Year 4. July 28. Accolades Across All Missions
The UCLA Department of Medicine (DoM) leads in all our missions — namely clinical excellence, research accomplishments, educational innovation and impactful community engagement. Nothing exemplifies this more than celebrating when our colleagues are honored by their peers or the community for their contributions. This week, I have great pleasure in sharing with you some recent accolades earned by DoM faculty and trainees that exemplify the breadth of our contributions across all missions.
Po Wei (Billy) Kang, MD and Likith (Lucky) Surendra, MD Honored with Excellence in Teaching with Humanism Awards
As regular readers of this newsletter know, every one of our residents are LEADERS who excel at patient care, research and education. Two of them were recently selected by David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (DGSOM) medical students as the recipients of Excellence in Teaching with Humanism Awards, an honor bestowed upon residents and fellows who model exemplary behavior to students. They took the time to tell us a little about themselves in a special Q&A.
Po Wei (Billy) Kang, MD, PhD
Second-year resident, UCLA Internal Medicine STAR PTSP
What was your reaction to receiving an Excellence in Teaching with Humanism Award?
I was honored and (very pleasantly) surprised to receive the award!
What is the personal significance of this award to you?
Receiving this award is a meaningful reminder that my efforts are playing a part to inspire the next generation of medical students.
What was your most rewarding teaching moment so far?
I particularly recall one call day when we learned about tamponade physiology and echocardiographic findings during morning rounds. That very afternoon, we serendipitously admitted a patient with concerns for tamponade, offering a rare opportunity to rapidly translate freshly learned knowledge into real life clinical practice.
What motivates you to teach?
Through my training, I have been fortunate to learn from exceptional teachers and mentors who have shaped my journey. Their guidance has fueled my passion for science and medicine, as well as nurturing me both professionally and personally. Their lasting impact inspires me to pay it forward to the next generation.
Likith “Lucky” Surendra, MD
Second-year resident, UCLA Internal Medicine
What was your reaction to receiving an Excellence in Teaching with Humanism Award?
I was pleasantly surprised! I enjoy spending time teaching and working with students, so I was very grateful to receive the award and hear my impact on the student who nominated me. We worked together on a busy service, taking care of patients with particularly complex medical and social issues, so sometimes the teaching was more informal and integrated into our workflow. I was happy to know that this still made an impact on her experience while rotating with our team. Her comments were incredibly kind, and I appreciated her going out of her way to recognize me.
What is the personal significance of this award to you?
As I enjoy working in academic environments with students and other trainees, this serves as a reminder that students appreciate my teaching and validates for myself that my teaching can be impactful, even on a busy service. I anticipate it will also encourage me to slow down to make time to educate, knowing the impact it can have on early learners.
What was your most rewarding teaching moment so far?
Although there isn’t one moment that stands out, it’s incredibly rewarding to watch students whom I have worked with thrive. When I review a patient-related topic with a medical student prior to rounds and they deliver an outstanding patient presentation to the attending, I feel incredibly proud of their performance and ability to apply what we discussed. Particular examples that come to mind while working with students include reviewing specific management of pulmonary embolism or discussing the possibility of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures and the nuances in its diagnosis. Moreover, when my students go above and beyond to continue to learn about the topic we discussed and teach the team more details, I feel encouraged by their intellectual curiosity and grateful for the shared learning.
What motivates you to teach?
I enjoy building other people up by sharing with them the skills and knowledge to succeed, and I like to see everyone I work with improve and thrive. Furthermore, I find that my own learning improves when I teach, by solidifying concepts for myself and learning about new details as I dive deeper into concepts with my students.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Kang and Dr. Surendra for this achievement and in thanking them for their dedication to educating our students.
Diana Marquez-Garban, MD Honored with UCLA Distinguished Teaching Award
I am proud to share that Diana Marquez-Garban, MD, a physician-scientist in the signal transduction and therapeutics research program at Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and a member of the hematology and oncology division in the DoM, recently won a UCLA Distinguished Teaching Award. This is the institution’s highest recognition for teaching excellence; recipients are selected based on the performance of students they work with, their teaching methods, their efforts to foster an inclusive learning environment and their support for community outreach and mentoring activities.
