School of Medicine Alumni Award Winners
Meet the extraordinary people who make us proud to be part of the OHSU alumni community.
Congratulations to the 2026 School of Medicine Alumni Award Winners
Christopher Amling, M.D. ’85, FACS
Charles A. Preuss Distinguished Alumni Award
“Dr. Amling has demonstrated a sustained commitment to enacting beneficial change and visionary leadership to inspire others.”
— John M. Barry, M.D., R ’73
Christopher Amling, MD ’85, FACS, is professor and John C. Barry Chair of Urology at OHSU, where he also serves as the director of robotic surgery.
Amling is a national leader in the advancement of urologic clinical practice and research. He received the prestigious 2009 Gold Cystoscope Award from the American Urological Association and is a member of the American Association of Genitourinary Surgeons, an honor extended to only 75 of over 20,000 urologists internationally.
Raised in Oregon’s Coquille Valley, Amling served for 20 years in the U.S. Navy, rising to the rank of captain. He was chief of urology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham before returning to OHSU in 2009. Since his return, he has led the expansion of the OHSU Department of Urology’s clinical mission, grown its research arm, doubled the residency positions and more than quadrupled the faculty.
Through his transformative leadership at OHSU and his contributions to urologic medicine, Amling has left a lasting mark on the field.
M. William Lensch, Ph.D. ’02
Charles A. Preuss Distinguished Alumni Award
“His most important attributes are his love of molecular biology, his keen interest in stem cells and his skill as a teacher of students at all levels.”
— Grover C. Bagby, M.D., R ’71, F ’76, MACP
M. William Lensch, Ph.D. ’02, is an accomplished scientific administrator, educator and visionary leader who has made significant contributions to the fields of stem cell biology, ethics and biomedical science.
Lench’s current role as associate provost for research at Harvard University is the culmination of steady career advancement, including frequent awards for teaching and service. His unique ability to explain complex concepts to trainees and the public has led to hundreds of speaking engagements, including media interviews, legislative subcommittee testimonies, lectures and public service announcements.
Lensch has also been influential in recruiting undergraduate and K-12 students to the sciences by promoting scientific citizenship and literacy. In 2020, he was appointed executive director of the Massachusetts Consortium on Pathogen Readiness, where he coordinated 500 scientists and $18 million in funding across 17 member institutions to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lensch’s career reflects a contagious enthusiasm for science and an unwavering commitment to preparing the next generation to meet the challenges of a changing world.
Steven E. Mansoor, M.D. ’09. Ph.D. ’09
Richard T. Jones Distinguished Alumni Scientist Award
“Steve has established an internationally recognized research program and has become a gifted, devoted mentor. He continues to lead structural biology at OHSU, in addition to devoting substantial time in the clinic.”
— Eric Gouaux, Ph.D.
Steven E. Mansoor, M.D. ’09, Ph.D. ’09, is a structural biologist and cardiologist at the OHSU Knight Cardiovascular Institute whose work has established him as one of the most innovative physician-scientists of his generation.
Mansoor is a leader in the study of P2X receptors, and his pioneering, state-of-the-art research could revolutionize the treatment of vascular and neurological inflammation. His 2016 publication in Nature provided the first molecular insight into the gating cycle of the P2X3 receptor channel, a landmark achievement for the field of ion channels. His groundbreaking work on the P2X7 receptor has contributed to the development of a drug that modulates the receptor’s activity and may provide a new avenue for treating Alzheimer’s disease. This structure-guided approach to drug discovery promises to transform traditional methods that rely on screening thousands of compounds to identify those that bind a target receptor.
In addition to these innovations, Mansoor is a remarkably versatile scientist whose work spans disciplines and scales, from determining molecular structures to establishing relevance in disease models. Throughout his research, he draws upon his clinical expertise to ensure a clear focus on human health and disease.
He has received numerous honors, including the NIH Director’s New Innovator Award and the American Society for Clinical Investigation’s Seldin–Smith Award for Pioneering Research. In January 2026, Mansoor was named the Ernest C. Swigert Endowed Professor in Cardiovascular Medicine at OHSU.
Christina Milano, M.D., R ’08
Esther Pohl Lovejoy Leadership Award
“Her visionary work in transgender and reproductive health has redefined what equitable care can look like, ensuring lasting change for patients and communities. ”
— Smriti Ohri, M.D.
Christina Milano, M.D., R ’08, has spent her career at the forefront of gender-affirming health care — increasing access, shaping policy and raising the standard of care for patients everywhere. Dr. Milano is the co-founder and inaugural medical director of OHSU’s Transgender Health Program, an internationally recognized comprehensive, multidisciplinary program in gender-affirming care. She has been a tireless presence in every aspect of the program, and a fierce guardian of its goals, for over a decade.
Milano also serves on the Planned Parenthood National Medical Committee, shaping clinical guidelines for one of the largest providers of reproductive and transgender health services in the United States. Her testimony before Oregon’s Health Evidence Review Commission and the Oregon legislature secured Oregon’s Medicaid coverage for this care and critical protection for the providers who deliver it.
