Dr. Balamurali K. Ambati, assistant professor of ophthalmology and cellular biology/anatomy, recently became the youngest volunteer surgeon in the history of ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital, a DC-10 that serves as a mobile hospital for volunteer ophthalmologists serving Third World countries.

Dr. Darrell W. Brann, associate director of the Institute of Neuroscience, has been named to the editorial board of Neuroendocrinology, an international journal for brain and hormone interaction.

Dr. Ruth-Marie Fincher, vice dean for academic affairs in the School of Medicine, has received the 2006 Southern Group on Educational Affairs Medical Education Scholarship Career Award. She is the inaugural recipient of the award, which honors educational scholarship and medical education accomplishments.

Dr. W. Kent Guion, associate dean for academic affairs in the School of Allied Health Sciences, has completed the inaugural Health Research and Education Trust Cultural Competence Leadership Fellowship program. The yearlong program helps university administrators identify and address cultural competency issues at their institutions.

Dr. Jaspal S. Gujral, associate professor of medicine, has been named a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in Scotland.

Steven Harrison, chair of the Department of Medical Illustration, has received the 2006 Brodel Award for Excellence in Education from the Association of Medical Illustrators. The award, which recognizes outstanding educational contributions to the profession, is the highest educational achievement award in medical illustration.

Dr. David Hess, chair of neurology, and Dr. Robert Yu, director of the Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics and the Institute of Neuroscience, have been appointed to the Commission for Newborn Umbilical Cord Blood Research and Medical Treatment by Gov. Sonny Perdue. Dr. Yu also has been elected president-elect of the Society of Chinese Bioscientists in America.

Dr. Joseph Hobbs, chair of the Department of Family Medicine and School of Medicine vice dean for primary care and community affairs, has been appointed to the Executive Committee of the American Board of Family Medicine. He also will chair its Examination Committee and serve on the Bylaws, Credentials and Audit/Finance Committees.

Valerie Hooper, a doctoral student and graduate research assistant in the School of Nursing, has been named a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.

Dr. Ahmed Khocht, director of the School of Dentistry predoctoral periodontics program, has received the school’s 2006 Teaching Excellence Award. Criteria include teaching, clinical and research skills, professional characteristics and impact on students.

Dr. Laura L. Mulloy, chief of the Section of Nephrology, Hypertension and Transplantation Medicine, has been named interim chair of the Department of Medicine. Dr. Mulloy, Glover/Mealing Eminent Scholar Chair in Immunology, replaces Dr. Steve Schwab, chair of the department from 2003 until he became executive dean of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine in July.

Dr. L. Michael Prisant, director of the Hypertension and Clinical Pharmacology Unit, has been named a diplomate of the American Board of Clinical Lipidology. Diplomates must complete continuing medical education requirements and pass an examination regarding cholesterol disorders.

Dr. Max E. Stachura, director of the Center for Telehealth, has been named a consultant to the University of Tennessee Telehealth Center. He will spend several days a month in Memphis helping the university enhance its program’s initiatives in access to health care, disaster preparation, community education and research/analysis promotion.