JD, MSN
2016 Pearl Merritt Ed.D., M.S., MSN, RN, FAAN
Distinguished Staff Awards
An acclaimed group of awards for TTUHSC non-faculty team members, the Distinguished Staff Awards program recognizes and supports the achievements of TTUHSC staff members who exemplify the highest level of university values and characteristics. The five levels of awards available allow for a range of recipients across TTUHSC campuses. In celebration, an employee picnic is held each year to recognize award recipients.
Eligibility criteria:
Non-faculty benefits-eligible employees must be continuously employed without having received disciplinary action in the past twelve months or a previous distinguished staff award in the past five years. Additionally, recipients should have completed all required trainings.
Each recipient receives:
Elements received depend on the specific award. More information can be found here.
Deadlines/ Important Dates:
Nominations are accepted January - February of each year. The award ceremony is held in the summer, in conjunction with the staff picnic and years of service ceremony.
Chancellor’s Awards
Chancellor's Council Distinguished Teaching & Research Awards & Chancellor's Award
of Excellence
Recognizing academic excellence, these honors are the most prestigious awards granted
to faculty throughout the TTU System. The awards are funded by gifts to the Chancellor’s
Council, a giving society that supports the chancellor’s priorities across the TTU
System. Each year, award recipients receive a stipend and an engraved medallion or
plaque for their academic contributions to the university.
Eligibility Criteria:
Recipients should demonstrate outstanding teaching and research both within and beyond the university. These awards are designed to recognize the research, scholarship and creative activity of TTUHSC faculty members as well as the dedication to TTUHSC’s goals as an institution.
Each Recipient Receives:
Recipients of the Chancellor's Council Distinguished Teaching & Research Awards are given a $5,000 stipend and an engraved medallion.
Recipients of the Chancellor's Award of Excellence are given a $1,500 stipend, a lapel pin and an award plaque.
- Contact Information: chancellorscouncil@ttu.edu
- 806-742-0026
List of current and past recipients:
2023 - Dr. Sanjay K. Srivastava
2023 - Dr. Courtney M. Queen
2023 - Dr. Lisaann S. Gittner
2022 - Dr. Duke Appiah
2022 - Dr. Amy Stark
2022 - Dr. Jen Collins
2021 - Dr. Susan Calloway
2021 - Dr. Tammy Carter
2021 - Dr. Volker Edgar Neugebauer
2020 - Dr. Vadivel Ganapathy
2020 - Professor Sherry Sancibrian
2020 - Dr. Thomas Abbruscato
2019 - Dr. Steven F. Sawyer
2019 - Dr. Vardan T. Karamyan
2019 - Dr. Donna Owen
2019 - Dr. Min Kang
2018 - Dr. Eric J. MacLaughlin
2018 - Dr. Simon C. Williams
2018 - Dr. Kendra P. Rumbaugh
2018 - Dr. Phil S. Sizer
2017 - Dr. Eric J. MacLaughlin
2017 - Dr. Simon C. Williams
2017 - Dr. Kendra P. Rumbaugh
2017 - Dr. Phil S. Sizer
2016 - Katie Bennett
2016 - D. Elizabeth Goebel Jones
2016 - Richard Leff
2016 - Billy Philips
2015 - Dr. Melinda Corwin
2015 - Dr. Craig Cox
2015 - Dr. Alyce Ashcraft
2015 - Dr. Kumuda Das
Distinguished Alumni Awards
Since its creation in 1999, the Distinguished Alumni Awards have commended those whose efforts within their fields have created a positive impact on their community, offering recognition for each school under several different categories. Previous recipients have been acknowledged for their significant successes in research, leadership, community outreach, and clinical care, among others.
Eligibility Criteria:
Award recipients should achieve a high level of success in their chosen fields, making a positive impact on community or humanity and bringing distinction to both themselves and TTUHSC.
Each Recipient Receives:
Recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Awards receive a glass memento and a hosted reception to honor their accomplishments.
Deadlines/Important Dates:
For consideration for the Distinguished Alumni Awards, nominations must be sent electronically by June 1 of each year.
Presidential Distinguished Alumni Award
In 2015, TTUHSC introduced the Presidential Distinguished Alumni Award. This recognition is considered to be the highest honor bestowed by the university, recognizing and honoring alumni who have made significant contributions to the health care profession.
Eligibility Criteria:
Recipients of the Presidential Distinguished Alumni Award are individuals who have demonstrated service to the community, profession and the institution while earning their degree or completing their residency.
Each Recipient Receives:
Recipients of the Presidential Distinguished Alumni Award receive a glass memento and a hosted reception to honor their accomplishments.
Deadlines/Important Dates:
In order to be considered, nominations must be sent electronically by June 1 of each year.