On Friday, November 14, 2025, students from the UAB Heersink School of Medicine gathered to celebrate faculty excellence during the annual Argus Awards Ceremony. Established to recognize outstanding contributions in medical education, the Argus Awards are determined entirely by student nominations and votes, honoring faculty, courses, and course directors who have made a lasting impact throughout the year.

Here are the recipients of the 2025 Argus Awards:

Best MS1 Course

Cardiovascular

Module Director(s): Silvio Litovsky, MD, Pathology, and Harish Doppalapudi, MD, Medicine

Best Educator: Patient, Doctor & Society
Chrystal Rutledge, MD, Pediatrics

Best Block Leader: Fundamentals of Medicine
Mukesh Patel, MD, Medicine, and Jeremey Walker, MD, Medicine

Best Educator: Fundamentals of Medicine
Martin Young, DPhil, Medicine

Best Educator: Cardiovascular
Harish Doppalapudi, MD, Medicine

Best Educator: Pulmonary
Mukesh Patel, MD, Medicine

Best Educator: Gastrointestinal
Amanda Cartee, MD, Medicine

Best Educator: Renal
Ashita Tolwani, MD, Medicine

Best MS2 Course

Neurosciences

Module Director(s): Craig Powell, MD, PhD, Neurobiology; Michael Lyerly, MD, Neurology; Scott Pruett, MD, PhD, Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology; and Kristen Sandefer, MD, Neurology

The Robin Lester Award for Best Educator in Neurosciences
Michael Lyerly, MD, Neurology

Best Educator: Musculoskeletal & Skin
Inga Kadisha, PhD, Cell, Development, & Integrative Biology

Best Educator: Endocrine Systems
Shawn Galin, PhD, Medicine

Best Educator: Reproductive Systems
Shweta Patel, MD, Obstetrics & Gynecology

Best Educator: Hematology/Oncology
Jori May, MD, Medicine

Best Educator, Preparation for Residency
Alonzo Heudebert, MD, Medicine

Best Clinical Department, Birmingham Campus
Pediatrics

Best Clinical Educator, Birmingham Campus
Tony McGrath, Pediatrics

Best Clinical Department, Huntsville Campus
Family Medicine

Best Clinical Educator, Huntsville Campus
Kelsey Ivey, MD, Medicine

Best Clinical Department, Montgomery Campus
Psychiatry

Best Clinical Educator, Montgomery Campus
Will Rutland, MD, Psychiatry

Best Clinical Department, Tuscaloosa Campus
Psychiatry

Best Clinical Educator, Tuscaloosa Campus
Bliss Wright, MD, Medicine-Pediatrics

CRISP CSS Award
Anish Patel, MD, Medicine

The Dale J. Benos Award for Educational Excellence

Will Brooks, PhD, Cell, Developmental & Integrative Biology

Excellence in Career Advising

Sara Dunk, MD, Obstetrics & Gynecology

Best Resident Educator, Birmingham Campus

Rebecca Henderson, MD, Obstetrics & Gynecology

Best Resident Educator, Huntsville Campus

Joshua Bush, MD, Family Medicine

Best Resident Educator, Montgomery Campus

Kunj Gor, MD, Internal Medicine

Best Resident Educator, Tuscaloosa Campus

Justine Vella, Family Medicine

Best Community-Based Educator, Birmingham

Cleon Rogers, MD

Best Community-Based Educator, Huntsville

Leon Lewis, MD

Best Community-Based Educator, Montgomery

Robert Engles, MD

Best Community-Based Educator, Tuscaloosa

Julie Taylor, MD

Excellence in Medical Student Support

Jessica Orcutt, Medical Education