Tom Scalea and Jerry Strauss

Every year, the medical school honors two alumni for their outstanding achievements during Reunion Weekend. This year, Dean of Medicine Jerry Strauss, M.D., Ph.D., bestowed the awards at the Grand Opening Gala of the McGlothlin Medical Education Center.

“As we mark the 175th anniversary of the founding of our medical school, the support of our alumni has never been more important,” Strauss said, noting how fitting it was to celebrate the school’s alumni in this milestone year. “ It is our alumni and their accomplishments, after all, that have advanced the School of Medicine’s reputation.”

David Whitehead and Jerry Strauss

This year, the Class of 1978′s Tom Scalea was named Outstanding Medical Alumnus. For more than 15 years, he has served as physician-in-chief of the University of Maryland’s R Adams Crowley Shock Trauma Center. In this role, he oversees the nation’s first and only integrated trauma hospital. In addition to working with the Air Force to provide essential care to wounded troops, Dr. Scalea has also traveled internationally with his team to Haiti and China to offer help in the aftermath of devastating earthquakes.

The Caravati Service Award went to the Class of 1973′s David Whitehead who also completed his family medicine training on the MCV Campus. He went on to establish his own family practice office with a fellow 1973 classmate and served the community of Harrisonburg for 30 years. After retirement, Dr. Whitehead returned to Richmond and has contributed to the success of the medical school through his work on the Admissions Committee, as an assistant clinical professor of family medicine and as a member of the Continuing Medical Education Committee.

Kurt F. Hauser, Ph.D.

Kurt F. Hauser, Ph.D., professor of pharmacology and toxicology, accepted the Wybran Award from the Society on NeuroImmune Pharmacology at its 19th Scientific Conference on April 6 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The Wybran Award is the highest honor bestowed by SNIP in recognition of the very best scientific contributions that have resulted in the preservation and expansion of the field of neuroimmune pharmacology.

The award carries the name of Joe Wybran, a renowned scientist whose work integrated the fields of neuroimmunology, drugs of abuse and immunity to infection. He was killed in 1989, and afterward the award was created to memorialize his scientific prestige in the field and serve as a remembrance of his contributions that underpin SNIP.

Priscilla Mpasi

The Class of 2014’s Priscilla Mpasi has been elected as national vice-president of the Student National Medical Association. She will serve a one-year term during the 2013-2014 academic year.

The SNMA held the national election for its officers at the annual conference in Louisville, Ky., on March 31. Priscilla was one of three candidates vying for the post of national VP.

“After three long, grueling days of speeches and Q&A sessions, my name was called,” Priscilla said. “I actually won. I am still in shock and I have not had much time to process as I had to come right back to my surgery rotation and focus on being a medical student. I am so excited and honored to represent our institution in this way on the national level.”

The SNMA is the oldest and largest student-run organization focused on the needs and concerns of medical students of color. Priscilla has served as president of the VCU School of Medicine’s chapter during the 2011‐2012 school year and as a regional officer with the national organization this year.

Priscilla will work alongside the national president to execute the national agenda in its commemoration year entitled “50 years: Diversifying the Face of Medicine.” As vice-president she will serve as an executive member on the board of directors, directly oversee all the national committee programs and initiatives and attend regional and national conferences to speak out on health disparities and the importance of equality in healthcare access.

Priscilla is the first nationally elected executive officer in SNMA from VCU. In 2003-2004, two faculty members were appointed national committee officers: Sala S. Webb, M.D., assistant professor of child and adolescent psychiatry, and Veronica Ayala-Sims, M.D., assistant professor of infectious diseases.