Mohan Nadkarni, MD, left, and Coleen McNamara, MD, show their Thomas Jefferson Awards.
Two School of Medicine faculty, Coleen A. McNamara, MD, and Mohan “Mo” Nadkarni, MD, were honored with Thomas Jefferson Awards at the University of Virginia Board of Visitors meeting in June. The Thomas Jefferson Awards are the highest honor given to members of the University community who have exemplified the principles, ideals, and mission of the University, in their character, work, and influence.
Dr. McNamara was honored with the award for scholarship. She is the director of UVA’s Beirne B. Carter Center for Immunology Research and professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. Some of her accomplishments include pioneering research about the role of immunology and molecular biology in cardiovascular disease and identification of specific genetic variants in the Id3 gene that increase atherosclerosis risk in humans, which have led to new diagnostic approaches and precision immunomedicine for patients at higher cardiovascular risk based on genetic profiles and immune cell patterns. Dr. McNamara is touted as a “master collaborator” with many research projects across the Department of Medicine and with colleagues nationally and internationally. She is dedicated to the mentorship of future scientists and physicians, and recruitment of renowned scientists to the Center, fueling a culture of excellence and collaboration.
The Thomas Jefferson Award for Service was given to Dr. Nadkarni in recognition of over three decades of service to the University as a as a physician, educator, advocate, and community leader. From his early days as a resident in 1992 co-founding the Charlottesville Free Clinic—an institution that has since become a vital resource for thousands of uninsured patients—to his current role as chief of the Division of General, Geriatric, Palliative, and Hospital Medicine, Dr. Nadkarni has dedicated his career to the clinical care of medically underserved populations, providing both direct patient care and developing new and innovative programs to serve the needs of patients in need of care. He also co-founded and continues to lead the “Social Issues in Medicine” course that has become a national model for integrating service learning and social determinants of health into the medical curriculum. He is described by colleagues as “a humble servant-leader as well as a hero to patients and clients.”
Congratulations to Drs. McNamara and Nadkarni on receiving these prestigious awards from the University of Virginia.
Read the full story in UVA Today.
Photos by Matt Riley
Filed Under: Honors & Awards