The Indianapolis Business Journal (IBJ) honored Indiana University School of Medicine Dean Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA, and several other faculty with Excellence in Health Care awards during a recognition event on Feb. 10.
Hess received the Career Achievement award, and D. Wade Clapp, MD, senior associate dean for entrepreneurial research and commercialization, was recognized for innovation in healthcare.
Elaine Gilbert, PsyD, associate professor of clinical psychiatry, was honored for mental health advocacy. Two IU School of Medicine faculty physicians were also recognized for excellence: Riad Lutfi, MD, professor of clinical pediatrics and medical director of the Pediatric Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at Riley Children’s Health; and Claire Willard, MD, assistant professor of clinical medicine and the medical director for palliative care at Eskenazi Health.
Additionally, two IU-affiliated initiatives were recognized for outstanding community achievement: Project ADAM at Riley Children’s Health, led by Adam Kean, MD, MPH; and the IU Health Mobile Lung Screening program, led by Nasser Hanna, MD.
Read more about the IBJ Excellence in Health Care honorees.
Career Achievement: Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA
Executive Vice President for University Clinical Affairs, Indiana University
Dean, IU School of Medicine
Hess received the Career Achievement award for his longtime impact on improving Hoosier health. Under his leadership, the IU School of Medicine has increased research funding by $300 million, to over $500 million total annually, and improved its ranking in National Institutes of Health funding from 42nd to 29th nationally.
“The innovations driven by the school under his leadership have not only advanced medical knowledge, but they have directly improved the quality of care provided to patients across Indiana and beyond,” said Dennis M. Murphy, MHA, IU Health’s president and chief executive officer and speaker for the IBJ awards recognition event.
In a letter supporting Hess’ nomination, Murphy called Hess “a transformative force” as a leader committed to training the next generation of healthcare providers and making Indiana one of the healthiest states.
Hess has forged collaborative partnerships and initiatives to advance medical training, research and public health across the state. As director of the Indiana Statewide Medical Education System, Hess led efforts to develop new residency programs to address critical physician shortages, and he recently helped lead the medical school’s successful reaccreditation.
Throughout his more than 13 years as dean, Hess has consistently demonstrated the IU School of Medicine core values of excellence, respect, integrity, diversity and cooperation, said Bradley Allen, MD, PhD, executive associate dean for educational affairs.
“Despite the challenges for research funding, as well as legislative changes over time, Dean Hess has delivered on the core values of creating excellence and innovation in advancement for all three phases of education, research, and patient care,” Allen wrote in a letter supporting the dean’s nomination for the Career Achievement award.
Read the IBJ’s story on Hess’ impact.
Innovations in Health Care: D. Wade Clapp, MD
Senior associate dean for entrepreneurial research and commercialization
Since coming to IU in 1991, Clapp has led groundbreaking research in neurofibromatosis, a rare disease that causes tumors to grow on nerves. As longtime chair of the Department of Pediatrics, he recruited faculty experts, expanded training programs in pediatric specialties and mentored dozens of physician scientists. Now his focus is on accelerating discovery in the lab and translating those discoveries into drugs and other commercial ventures that will save or improve lives.
Read more about Clapp’s impact as chair of the Department of Pediatrics.
Read the IBJ story on Clapp’s innovations in treating children with neurofibromatosis.
Mental Health Advocacy: Elaine Gilbert, PsyD
Associate professor of clinical psychiatry; clinical psychologist, Riley Children’s Health
Gilbert co-founded a program that teaches mental resiliency to high school athletes, helping them manage stress, build resilience and enhance their focus. Read the IBJ story.
Physician award: Riad Lutfi, MD
Professor of clinical pediatrics, IU School of Medicine; Medical director of the Pediatric Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit, Riley Children’s Health
Lutfi’s team at Riley Hospital for Children treats some of the sickest children the state, working to make a brighter future for kids with critical heart conditions. Read the IBJ story.
Physician award: Claire Willard, MD
Assistant professor of clinical medicine, IU School of Medicine; Medical director for palliative care, Eskenazi Health
Willard compassionately guides patients and families through hard decisions at the end of life. Read the IBJ story.
Community Achievement: Project ADAM Indiana, Riley Children’s Health
Leader: Adam Kean, MD, MPH, associate professor of clinical pediatrics, IU School of Medicine
Kean launched Project ADAM in Indiana, aimed at providing quick response to people in cardiac arrest by equipping schools and sports programs throughout the state with emergency response protocols. Read the IBJ story.
Community Achievement: IU Health Mobile Lung Screening program
Leader: Nasser Hanna, MD, Tom and Julie Wood Family Foundation Professor of Lung Cancer Clinical Research and professor of medicine, IU School of Medicine
Hanna helped lead IU Health to a 40% increase in lung screenings for cancer in just one year since launching the mobile lung screening program, a collaborative partnership between the IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center and IU Health. Read the IBJ story.
