Mentoring Award
This award celebrates clinicians who demonstrate exceptional commitment and effectiveness as mentors to health care providers.
Anand Rohatgi, M.D.
Professor of Internal Medicine
Division of Cardiology
For Dr. Anand Rohatgi, mentoring is both an official role and a passion.
Dr. Rohatgi was named Associate Program Director of the Cardiovascular Fellowship Program at UT Southwestern in 2018. As such, he is the lead mentor for cardiology fellow research and meets with senior cardiology fellows in groups each week throughout their third year of training. He also organizes cardiology fellow research conferences and meets with all fellows individually to discuss career development as well as research and academic plans.
“I have been told by numerous fellows how much they value these meetings and that they have been transformative for their careers,” said a faculty member who nominated Dr. Rohatgi for the Mentoring Award.
Dr. Rohatgi’s research is supported by several National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants, including one specifically designated for mentoring. Through his research lab, which focuses on finding biomarkers for cardiovascular disease risk, Dr. Rohatgi has mentored more than 25 medical students and residents interested in research careers.
At the faculty level, Dr. Rohatgi has been “beyond generous” with his time, his nominator said. “He has sought to expand his own research success into success by his colleagues. He regularly meets with faculty who are seeking to develop their research portfolio, particularly those who need assistance with the daunting task of writing grants.”
Dr. Rohatgi has been so successful in this capacity that he was named lead coach for the UTSW Successfully Obtaining an R (SOAR) grant writing workshop.
One colleague who received an NIH grant said Dr. Rohatgi walked him through the SOAR writing workshop, coached him on various iterations of his grant application, and provided advice on budget planning and the mechanics of grant submission. After the grant was awarded, Dr. Rohatgi shared his research coordinator with this colleague to help get the study launched.
Dr. Rohatgi is also a mentor leader and coach for faculty applying for K and R grants through the new Clinical Researcher Catalyst program. These activities are in addition to his busy clinical career in preventive cardiology, and his coaching includes research activities as well as clinical efforts.
“The most important characteristics that make Dr. Rohatgi an exceptional mentor are dedication and selflessness,” his nominator said. “He is passionate about developing future researchers and truly gets excited when he sees his mentees flourish.”
Last year, Dr. Rohatgi founded the South Asian Heart Program, which aligns his research and clinical interests. Numerous UTSW medical students have participated in South Asian health fairs, learning about community engagement, while medical professionals have gained valuable experience in clinical management.
Despite a full schedule of mentoring activities, Dr. Rohatgi took part last year in formal professional coach training through the Office of Faculty Wellness. In this role, he provides peer coaching to faculty throughout UTSW.
Dr. Rohatgi earned his medical degree at Duke University School of Medicine. He trained as a resident in internal medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Health System and completed a cardiology fellowship at UT Southwestern. He also holds a master’s degree in clinical science from UTSW.
“I have never had a research mentor of this caliber,” one trainee said about his experience working with Dr. Rohatgi. “He is truly committed to developing the next generation of investigators.”
In his words: It is an honor to be recognized for serving others in a mentoring role. What a privilege to engage in guiding others on their journey toward professional development. I have cherished all my mentor-mentee relationships with nothing but the most exuberant enthusiasm. Most importantly, we have had tons of fun along the way and motivated each other to push the limits of our potential. I appreciate the grace that my mentees have provided for my own development as a mentor. For that I am extremely grateful. I am also indebted to my own mentors, especially James de Lemos, who exemplifies unconditional support; Philip Shaul, who exemplifies thoughtful supervision; Sharon Reimold, who exemplifies the ultimate fairy godmother of championing and benevolence; Amit Khera, who exemplifies adviser, big brother, and friend; and Susan Matulevicius, my peer-mentor extraordinaire, best friend, and life partner.
Kim B. Yancey, M.D.
Professor of Dermatology
Through his leadership by example, Dr. Kim Yancey has done more than mentor his staff during his 16 years in the UT Southwestern Department of Dermatology. In addition to career guidance, he has passed along his passion for helping others.
Since arriving at UTSW, Dr. Yancey has mentored many Dermatology residents, medical students, and faculty members. But that is only one facet of the legacy created by Dr. Yancey, who announced in July 2022 that he would step down as Department Chair when a replacement was found. Joseph F. Merola, M.D., M.M.Sc., assumed the title Oct. 16.
Dr. Yancey also brought national prominence to the Department, which boasts $4.2 million in national research support and provides more than 85,000 patient encounters annually.
That Dr. Yancey accomplished all this while lending his skills to 12 professional societies and numerous medical journals — and authoring over 150 publications — makes his work ethic even more impressive.
He also broadened the reach of the Department through its staffing, meaning more mentees have benefited from his experience.
“Dr. Yancey was the first UTSW dermatologist to employ a physician assistant, ensuring PAs received exceptional training and were integrated seamlessly,” said one colleague who nominated him for the Mentoring Award. “He fosters each advanced practice provider’s development and loyalty by treating us as he treats his faculty.”
That dedication led all of the APPs in Dermatology to nominate Dr. Yancey for the 2022 Advanced Practice Provider Champion of the Year Award, which he won. Cynthia Griffith, M.P.A.S., PA-C, UTSW’s 2017 PA of the Year and 2022 Outstanding APP in Scholarly Endeavors, who went on to be Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Dermatology for Physician Assistants, is among the many PAs whom Dr. Yancey encouraged to pursue leadership opportunities.
Numerous colleagues have gained from Dr. Yancey’s guidance.
“When I announced my change in research interests, he helped me find effective resources in the UTSW Clinical and Translational Science Award Program and supported me in being a Clinical Scholar there,” said one of Dr. Yancey’s nominators. “He gave me the opportunity to lead a subspecialty clinic in our department and guaranteed a significant part of research time for me throughout my career.”
But career success has not been the sole focus of Dr. Yancey’s mentorship. As one nominator put it, his guidance “ranges from simple but important goals of work-life balance and diplomatic conflict resolutions to encouraging research interests, carving out clinical subspecialties, and initiating and completing departmental projects.” Said another: “Dr. Yancey routinely finds articles in the literature that are relevant to my area of expertise and leaves them in my box with a sticky note. He does this for everyone. He is constantly thinking of ways to help their career development and intellectual development.”
Some of those have included writing letters of support, introducing mentees to stakeholders in the field nationally, securing award sponsorships, critiquing grant requests, assisting in the management of complex cases, and talking through major career decisions. Just as important to his mentees is who Dr. Yancey is as a person. His generosity in covering shifts on holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas has allowed his faculty and residents the opportunity to spend more time with family.
His associates admire and respect Dr. Yancey’s leadership during trying times as well.
“I know for a fact that he did not take any time off and did not take a vacation during the pandemic, when his department needed him the most. When your mentor is this magnanimous, you simply cannot have goals of ‘adequate’ and ‘necessary.’ These and countless other personal qualities make Dr. Kim Yancey the most effective mentor.”
In his words: Recognizing the impact that mentors had on my career, I am deeply humbled and honored to receive this award. Thank you so much. While this award means much to me, the real blessing was the opportunity to work with wonderful trainees in my department and others, see their careers develop and flourish, and witness the impact these people make in the lives of others every day. I am confident their efforts will continue, and I will cherish this award always.