“I was very surprised and incredibly happy to receive this award,” Dr. Marquez-Garban said. “As a full-time scientist without formal teaching responsibilities, the kind of mentoring and teaching I do often goes unnoticed. Receiving this award brings extraordinary satisfaction and gives me the strength to keep fighting during these difficult times.”
Dr. Marquez-Garban is passionate about helping students from underrepresented backgrounds in medicine, including first-generation college students, achieve their dreams of becoming physicians and scientists. She has witnessed how limiting it can be to feel like an outsider in the field or like you simply cannot succeed.
“I thoroughly enjoy inspiring a love for learning, especially in the basic sciences, but perhaps more importantly, I love inspiring self-confidence within students I work with, the feeling within them that they are capable of becoming a scientist, a physician, or whatever challenging career they seek to pursue,” Dr. Marquez-Garban said. “I believe that, by grappling with the rigor that is required to acquire research skills, confidence is built. This confidence then helps students feel that they belong and that they can achieve anything they set their minds to.”
One reason Dr. Marquez-Garban is so effective at inspiring students to reach their potential is because she takes time to get to know them as people and to understand their individual challenges. This can be difficult to do in a large academic medical and research institution, where faculty are typically overwhelmed with responsibilities.
“I make a conscious effort to cultivate that extra time for each of my mentees so they can get the most out of their experience under my guidance,” Dr. Marquez-Garban said. She has carried this approach with her through her work in programs for underrepresented minorities, such as the Charles Drew University and UCLA JCCC Undergraduate Cancer Research Training Program.
“Often those students I have mentored referred to this opportunity to do research over the summer as a pivotal branching point that changed their lives,” Dr. Marquez-Garban said. “Seeing my students as physicians, nurses, PhDs, MD-PhDs or other health care professionals is incredibly satisfying.”
Besides guiding her students to careers in medicine and science, Dr. Marquez-Garban also aims to inspire them to care for those in need. A key part of her own research is understanding cancer health disparities and how to reduce them.
“I try to raise awareness among my students, helping them understand the importance of recognizing the realities of our country and how they can play a role in supporting underserved communities,” she said.
Amid students' many success stories are some that remind Dr. Marquez-Garban that the work is far from complete. She recently learned that one of her undergraduate students who was accepted into medical school declined the offer because the student could not afford tuition.
“My heart broke,” Dr. Marquez-Garban said. “Moments like this make educational inequities even more material. They signal a need for significant change in our education system so that all have the same opportunities."
She believes the DoM is a great place to continue her mission towards reducing these inequities because she is surrounded by what she describes as brilliant, passionate people who inspire her with the way they practice medicine and science.
“I also believe it’s a department that still tries to pursue humanist values by creating awareness and being inclusive,” Dr. Marquez-Garban said. “These traits make the DoM a great place to teach."
Congratulations, Dr. Marquez-Garban, and thank you for your dedication to bringing in future LEADERS in medicine from all backgrounds.
Utibe Essien, MD, MPH, Named a Fellow of the American College of Physicians
I am pleased to share that Utibe Essien, MD, MPH — an internist, health equity researcher and assistant vice chair of community engagement and inclusive excellence in the DoM — was recently named a Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP). This designation is typically reserved for physicians with many years of experience, and the organization's decision to recognize Dr. Essien as a fellow so early in his career is a testament to his impact on the field.
“I was very surprised to be named an FACP as I had no idea I was nominated,” Dr. Essien recalled. “My nominator, Dr. Eileen Barrett, emailed me to share the good news and I was incredibly grateful to be recognized in this way.”
Fellowship in the ACP is one of the highest distinctions in medicine. It is a peer-reviewed, honorary designation that publicly reflects excellence in the internal medicine field.
“FACP signifies an ongoing dedication to the profession, the patients we care for and the communities we serve,” Dr. Essien said. As the son of an internal medicine physician, it also holds personal significance.
“My dad would take us on family vacations to ACP conferences and so it’s particularly meaningful to be recognized in this way by an organization I, in a way, grew up with,” Dr. Essien said.
What Dr. Essien loves most about his job is the opportunity to discover and think creatively as a physician-scientist. His work as a researcher enables him to take the problems he witnesses on the hospital wards and collaborate with mentees and colleagues to solve them. This is especially fruitful in the DoM and within his division of UCLA General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, where he works.
