Dr. Sumchai named UCSF Medical Alumna of the Year

Dr.-Ahimsa-Porter-Sumchai-accepts-2021-Medical-Alumna-of-the-Year-award-Hyatt-Regency-043022, Dr. Sumchai named UCSF Medical Alumna of the Year, Culture Currents News & Views
Bolstered by the support of friends and colleagues, Dr. Sumchai accepts the 2021 Medical Alumna of the Year Award at the Hyatt Regency on Saturday, April 30, 2022. From left are Dr. Raymond Tompkins; James Dahlgren MD, UCSF School of Medicine Class of 1968; Kathleen Dahlgren PhD; Jean Osbay-Bell PhD; Carolyn Nash MS; Aude Bouagnon PhD; Ahimsa Porter Sumchai MD; and Marc Schenker, MD, MPH, vice president of the Medical Alumni Association; he and his wife, medical anthropologist Xochitl Castaneda, standing beside him, are 2018 Alumni of the Year.

by Bay View staff

Each year, the UCSF Alumni Associations honor the remarkable accomplishments of exemplary individuals to recognize outstanding dedicated contributions in research, teaching, community service and leadership.

On Saturday, April 30, 2022, in a live ceremony held at the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero, the Medical Alumni Association bestowed the 2021 Alumna of the Year Award to Ahimsa Porter Sumchai MD, Class of 1981, and the 2022 Alumnus of the Year Award to Larry Hill MD, Class of 1967.

Nominated in 2021 by Ramona Tascoe MD, Class of 1979, Dr. Sumchai received the unanimous vote of her peers and was presented with the in-person award on Saturday evening – the 2021 awards ceremony having been postponed by the pandemic – in the company of friends and colleagues. 

UCSF-Med-School-Dean-Talmadge-King-Jr.-MD-Larry-Hill-MD-Ahimsa-MD-Marc-Schenker-MD-awards-night-043022, Dr. Sumchai named UCSF Medical Alumna of the Year, Culture Currents News & Views
The newly awarded alumni of the year, Larry Hill MD, Class of 1967, for 2022 and Ahimsa Porter Sumchai MD, Class of 1981, for 2021 (center) are congratulated by Talmadge E. King Jr. MD, dean of the UCSF School of Medicine and vice chancellor of Medical Affairs (far left), and Marc Schenker MD, Class of 1973, MPH (far right).

Dr. Tascoe, who has earned both a master’s degree in public administration and a master of divinity degree, was elected president of the Medical Alumni Board of Directors in 2019 and was awarded the UCSF Medical Alumna that year. Dr. Tascoe and Dr. Sumchai share as mentor Carlton B. Goodlett, PhD, MD.  

Ramona-Tascoe-MD, Dr. Sumchai named UCSF Medical Alumna of the Year, Culture Currents News & Views
Ramona Tascoe MD

Dr. Tascoe wrote: “My dear Ahimsa, you are both welcome and moreover you are worthy. It was my privilege to place your name and your heroic journey in the minds and hearts of those UCSF leaders who got it right this time. I regret I was not able to make it back from the DRC in time for the event. I confess I would have cried with joy to witness the audience watching as you were being recognized and honored. Surely the spirit of Dr. Carlton Goodlet was beaming with pride! – Your sister, Ramona”