We are proud of our research team who have received the following honors and awards:

Current team members:

  • Alexis Kennedy, MS
    • Top 3 for 3-minute (3M) Thesis Competition (2024)
    • 1st place oral presentation for Summer Undergraduate Research Expo (SURE Program) (2021)
  • Brendon Herring, PhD
    • North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS) Best Oral Presentation (2022)
  • Rachael Guenter, PhD
    • North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society Early Career Spotlight (2024)
    • Co-Founder of the NET Models Conference (2024)
    • American Association of Endocrine Surgeons Geoffrey Thompson Award for Best Basic Science Poster (2023)
    • HelloBio’s Featured Interviews with a Scientist (2022)
    • Co-author of North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS) Best Oral Presentation (2022)
    • Co-author of UAB Heersink School of Medicine’s Featured Discovery (2021)
    • Birmingham Business Journal’s Rising Star in Healthcare, Technology, and Innovation (2020)
    • American Institute of Chemical Engineers Best Oral Presentation (2019)
    • National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Engineering T32 Pre Doctoral Training Grant Recipient (2018)
    • American Thyroid Association Trainee Grant (2018)
    • Blazer Graduate Research Fellowship, University of Alabama at Birmingham (2017) 
  • J. Bart Rose, MD
    • Pittman Scholar, University of Alabama (2022)
    • Alpha Omega Alpha, University of Alabama (2021)
    • Marshall M. Urist Clinical Faculty of the Year Award (2020)
  • Renata Jaskula-Sztul, PhD
    • Member of NANETS Scientific Review & Research Committee (2020-)
    • Member, North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS) (2015-)
    • Member, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (2005-)
  • Herbert Chen, MD
    • AWS Presidents Award (2023)
    • Harridge Lecture (2023)
    • Vineyard Lecture, Harvard (2023)
    • Robert F. Gagel ITOG Discovery Award (2022)
    • DeBakey Lecture (2022)
    • SAAS Trailblazer Award (2022)
    • ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators (2021)
    • Pennington Lecture, U Oklahoma (2021)
    • Jesseph Lecture, Indiana U (2021)
    • Letton Lecture, SESC (2020)
    • Erb Lecture, Phil Ac Surg (2020)
    • Society of Nuclear Medicine GCNMC Award (2020)
    • Gibbons Lecture, UTSW (2020)
    • Mayo Lecture, Northwestern (2020)
    • Ferguson Ottinger Lecture, MGH (2020)
    • Liu Lecture, OHSU (2020)
    • Dean’s Award for Diversity Enhancement (2019)
    • Hickey Lecture, MD Anderson (2019)
    • Swan Lecture, CU (2019)
    • Naffziger Lecture, UCSF (2018)
    • Goodnight Lecture, UC-Davis (2017)
    • Gliedman Lecture, Montefiore (2017)
    • Moossa Lecture, UCSD (2017)
    • Strauss Lecture U Chicago (2017)
    • Fischer Lecture, U Cincinnati (2017)
    • Dobyns Lecture, CWRU (2017)
    • Baker Lecture, Virginia Mason (2017)
    • Drapanas Lecture, Tulane (2017)
    • Lim Lecture, CUHK (2017)
    • Sparkman Lecture, UTSW (2016)
    • Sheldon Lecture, UNC (2016)
    • Thoroughman Lecture, Emory (2016)

Past team members:

