Washington State University Provost T. Chris Riley-Tillman recognized several members of the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine in his office’s inaugural Cougar Kudos, which celebrate students, faculty, and staff who go above and beyond (often behind the scenes) in support of the university and its mission.
Three of 30 individuals recognized are from the WSU College of Medicine, including:
- David Jenson, interim chair, Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences: David stepped into the role of interim SHS chair during a pivotal time, guiding the department with integrity and earning the trust of colleagues. His leadership honors the department’s 100-year legacy.
- Diane Garrett, admissions specialist, Office of Student Experience: Diane is the consummate hidden professional behind the scenes. Interview days for medical school would not operate without her, and she runs the ship tightly. She is thorough, communicative, reliable, and detail oriented—and never in the spotlight.
- Noushyar Panahpour Eslami, M3 student, MD program: Noushyar has been extremely helpful to the college’s accreditation effort, is a stalwart supporter of the mission of the school, and has spoken to donors during his clerkship experience about his ability to attend medical school being entirely predicated on scholarships. Noushyar is one of the most mission-aligned students we have—he is passionate about WSU, he is serving his home community and wants to continue to do so, and is deeply committed to serving underserved populations, as someone who has lived that experience himself.
Congratulations to these honorees for inspiring all of us to keep moving the college and university mission forward!