“Whenever I have a patient care or research question, I never have to go far to find someone with the answers,” he said.
When asked what professional advice he might give to his past self, Dr. Essien reflected on his experience choosing a path to take in medicine.
“I would advise myself to stay true to my mission and purpose,” he said. “Without a central guiding light, it is easy to head off in directions that may not actually be fulfilling for you. So stay true and see where the journey takes you — including sunny California.”
Congratulations, Utibe, on achieving this enormous professional milestone!
Anna Dermenchyan, PhD, RN Named Fellow of the American Academy of Nurses
Joining Dr. Essien in his admission to an honorific society is Interim Chief Quality Officer Anna Dermenchyan, PhD, RN, who on June 18 was named a fellow of the American Academy of Nurses (AAN). The mission of AAN is to improve health and achieve health equity by impacting policy through nursing leadership, innovation, and science. AAN fellowship is one of the highest honors in nursing, and this year was even more competitive than usual: The academy noted in its announcement that it had a record number of applicants this year.
“Being named a fellow is a tremendous honor and a deeply meaningful milestone in my career. It’s incredibly rewarding to have my work in nursing, healthcare quality, advocacy, and policy recognized at the national level,” Dr. Dermenchyan said. “I’m excited to join a community of leaders who are shaping the future of health and to use this platform to continue driving improvements in policy, equity, and care delivery. This recognition validates years of effort and inspires me to keep advocating for meaningful change in the profession and beyond.”
Dr. Dermenchyan is passionate about health policy and building a more just healthcare system. She obtained a doctorate in nursing to gain the research training and knowledge she would need to address national healthcare issues and has applied what she learned as a leader in professional societies. One example is the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), where she served for three years on the board of directors. Part of her tenure on the AACN board took place during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This role gave me a deeper understanding of how we advocate for essential healthcare resources and collaborate with the media to shape public understanding,” Dr. Dermenchyan said, noting that she contributed to The Hill and Stat News. “These experiences have deepened my commitment to leadership and reinforced the importance of having healthcare professionals at decision-making tables.”
When she reflects on what she loves most about her job in the DoM, Dr. Dermenchyan cites the chance to create meaningful change and to work alongside people who are talented and mission-driven.
“Every day I have the opportunity to collaborate with brilliant, dedicated colleagues across disciplines to solve complex problems, elevate quality and safety, and advance health equity,” Dr. Dermenchyan said. “I’m especially committed to addressing systemic gaps in care and creating healthier work environments where all members of the healthcare team can thrive. The impact of this work is both immediate and long-lasting, and it’s a privilege to be part of that transformation.”
Please join me in congratulating Anna on becoming a fellow of the AAN!
Stephen Vampola, MD, MS Named a Champion in Healthcare by the Pacific Business Times
Last week we highlighted the many triumphs of our faculty, staff and clinics along the Central Coast. This week I am excited to add to that list of successes with the wonderful news that Montecito and Santa Barbara-based interventional cardiologist Stephen P. Vampola, MD, MS was recently named a Champion in Healthcare by the Pacific Coast Business Times.
“I consider it an honor to be recognized by a publication that is local to my practice and not specifically focused on healthcare,” Dr. Vampola said. “To me, this signifies that my work with UCLA has made a significant impact on the local community. I also look forward to representing UCLA well!”
Dr. Vampola has had a knack for math and problem solving since his youth — before becoming a physician, he even earned a master’s degree in engineering. He later found however that medicine had an attractive human element that was meaningful to him.
“Interventional cardiology allows me to combine my analytical strengths with a human mission,” Dr. Vampola said. “It is a great field.” He noted that he feels privileged to serve patients in the Santa Barbara region, where he grew up and still has family to this day.
“As clinicians, we all work hard, enriching the communities that we work in,” he said. “The opportunity to work in my hometown gives me unique perspective to see what a huge impact our efforts make on so many lives.”
Dr. Vampola added that his success in Santa Barbara would be impossible without the physicians and staff who make up UCLA Health and the DoM.
“I would like to remind everyone — whether they are knee-deep in a research project in Westwood or staying on pager all night long for our patients — that what we do has touched many lives throughout Southern California, even as far away as the Central Coast,” he said.
Congratulations, Dr. Vampola, on this well-deserved recognition!