  • Mya Smith
    • 1st place poster at the 2024 Cancer Research Symposium (2024)
  • Will Colley, BS
    • 1st place poster at the 2024 Medical Student Research Day (2024)
  • Danilea M. Carmona Matos, M.S.
    • Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Medical Research Fellow Award (2018)
    • American Association of Endocrine Surgeons Research Travel Scholarship Sponsored by Neurovision Medical Products (2018)
    • Latino Medical Student Association Travel Scholarship for Annual Meeting (2018)
  • Samuel Jang, M.D.
    • Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Medical Research Fellow Award (2016)
  • Yash Somnay, M.D., Ph.D.
    • Deb Hullet, PhD Translational Science Research Award (2015)
    • North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society Young Investigator Award (2011)
  • Jacob Bender
    • PEOPLE Excellence in Research Award (2014)
  • Eric Weinlander
    • Shapiro UW Excellence in Research Award (2014)
  • Sara Tesfazghi
    • Wisconsin Surgical Society Best Poster Award (2013) 
  • Sara Murray Holden, M.D.
    • American Association of Endocrine Surgeons Resident Research Award (2013)
  • Jocelyn Burke, M.D.
    • University of Wisconsin Department of Surgery Resident Research Award (2013)
    • Commission on Cancer American College of Surgeons Research Award (2013)
    • University of Wisconsin Department of Surgery Resident Research Award (2012)
    • American College of Surgeons Resident Research Scholarship (2011) 
  • Priyesh Patel, M.D.
    • Association for Academic Surgery Medical Student Research Award (2012)
    • Shapiro UW Excellence in Research Award (2012)
  • Kevin Shepet, M.D.
    • American Association of Endocrine Surgeons Resident Research Award (2012)
  • Amal Alhefdi, M.D.
    • Saudi Forum Best Graduate Research Award (2011)
  • Catherine McManus, M.D.
    • Shapiro UW Excellence in Research Award (2011)
  • Monica Woll, M.D.
    • Shapiro UW Excellence in Research Award (2011)
  • Haggi Mazeh, M.D.
    • International Association of Endocrine Surgeons Travel Award (2011)
    • North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society Young Clinical Investigator Award (2010)
  • Madhu Roy, M.D., Ph.D.
    • Top Ranked Abstract Award at the Academic Surgical Congress (2010)
  • Linda Youngwirth, M.D.
    • Shapiro UW Excellence in Research Award (2010) 
  • Barbara Zarebczan Dull, M.D.
    • Wisconsin Surgical Society Best Poster Award (2010)
    • North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society Travel Award (2010)
    • North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society Basic Science Research Award (2010)
    • Midwest Surgical Association Resident Research Award (2010)
    • American College of Surgeons Resident Research Scholarship (2009)
  • Joel T. Adler, M.D.
    • Association for Academic Surgery Medical Student Research Award (2010)
    • Wisconsin Surgical Society Clinical Science Research Award (2007)
    • Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Medical Research Fellow Award (2007)
    • Shapiro UW Excellence in Research Award (2007)
  • Scott Pinchot, M.D.
    • Harold P. Rusch Award for Clinical Research (2009)
    • Layton F. Rikkers Award for Clinical Research (2009)
    • Midwest Surgical Association Resident Research Award (2008)
    • Wisconsin Surgical Society Basic Science Research Award (2008)
    • Association for Academic Surgery Research Award (2007)
  • Anna E. Bargren, M.D.
    • International Association of Endocrine Surgeons Travel Award (2009)
    • Shapiro UW Excellence in Research Award (2009)
  • Mackenzie Cook, M.D.
    • North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society Research “Rising Star” Award (2009)
    • North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society Travel Award (2009)
    • Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Medical Research Fellow Award (2008)
  • Susan Pitt, M.D.
    • Paul Lo Gerfo American Association of Endocrine Surgeons Resident Research Award (2009)
    • Resident and Associate Society of the American College of Surgeons Leadership Scholarship (2009)
    • American College of Surgeons Resident Research Scholarship (2007)
  • Ashley Kappes Cayo, M.D.
    • Association for Academic Surgery Medical Student Research Award (2008)
    • American Association of Endocrine Surgeons Resident Research Award (2006)
    • Shapiro UW Excellence in Research Award (2005)
    • Wisconsin Surgical Society President’s Award (2005)
  • David Y. Greenblatt, M.D.
    • Association for Academic Surgery Best Oral Presentation by a New Member Award (2008)
    • American Association of Endocrine Surgeons Resident Research Award (2007)
    • Wisconsin Surgical Society Basic Science Research Award (2007)
    • Midwest Surgical Association Resident Research Award (2006)
    • Association for Academic Surgery Research Award (2005)
    • University of Wisconsin Department of Surgery Resident Research Award (2005)
  • Chris Platta, M.D.
    • Association for Academic Surgery Resident Research Award (2008)
    • Shapiro UW Excellence in Research Award (2007)
  • Daniel Hottinger
    • Hilldale Undergraduate Research Award (2007)
  • Max Cayo
    • Hilldale Undergraduate Research Award (2006)
    • Trewartha Honors Undergraduate Research Fund Award (2006) 
  • Jamie J. Van Gompel, M.D.
    • Herman Shapiro Award for the Most Outstanding Research as a Medical Student (2005)
    • Wisconsin Surgical Society Basic Science Research Award (2004)
    • Howard Hughes Medical Institute Medical Student Fellowship Award (2003)
  • David Conrad, M.D.
    • University of Wisconsin Medical Student Research Competition Award for Clinical Research (2004)
    • Wisconsin Surgical Society Clinical Science Research Award (2004)
  • Rebecca S. Sippel, M.D.
    • Paul Lo Gerfo American Association of Endocrine Surgeons Resident Research Award (2004)
    • University of Wisconsin Department of Surgery Resident Research Award (2003) 
  • Amber Shada, M.D.
    • University of Wisconsin Medical Student Research Competition Award for Basic Research (2004) 
  • Eric Culbertson, M.D.
    • University of Wisconsin Medical Student Research Competition Award for Basic Research (2003)
  • Elizabeth Harris, M.D.
    • Hilldale Research Award (2002)
  • Sandeepa Musunuru, M.D.
    • American Medical Association Seed Grant for Laboratory Research (2002)
    • University of Wisconsin Medical Student Research Competition Award for Basic Research (2002)
  • Kelly Traeger, M.D.
    • Hilldale Research Award (2002)