The Department of Emergency Medicine receives multiple 2026 Faculty Awards

Department of Emergency Medicine 2026 awardees from left to right: Drs. Drummond, Acuña, Hughes, Munn, Adhikari, Woolridge, Baker, Situ-LaCasse and Tolby

We congratulate the many faculty in the Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM) who were recently honored with University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson Faculty Awards.

Each year, the various faculty awards celebrate outstanding service in clinical care, community impact, research, graduate medical education, mentoring and teaching across the entire college. The college’s chapter of the Academy of Medical Education Scholars (AMES) oversees the teaching honors that are given out. It has recognized faculty for teaching and mentoring excellence since the College of Medicine – Tucson was founded in 1967.

There were nine DEM awardees among this year’s honorees.

Dale P. Woolridge, MD, PhD, FACEP, a professor of emergency medicine and pediatrics, stands out as the only College of Medicine – Tucson faculty member to receive three awards. He noted that he was especially flattered by his teaching awards because they were voted on by students.

All the exceptional DEM winners are listed below.

Excellence Awards

Community Impact Individual Award

honors faculty whose cumulative contributions have significantly advanced community engagement and partnership at the college

• Brian S. Drummond, MD, FAAEM, Clinical Professor, Emergency Medicine

AMES Awards

Vernon and Virginia Furrow Award

recognizes outstanding achievements in education

Excellence in Clinical Science Teaching, Medical Student Curriculum

• Josie Galarza Acuña, MD, Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine

Excellence in Innovation in Medical Education

• Kate Hughes, DO, Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine

AMES Award

commendation for excellence in teaching

Excellence in Clinical Science Teaching of Medical Students, Residents, or Fellows

• Rachel D. Munn, DO, Assistant Clinical Professor, Emergency Medicine

Faculty Teaching Awards

Commitment to Underserved People (CUP) Faculty Teaching Award

• Srikar R. Adhikari, MD, MS, FACEP, Professor, Emergency Medicine

Outstanding Teacher in a Block/Course

• Dale P. Woolridge, MD, PhD, FACEP, Professor, Emergency Medicine (Clinical Scholar Track)

Outstanding Achievement in Teaching by a Block/Course (Digestion Metabolism Hormones)

• Accepted by: Dale P. Woolridge, MD, PhD, FACEP, Professor, Emergency Medicine (Clinical Scholar Track)

Recognizing Excellence in Professionalism

• Dale P. Woolridge, MD, PhD, FACEP, Professor, Emergency Medicine (Clinical Scholar Track)

Specialty Advisor Awards

• Nicola Jane Baker, MD, Associate Clinical Professor, Emergency Medicine
• Elaine Hua Situ-LaCasse, MD, Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine (Clinical Scholar Track)
• Noah Matthew Tolby, MD, Clinical Professor, Emergency Medicine