Outstanding physicians named Champions of the Clinical Learning Environment

Every day, faculty and resident physicians shape the clinical learning experience through their teaching, mentorship, professionalism, and commitment to patient care. Their interactions with students help create clinical environments where learners feel welcomed, supported, challenged, and respected as they develop into future physicians.

To recognize these contributions, program directors Vineeth John, MD, MBA, and Abbey Bachmann, PhD, MEd, recently named the 2026 Champions of the Clinical Learning Environment.

While this recognition has traditionally honored faculty, the 2026 award has been extended to resident physicians for the significant role they play as near-peer teachers, mentors, and role models for medical students.

This year’s honorees were identified through student nominations collected in the fall 2025 and spring 2026 Learning Environment Surveys. Through these surveys, third-year medical students highlighted individuals who made a meaningful impact on their clerkship experiences.

Students consistently described these champions as educators and role models who fostered inclusive and psychologically safe learning environments, encouraged clinical growth, modeled professional behavior, and demonstrated compassion toward both patients and learners. Following a comprehensive review of student nominations and feedback, faculty and resident champions were selected from each clerkship based on the quality and impact of student comments.

The 2026 cohort also saw two faculty members whose sustained excellence has earned them recognition for at least five years since the award’s establishment in 2020: Gabriel Aisenberg, MD, professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, and Saleem Khan, MD, professor in the Department of Surgery.

“The individuals recognized this year exemplify the qualities that define an outstanding clinical learning environment,” John said. “Through their dedication to teaching, mentorship, and patient care, they have enriched our students’ educational experience and fostered a culture of professionalism, respect, and excellence across McGovern Medical School.”

2026 faculty awardees for the Champions of the Clinical Learning Environment

Ladan Agharokh, MD, associate professor, Pediatrics

Gabriel Aisenberg, MD,* professor, Internal Medicine

Nuzha Amjad, MD, assistant professor, Internal Medicine

Pedro Balaguera, MD, assistant professor, Neurology

Kawal Bir, MD, assistant professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Karthik Bhandari, MD, assistant professor, Internal Medicine

Reubyn Chong, MD, assistant professor, Pediatrics

John Cowling, MD, assistant professor, Surgery

Akshar Dash, MD, assistant professor, Internal Medicine

Renee Flores, MD, associate professor, Internal Medicine

George Golod, MD, staff physician, Family and Community Medicine

Rajesh Gupta, MD, associate professor, Neurology

Amalia Guardiola, MD, associate professor, Pediatrics

Ryan Hall, MD, associate professor, Surgery

Todd Huzar, MD, professor, Surgery

Andrew Kaplan, MD, assistant professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Saleem Khan, MD,* professor, Surgery

Maha Kaissi, MD, assistant professor, Pediatrics

Louise McCullough, MD, professor, Neurology

Teresa Pigott, MD, professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Pamela Promecene, MD, professor, OBGYN

Dalilah Reyes de Jesus, MD, assistant professor, Pediatrics

Tony Roshan, DO, assistant professor, Family and Community Medicine

Behrooz Saffari, MD, staff physician, Family and Community Medicine

Irene Stafford, MD, associate professor, OBGYN

Carol Tran-Cao, MD, assistant professor, OBGYN

Angelique Wong, MD, associate professor, Internal Medicine

*Indicates awardees who have been recognized a minimum of five times since 2020

2026 resident awardees for the Champions of the Clinical Learning Environment

Sunanjay Bajaj, MD, Neurology

Catherine Bryant, MD, Pediatrics

Natalie Cade, MD, Pediatrics

Jorge Cervantes, MD, OBGYN

Isabel Draper, MD, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Kylie Holden, MD, Surgery

Dion Kevin, MD, Internal Medicine-Pediatrics

Deven Patel, MD, OBGYN

Stephen Patin, MD, Internal Medicine

Glauco Cesario Pereira, MD, Neurology

Rohit Rajendran, MD, Urology

Saloni Sharma, MD, Internal Medicine-Pediatrics

Yuval Shavit, MD, Neurology

Joshua Thomson, MD, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

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