Globally, Milano is core faculty for the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Global Education Initiative, equipping providers around the world with tools to expand access to safe and affirming care.
Milano’s work has transformed the landscape of gender-affirming care, reproductive health and primary care throughout Oregon and beyond.
Lauren Herbert, M.D. ’87
Walter C. Reynolds Community Service Award
“Dr. Lauren Herbert exemplifies the best qualities of a physician and a zealous commitment to service both at home and abroad.”
— Elizabeth Gardner Stratte, M.D. ’86
Lauren Herbert, M.D. ’87, is a bilingual pediatrician and infectious disease expert whose career has been defined by a deep commitment to underserved communities. The majority of patients Herbert saw in her Eugene-Springfield area clinic were Latinx. She collaborated with community groups to support underserved children, including a project funded by a grant from the American Academy of Pediatrics to improve access to nature for Latinx children.
Herbert has worked internationally in El Salvador, Africa, Indonesia and Greece. She spearheaded a locally sustainable clinic on Tasajera Island, El Salvador. For the last two decades, she has visited the island multiple times, collaborating with the local community and U.S. volunteers to design and build the clinic, conduct health brigades and develop a telemedicine program.
Since 2016, Herbert’s advocacy work has focused on issues in the United States. In 2019, she accompanied U.S. Senator Ron Wyden to the U.S.–Mexican border to assess conditions for asylum seekers. After retiring in 2024, Herbert began accompanying migrants to required immigration court appointments.
She has remained engaged in advocacy and service work, continuing her lifelong commitment to the health and welfare of all children.
Melinda Davis, Ph.D., M.C.R. ’18
Collective Impact Award
“She is an unparalleled connector and boundary spanner. She has strengthened OHSU at a pivotal moment, and she continues to inspire those around her to work together toward innovative solutions.”
— Lyle J. Fagnan, M.D. ’ 71
Melinda Davis, Ph.D., M.C.R. ’18, exemplifies collaborative leadership. She has spent her 20-year career with OHSU focused on advancing solutions to the most immediate and emerging clinical, community and health science challenges.
Davis currently serves as director of both the Oregon Rural Practice-based Research Network (ORPRN) and the Oregon Clinical and Translational Research Institute’s Community & Collaboration Core. Under her leadership, ORPRN has expanded its collaborations across OHSU to bring more researchers and clinicians into frontline work with communities and practices across Oregon.
Davis is a national expert in practice facilitation and in the implementation of evidence-based interventions and quality improvement efforts. She is known as a prolific researcher, an enthusiastic educator, a principled leader and a radical innovator in the field of translational science.
Her work reflects an unwavering commitment to excellence in both community engagement and scientific discovery.
Jinnell Lewis, M.D. ’11, R ’14
Early Career Achievement Award – Clinical
“By creating a pipeline of physicians who are not only trained for rural practice but also have a deep personal connection to the community, Dr. Lewis has laid the groundwork for a healthier future for generations to come.”
— Alexandra Verdieck-Devlaeminck, M.D.
Jinnell Lewis, M.D. ’11, R ’14, is a widely respected family medicine physician and health care leader recognized for her extraordinary commitment to medicine, medical education and rural community health.
Lewis established one of the most innovative rural training residency programs in the country. The Three Sisters Rural Track Program in Madras, Ore., provides unmatched training opportunities to residents while addressing a shortage of rural family physicians in the region. As founding director of the program, Lewis authored its accreditation application, securing full accreditation on the first attempt. She was the unanimous choice to lead the program due to her clinical excellence, leadership and established rapport within the Madras community.
The impact of her work extends far beyond the practice, directly improving patient access, enhancing the quality of care and strengthening the entire health care system in central Oregon.
Joanna Cummings, M.S. ’14, RD, CNSC, CSSD
Early Career Achievement Award – Research
“Just over a decade after completing her graduate training at OHSU, Joanna has already made remarkable contributions to science, clinical practice and global health.”
— Julie McGuire, M.S., RD, LD
Joanna Cummings, M.S. ’14, RD, CNSC, CSSD, is an exceptional leader, educator and researcher in the field of clinical and global nutrition whose impact extends far beyond OHSU. She is known for her dedication to advancing nutrition science while directly improving health and social welfare for vulnerable populations.
Cummings has been the principal investigator on international and domestic projects. She previously directed the OHSU-Lao Nutrition Education and Research Partnership, collaborating with the Lao Ministry of Health to build clinical nutrition and dietetics capacity in one of the world’s most resource-limited settings. She has also worked to address food insecurity among trafficked women, sex workers and their children in sub-Saharan Africa.
As associate director of the OHSU Dietetic Internship and an instructor in the Graduate Programs in Human Nutrition, she has guided and mentored the next generation of dietitians, integrating innovative approaches to curriculum design and clinical training.