UCLA Becomes First in CA to Receive Accreditation for Excellence in Pulmonary Embolism Care
I am thrilled to share that UCLA recently became the first hospital in California — and in the Western U.S. — to be accredited as a Comprehensive Center of Excellence for Pulmonary Embolism by the Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) Consortium®, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of treatment for patients with pulmonary embolism (PE). This life-threatening emergency results in the deaths of as many as 100,000 people every year, and our success in caring for patients with PE is a testament to the exceptional quality of care at UCLA and in the DoM.
The accreditation “is a major milestone for us and reflects years of investment in personnel, infrastructure, and collaboration across departments,” said Richard N. Channick, MD, a pulmonologist and critical care physician who co-directs the PE treatment team alongside John Moriarty, MD of the radiology division. “It could not have happened without the steadfast support of the departments of radiology and medicine, and the leadership of the hospital.”
More than 600 patients with PE come through UCLA each year. They are rapidly treated by a cohesive, multidisciplinary team that spans departments and have access to advanced therapeutics through our robust research and clinical trials. They also benefit from well-coordinated long-term follow-up. Our designation as the first PERT-accredited center of excellence in California and the West validates the cutting edge, highly collaborative program Dr. Channick and others have developed and implemented.
“Providing cutting edge, collaborative care to patients with PE can literally be the difference between life and death. Our team approach, which includes pulmonologists, interventional radiologists, cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons and others, applied to both the acute illness and long term care of these patients is unique and, we feel, a model for other hospitals and centers,” Dr. Channick said. “That these centers and hospitals throughout the region refer the “sickest of the sick” to us is clear evidence of the commitment to excellence which permeates our team, and UCLA in general.”
Ultimately, while accolades are always welcome validation of our efforts, “the ultimate reward is in the lives we impact with our efforts,” he added.
“The patients we help survive and the families who are able to bring their loved ones home are what make us most proud and motivate us to continue this work,” Dr. Channick said.
RRMC Makes the Honor Roll for Aortic Stenosis Care and More
The UCLA Division of Cardiology has a long history of excellence in patient care. This was recently recognized when the cardiology team at Ronald Reagan Medical Center qualified for the American Heart Association (AHA) and Target: Aortic Stenosis Honor Roll, an achievement based on performance on key metrics related to patient outcomes.
“We’re excited for our patients,” Olcay Aksoy, MD, an interventional cardiologist and associate director of research in clinical interventional cardiology, said. “At UCLA, we’ve been treating aortic stenosis for decades, and as the focus on quality of care continues to grow, it’s rewarding to see our longstanding commitment to excellence being recognized. Our patients have always been at the heart of everything we do.”
Dr. Aksoy noted that the cardiology team has been a cornerstone at UCLA for many years. He attributes its recognition by the AHA recognition to years of collaboration within the cardiology division and across departments.
“Most importantly, this success translates into the best possible care for our patients, and that’s what matters most,” Dr. Aksoy said. When he considers what he is most proud of about his team, its winning combination of technical prowess and personality come to mind.
“Having a team that is both compassionate and personable is truly special,” he said. “It’s a privilege to care for our patients — and doing so with empathy, respect, and the same attention we would give our own family has been both a joy and a source of pride.”
RRMC was also named to the AHA 2025 Honor Roll for guideline adherence and patient outcomes in stroke and heart failure in patients with type 2 diabetes. These accolades underscore our commitment to providing high quality patient care for all.
“It's a great honor for Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center to receive the national American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines Gold Plus Performance Achievement Award along with the Target: Heart Failure Optimal Honor Roll,” Ali Nsair, MD, interventional cardiologist and director of the heart transplantation and mechanical circulatory support program, said. “This is an acknowledgement of the excellent multidisciplinary care these complex advanced heart failure patients receive from our trainees, nurses and advanced care practitioners along with all our colleagues from the UCLA Department of Medicine and the advanced heart failure team. This would not be possible without the effort of all those involved and is a national honor for all to be proud of.”
Congratulations to Dr. Aksoy, Dr. Nsair and to all of our faculty and staff who provide world-class cardiovascular care at RRMC!
Dale
P.S.
I hope that you are having a good summer and have had a chance to take a break or to connect with family. We recently had the opportunity to host four generations of my family.
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