Andre Churchwell, M.D., was among the faculty members recently honored by the Organization of Black Graduate and Professional Students. (photo by Joe Howell)
Churchwell among faculty honored by Organization of Black Graduate and Professional Students
The Organization of Black Graduate and Professional Students (OBGAPS) has selected Andre Churchwell, M.D., associate dean of Diversity for Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, to receive one of the organization’s first Distinguished Faculty Awards.
On May 5, OBGAPS hosted its inaugural awards event at the Student Life Center to recognize outstanding faculty and students.
Gregory LaChaud, a rising second-year medical student and the current president of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA), the OBGAPS group representing the School of Medicine, said Churchwell was selected for his outstanding and sustained efforts in developing and supporting minority students.
“He is a great man and doctor who truly deserves recognition for his accomplishments. From his office funding our trip to Atlanta for the National SNMA conference, to working to present about the statistical differences in implementation of care during Health Disparities Week, Dr. Churchwell has always led by action as well as example,” LaChaud said.
OBGAPS is comprised of school-specific black student organizations across Vanderbilt, including the Alliance for Cultural Diversity in Research (ACDR), Black Seminarians, Peabody Coalition of Black Graduates (PCBG), and the SNMA.
OBGAPS held this event to celebrate the current accomplishments of black graduate and professional students for outstanding achievement or service in academics, career, university or community. Faculty members were honored for outstanding and sustained efforts in developing and supporting black graduate and professional students.
Distinguished Faculty Awards were also presented to:
Divinity School:
• Juan Floyd-Thomas, Ph.D., associate professor of Black Church Studies
• Dale Andrews, Ph.D., M.Div., distinguished professor of Homiletics and Social Justice
Peabody College:
• Sharon Shields, Ph.D., associate dean for Professional Education
Graduate School:
• Richard Hoover, Ph.D., associate dean of Graduate School
• Linda Sealy, Ph.D., associate professor of Cancer Biology, Cell and Developmental Biology and Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
• Roger Chalkley, D.Phil., senior associate dean for Biomedical Research Education and Training
• Frank Dobson Jr., associate provost for Undergraduate Education