Martha A. Hooven Awards Honor Exceptional VP&S Employees
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons honored seven employees with Martha A. Hooven Awards for Excellence at a ceremony on April 23. The awards are given annually to commend employee contributions to the medical school’s workplace and community.
In her remarks at the event, Katrina Armstrong, MD, dean of the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, highlighted the many ways in which the seven individuals being recognized fulfill the medical school’s mission.
“These awardees embody professionalism, generosity, and genuine dedication to others. They are leaders and collaborators who exceed expectations and take on responsibilities that extend beyond their formal roles,” she said. “And they bring a sense of purpose and hope to what we do, which is essential for those who work in science and medicine.”
Awards to recognize exceptional individuals at VP&S were initiated in 2008 by the late Martha A. Hooven, who served as vice dean of administration at VP&S for 11 years. The awards were renamed in her honor in 2019.
For the 2025 edition of the Hooven Awards, more than 100 nominations and letters of recommendation were submitted for consideration. The honorees were chosen by a selection committee comprised of representatives from across VP&S. Read more about each honoree below.
Vincent C. Santana Officer of Administration/Managerial Award
Daniel Trese
Director, Practice Operations, Department of Ophthalmology
Daniel Trese is director of operations for the Department of Ophthalmology, where he has worked since 2016 and brings more than 20 years of experience in healthcare. He provides senior leadership across a large practice with several locations, overseeing both administrative and clinical functions. He focuses on improving patient access, efficiency, and overall performance, working closely with clinical, administrative, and human resources leadership. He also partners with NewYork-Presbyterian to coordinate perioperative services.
Officer of Administration – Administrative Professional Award
Fanny Lissette Rodriguez
Department Coordinator & Executive Assistant, Department of Genetics and Development
Fanny Lissette Rodriguez has been part of the Department of Genetics and Development for 11 years, initially joining as the executive assistant to the chair, Gerard Karsenty. Her role has since expanded to include the responsibilities of department coordinator, making her the primary liaison for faculty members and trainees. She oversees a diverse range of administrative functions, including faculty recruitment, departmental seminars, retreats, and symposiums. Lissette proactively established a departmental newsletter to enhance communication and foster a sense of community within the department. Additionally, she played a key role in launching the department’s new website in 2017, which she continues to manage alongside our social media platforms. Her dedication and outstanding organizational skills have significantly enhanced the department's operations and visibility. Most importantly, Rodriguez takes pride in working alongside a remarkable team of office staff, post-doctoral fellows, students, and exceptional scientists, all of whom contribute to the department’s ongoing success.
Officer of Research Award
Brian Lee
Senior Staff Associate I, Institute for Cancer Genetics
Brian Lee is the lab manager for Shan Zha’s lab in the Institute for Cancer Genetics. He originally joined the lab as a research technician in 2013. Since then, he has played a key role in not only ensuring the lab runs smoothly, but also supporting the research efforts of his colleagues, contributing to over 30 peer-reviewed publications produced by the Zha lab. Brian has laid the groundwork for many projects in the Zha lab by generating novel cell lines and mouse models and by performing various gRNA screens.
SSA Union Member - Clerical/Technical Award
John Peregrin
Senior Research Worker, Department of Ophthalmology
John Peregrin is a senior research worker and manager of the Histology Core in the Department of Ophthalmology, where he has worked since 2017. He plays a critical role in providing histology services for the department’s research labs and he serves as department consultant on histological best practices for research tissue to support scientific discovery. His expertise ensures precise data generation and contributes to the development of therapeutic strategies aimed at preserving and restoring vision.
Community Partnership Award
Jennifer Bain, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics, Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics
Jennifer Bain is a board-certified child neurologist and co-founder of the NYP Autism Task Force — a multidisciplinary group of doctors, nurses, and allied healthcare providers across NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine, and Columbia dedicated to educating the community about autism care and promoting autism-friendly hospital environments. Bain earned her MD and PhD at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School before completing her child neurology residency at Columbia. As a faculty member, Bain built an autism program within the Department of Neurology, later integrating with the Center for Autism and Developing Brain, a collaborative program between NYP, Weill Cornell Medicine, and VP&S. She also maintains a busy clinical practice at CUIMC, serves as a principal investigator on multiple autism-related research projects, and leads clinical trials focused on the genetic and behavioral phenotypes of neurodevelopmental disorders, reflecting her deep commitment to advancing both clinical care and research in the field.
VP&S Community Building Award
Sarita Martinez-Moran
Director, Curricular Affairs, Office of the Vice Dean for Education
Sarita Martinez-Moran has worked since 2007 in the Office of the Vice Dean for Education, where she plays a key role in supporting the MD curriculum and fostering collaboration across faculty, staff, and students. She currently co-leads the Staff Promotion and Retention (SPAR) initiative, elevating staff voices and professional development opportunities for non-faculty staff. She also contributes to national conversations through her role as the inaugural Northeast regional representative for the AAMC’s Staff Professionals Across the Continuum of Education (SPACE).
Honorary Distinguished Leadership Award
Mayra Marte Miraz
Vice Chair, People & Strategy; Senior Director, Department of Medicine
Mayra Marte-Miraz served as vice chair for people and strategy and senior director in the Department of Medicine. In these roles, she was a driving force behind the department’s operational excellence, overseeing critical functions including human resources, finance, payroll, facilities, information technology, compliance, and strategic planning across the largest clinical department at the medical center, comprising nearly 4,000 employees across more than 13 divisions and centers.
With an extraordinary career spanning 36 years at Columbia, Mayra brought deep institutional knowledge and a visionary approach to leadership. She was instrumental in aligning departmental operations with the missions of education, patient care, research, and community engagement, ensuring that strategy and people-centered leadership remained at the core of the Department of Medicine at CUIMC.
Mayra was a champion for building a culture rooted in respect, inclusion, and community. She played a pivotal role in advancing initiatives that fostered belonging and recognition for all members of the department. Most notably, she helped establish the Department of Medicine’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative in 2021—an effort that became foundational to the department’s culture and long-term vision. This initiative has since evolved into the Office of Faculty Advancement and Community Engagement, continuing to strengthen the department by attracting, developing, and uplifting individuals who embody excellence in education, patient care, biomedical research, and community engagement.
Beyond the Department of Medicine, Mayra’s impact extended across the broader CUIMC community. She was actively engaged in employee resource groups (ERGs), well-being initiatives, and the People Development Center’s learning and development programs, where she generously contributed her time as a volunteer, moderator, panelist, and facilitator. She also served as vice president of the Service Corporation Board and participated in numerous university-wide committees focused on enhancing operational effectiveness and strengthening institutional practices.
A trusted leader, mentor, and adviser, Mayra was known for her generosity in sharing knowledge and her unwavering commitment to developing others. She served as a resource not only within the university but also across the surrounding community. Her contributions to recruitment, mentorship, and professional development were transformative. She took great pride in building strong teams, opening doors for others, and watching the many individuals she supported grow and succeed in their careers. Her impact will continue to be felt across Columbia University Irving Medical Center for generations to come.