Faculty and Staff Recognition 2026
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We are honored to present the 2026 College of Medicine & Life Sciences Faculty and Staff Recognition Awards.
We recognize faculty and staff nominees, honor individuals who have excelled in their careers, as well as recognize those who have made exceptional contributions to teaching, research, clinical care and service, and acknowledge individuals for their commitment to mentoring our students.
Join us in recognizing these faculty and staff members, listed in alphabetical order by recipient:
Dean’s Awards 2026
Dean’s Award for Humanism - Faculty
Julie Brennan, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Medicine
Nominator Notes: “She represents the very best of the University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences and has had a profound and lasting impact on our learners, residency program, and institutional culture.”
Dean’s Award for Early Career Clinical Excellence
Clayton Buback, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Neurology
Nominator Notes: “He has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to patient care, clinical innovation, medical education, and service to our institution."
Dean’s Award for Community-Based Faculty Teaching
Craig Burkhart, M.D.
Clinical Professor
Department of Medicine
Nominator Notes: “He has transformed clinical observations into enduring contributions to the literature, opened the publication process to generations of learners, and shown students that meaningful academic work can grow from attentive community practice."
Dean’s Award for Leadership Staff Excellence
Jamie Daughton, M.B.A.
Director of Undergraduate Medical Education
Department of Medical Education
Nominator Notes: “Her unwavering commitment to excellence, coupled with her ability to align people, processes, and institutional priorities, has strengthened undergraduate medical education and created an environment in which students, faculty, and staff can thrive."
Dean’s Award for Master Clinician
Joan Duggan, M.D.
Professor
Department of Medicine
Nominator Notes: “Dr. Duggan exemplifies the very definition of a master clinician: an outstanding physician, gifted educator, compassionate advocate, and nationally respected leader.”
Dean’s Award for Humanism - Staff
Wafaa Hanna, M.B.A.
Director of Faculty Development & Affairs
College of Medicine and Life Sciences
Nominator Notes: “She is compassionate, highly motivated, equitable, kind, considerate, hardworking, and a most effective role model for all administrators, faculty, and leaders in our College.”
Dean’s Award for Faculty Career Achievement
Bina Joe, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
Department of Physiology & Pharmacology
Nominator Notes: "She has built enduring programs, achieved internationally recognized scholarly distinction, provided visionary leadership, mentored generations of future scientists and physicians, and served The University of Toledo with uncommon generosity and impact.”
Dean’s Award for ProMedica Faculty Teaching Excellence
Rajat Kaul, M.D.
Clinical Associate Professor
Department of Pediatrics
Nominator Notes: “As Pediatric Clerkship Director, Dr. Kaul has transformed the educational experience for medical students through thoughtful curriculum enhancement, hands-on clinical teaching, and individualized mentorship.”
Dean’s Award for Advising Excellence
Jiayong Liu, M.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Nominator Notes: “He is not merely an advisor—he is a catalyst for the next generation of physicians, scientists, and medical leaders.”
Dean’s Award for Basic Sciences Research Excellence
Shi-He Liu, M.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Cell & Cancer Biology
Nominator Notes: “His work not only advances knowledge in cancer biology but also directly supports improved patient diagnosis and care.”
Dean’s Award for AHEC Faculty Teaching Excellence
Daniel McKernan, M.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Nominator Notes: “Over nearly three decades, he has had a profound and lasting impact on generations of learners, many of whom credit him with shaping their clinical skills, professional identity, and commitment to patient-centered care.”
Dean’s Award for Clinical Sciences Research Excellence
Munier Nazzal, M.D.
Professor
Department of Surgery
Nominator Notes: “His contributions have elevated the national visibility of our institution while directly improving patient care and advancing the field of vascular and endovascular surgery.”
Dean’s Award for New Investigator Research Excellence
Sailaja Paruchuri, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Physiology & Pharmacology
Nominator Notes: “She is strengthening the College's research culture through funded research, trainee development, collaborative science, and national service.”
Dean’s Award for Staff Impact
Laura Price
Assistant to the Chair
Department of Physiology & Pharmacology
Nominator Notes: “Her dedication to service, collaborative spirit, resilience, and commitment to excellence have made a measurable and lasting difference within the College of Medicine and Life Sciences.”
Dean’s Award for Outstanding Staff Career Achievement
Mary Ann Schuster
Financial Operations Administrator
Departments of Cell & Cancer Biology and Physiology & Pharmacology
Nominator Notes: “Mary Ann Schuster embodies the very best of COMLS. Her decades of service, leadership, mentorship, and compassion have strengthened our departments and enriched our university community in immeasurable ways.”
Dean’s Award for Faculty Teaching Excellence
Ajaz Sheikh, M.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Neurology
Nominator Notes: “His leadership has strengthened the educational infrastructure of our department and enhanced the training opportunities available to future neurologists.”
Dean’s Award for Support Staff Excellence
Jessica Weigle, M.S.Ed.
Research Administrator
COMLS Office of Research
Nominator Notes: “She consistently goes above and beyond in serving COMLS researchers, faculty, students and co-workers and making the department and the University shine by her outstanding attitude.”
Celebration Ceremony
We celebrated our faculty and staff members at an in-person ceremony on Oct. 30, 2026, where we also heard reflections from their nominators as well as recognized nominees for each category. Watch the video recording of the event below: