Awards & Recognitions

Kishor M. Wasan, Ph.D., is a world-renowned Canadian pharmacologist, pharmacist and professor who has received more than 25 awards for his contributions to health sciences.

Wasan graduated from the Pharmacology Ph.D. program at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in 1993 and completed a period of postdoctoral training at MD Anderson later that year. Since then, he has led a successful research career focused on lipid-based drug delivery and the interaction between lipoprotein and pharmaceuticals.

In addition to publishing more than 550 peer-reviewed articles and abstracts, Wasan developed a novel oral formulation of Amphotericin B, or OAmB, to treat fungal and parasitic infections. This treatment is designed to be less toxic, and more cost-effective and accessible than its intravenous counterpart.

Wasan is currently a fellow of the prestigious Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, the Canadian Society for Pharmaceutical Sciences and the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists. He also is a fellow member of the Royal Society of Medicine and an elected member of the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honor Society.

Before retiring from his academic career, Wasan was a professor and the dean of the University of Saskatchewan's College of Pharmacy and Nutrition from 2014-2019. He also had a long and successful academic career at the University of British Columbia (UBC), where he first joined as a faculty member in 1995. During his time at UBC, he held several leadership positions, including associate dean of research and graduate studies at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, chair of pharmaceutics and national director of the Canadian Summer Student Research Program.

In 2021, Wasan received a Public Leadership Credential from Harvard Kennedy School. He is a founding member and currently co-director of UBC's Neglected Global Diseases Initiative and a distinguished university scholar adjunct professor in the Department of Urologic Sciences in the Faculty of Medicine at UBC. In 2024, he joined Med eTech Innovation as the new director and chief scientific officer.
 

Brian Chapin, M.D., professor, Urology, is the director of our Urologic Oncology Fellowship program, one of the top fellowship programs in the nation, and the chair of Urology’s annual continuing medical education conference. He supports both rotating and MD Anderson-based trainees in their surgical and clinical training and collaborates with colleagues in the Division of Surgery to establish supporting educational programs, including a summer lecture series and a leadership and professional course for trainees. 

In his nine years as director of the Urology fellowship program, he has supported from than 40 fellows, teaching them technical skills in the operating room but also pushing the boundaries of their intellect by opening them up to new approaches and ideas. His mentorship guided the next steps of their careers, and his support has allowed them to successfully navigate both professional and personal challenges. Many of Chapin’s trainees continue to keep in touch with him, often reaching out to seek support or even share updates on their accomplishments. 

Chapin’s passion for education extends beyond his commitment to trainees. He recently was appointed as the Urology lead for MD Anderson’s Prostate Cancer Center of Excellence clinic, a new multidisciplinary clinic for patient education, clinical care and state-of-the-art prostate practice.

Joya Chandra, Ph.D., professor of Pediatrics - Research, received this award in 2024.

As an alumna of MD Anderson UT Health Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS), Joya Chandra, Ph.D., understands the importance of education and supporting the next generation of cancer researchers. She’s known for her dedication to our students and trainees and their success, and she is seen as an outstanding educator by her peers and her mentees.

After graduating from the Cancer Biology and Immunology program at GSBS, Chandra completed postdoctoral fellowships at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and the Mayo Clinic before returning to MD Anderson as an assistant professor of Pediatrics Research in 2002. She rose to associate professor in 2008, with an additional joint appointment in Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis in 2013, and gained full professor status in 2021.

Within GSBS, Chandra is heavily involved in the Therapeutics and Pharmacology program and serves as a member of its executive committee. Well-known and respected among the students for her course  lectures, she is also sought after for participation on graduate advisory and examining committees, having served on more than 100 during her time on the GSBS faculty. During the 2019-2020 school year, she also served as president of the graduate faculty of the school, representing more than 600 faculty members during the beginning of the pandemic. Her quick assembly of a special committee to address all aspects of graduate education during the pandemic provided faculty input and recommendations on how to continue student research and education during that time.

Chandra is also highly skilled in translational research and training others in this impactful field. Because of this, she was named co-director of the Center for Clinical Translational Science TL-1 grant from the NIH and was later asked to serve on the executive committee for national TL-1 directors, and is now the chair of this committee, further highlighting her expertise in graduate education on a national level. In 2021, she joined a R25 NIH training grant for summer undergraduate research students as co-PI when the program moved from Smithville to Houston.

Her research focuses on cell signaling, oxidative stress, epigenetics and cell death as they impact leukemia and brain tumor therapeutics – especially novel therapeutics like small molecule inhibitors that target these pathways and have potential to improve outcomes in our pediatric patients. Another area of research focus is the impact of modifiable behaviors on treatment outcomes, with a clinical research program related to diet and nutrition for pediatric patients and survivors. This research has led to her serving as the co-director of our Center for Energy Balance and expanding her reach into patient education around nutrition and the impact of a healthy diet on cancer treatment.

For recognition of her outstanding efforts in education and dedication to students and trainees, the GSBS Graduate Student Association has honored her with the John P. McGovern Outstanding Teacher Award, and she has received a highest commendation for service to GSBS. Chandra has been awarded the University of Texas System Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award and has been inducted into the Kenneth I. Shine, M.D., Academy of Health Science Education.

The Rogers Award recognizes one employee who consistently demonstrates excellence and dedication to MD Anderson's mission to end cancer. The award rotates among the institution's four mission areas, so this award is given once every four years to a faculty or staff member who works in the area of Education.

Monica Johnson, program director, Patient Experience, was the recipient of the 2020 Julie and Ben Rogers Award for Excellence in Education.

Wafik Zaky, M.D., professor, Pediatrics Patient Care, received the Emil J Freireich Award for Excellence during Education Week 2025. The award recognizes a faculty member who is nominated by graduate medical education trainees for their outstanding contributions to education and training programs at MD Anderson.

According to his nominators, Zaky has a knack for breaking down the complex intricacies of brain biology, brain cancer pathologies and non-standard treatment approaches to help trainees better comprehend the challenging field of pediatric neuro-oncology. He goes above and beyond to support trainees through mentorship, lectures and hands-on clinical training, but perhaps his most revered skillset is his demonstration of compassion and empathy when delivering devastating news to the families of pediatric patients.

One trainee wrote, “Through these experiences, Dr. Zaky instills in us an appreciation for the humanity behind neuro-oncology, teaching us to find and impart hope even when a cure is not possible. Many of us have, at some point during our fellowship, considered pursuing neuro-oncology because of Dr. Zaky’s influence.”

A professor in Radiation Oncology, Chelsea Pinnix, M.D., Ph.D., is both respected and recognized by trainees and peers for her love of education.

Pinnix currently serves as program director of the Radiation Oncology Residency program, where she’s had a tremendous impact on educational initiatives. She spearheaded the implementation of various education tracks, including the Fletcher Cox Pathway, the Global Oncology Pathway and the Bioinformatics Pathway, to further promote trainee development. She also created a novel cohort mentorship program to enhance personalized faculty mentorship with residents through each year of training.

Pinnix consistently takes on new opportunities to teach, giving both formal and informal lectures to trainees even during her busiest clinic days. She’s been known for interrupting clinical discussions to make crucial teaching points and flagging cases for future teaching points. Her accessibility and transparency with trainees enables them to feel supported throughout their educational journey.

One of her many nominators wrote, “There is no doubt that Dr. Pinnix’s whole heart goes into the welfare, mentorship and sponsorship of us residents. She makes everyone feel special and heard. Dr. Pinnix is gracious with her time and does everything she can to ensure that our experience as residents is positive and educational. I truly believe that she is one of the best program directors in the country for any specialty.”

As an education coordinator at our School of Health Professions (SHP), Xiaojun Liu, Ph.D., supports both the molecular and cytogenic tracks of the Diagnostic Genetics and Genomics graduate program.

Her nominators describe her as an outstanding instructor whose motivation and enthusiasm in educational activities drives students to achieve academic excellence.

Liu was instrumental in the implementation of Nanopore technology at SHP and went above and beyond to develop high-impact workshops, projects and teaching modules. She actively teaches four courses, regularly updating her teaching tools and methods to stay abreast of best practices. Liu also serves on at least six student thesis and defense committees and frequently stands alongside her students to ensure they receive top-notch training in cutting-edge cancer genetics diagnostic techniques. Her colleagues and students say her constant presence during SHP’s extensive lab hours is proof of her dedication to the growth and success of her students.

“Her use of thought-provoking questions keeps us attentive and inspired to excel in our learning journey. Additionally, when we achieve success in lab experiments, her enthusiastic praise serves as a strong incentive for us to continue striving for excellence,” one student nominator says, adding that, “Dr. Liu’s visionary approach and dedication to promoting education have had a lasting impact on all.”

During Trainee Research Day 2024, Varsha Gandhi, Ph.D., professor, Experimental Therapeutics, received the Robert M. Chamberlain Distinguished Mentor Award in recognition of her exceptional mentoring of postdoctoral fellows.

 Nominator and Experimental Therapeutics postdoctoral fellow, Natalia Timofeeva, M.D., wrote, “Dr. Gandhi convinced me that even though I didn’t have some skills I have a strong potential to learn, and if I am here, I fully deserve this. I feel my growth from a trainee to a scientist.”

 Another nominator wrote, “Dr. Gandhi connects me with experts for additional guidance. Initially uncertain about a scientific career, I now see it as my future director, all thanks to my mentor.”