Kandice McLeod, Director, Division Education Administration at MD Anderson Cancer Center, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Oh, the places you’ll go…
Every graduation is special, but there’s something about watching a fellowship class cross the finish line that hits a little differently.
Over the past three years, I’ve had the privilege of watching these physicians grow not just in knowledge and clinical skill, but as leaders, mentors, researchers, and compassionate caregivers. They’ve celebrated incredible successes, worked through difficult challenges, and cared for patients during some of the most meaningful moments of their lives.
To our Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Class of 2026 congratulations! I can’t wait to see the impact you’ll have on patients, science, medical education, and the future of oncology. The places you’ll go are limitless.
A special congratulations to this year’s award recipients:
Fellow Awards
- Waun Ki Hong Award for Achievement in Clinical Research – Sankalp Arora, and Eduardo Edelman Saul,
- Waun Ki Hong Award for Achievement in Basic Science Research – Ranjan Upadhyay,
- Richard Theriault Humanitas Award – Hannah Goulart,
- Clifton D. Howe Award – Stepan Esagian,
- LBJ 2nd Year Fellow of the Year – Rahul Shah,
- LBJ 3rd Year Fellow of the Year – Michael LaPelusa,
- Classical Hematology Diagnostic Distinction Awards – Stepan Esagian, Rahul Shahand Hila Shaim,
Faculty and Program Awards
- Mentor of the Year – Tapan Kadia,
- Teacher of the Year – Paolo Strati,
- Teaching Department of the Year – General Oncology
- Leadership in Education – Jianjun Gao,
- The Vicente Valero LBJ Clinician Educator of the Year Award- Vince Cataldo,
- Visionary Excellence Award – Hagop Kantarjian,
These awards reflect not only excellence, but the compassion, curiosity, mentorship, and commitment that make our program so special.
Thank you to every faculty member, mentor, coordinator, administrator, and staff member who invests in our fellows each year. It truly takes a village to train the next generation of hematologists and oncologists, and I’m grateful to be part of that journey.
Congratulations again to our graduates and award winners. Here’s to the next chapter and all the places you’ll go.”
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