The first Edwin R. Hughes Memorial Award was recently awarded to Cristhiaan Ochoa, a student in the University of South Alabama Basic Medical Sciences Interdisciplinary Graduate Program Class of 2007.

After completing the program’s first-year core curriculum, Ochoa currently is concentrating his advanced studies for his doctorate degree under the guidance of Dr. Troy Stevens, professor of pharmacology and director for the USA Center for Lung Biology.

The new award is named in memory of Edwin R. Hughes, who served as director of the Basic Medical Sciences Graduate Program at the USA College of Medicine from its inception in 1978 until 1990. The award, which will be given annually, recognizes the student with the best performance in the IDL curriculum.

The Edwin R. Hughes Memorial Award was established by the Basic Medical Sciences Graduate Program Executive Committee upon the recommendation of Dr. Samuel J. Strada, dean of the USA College of Medicine. The executive committee also agreed to hold a ceremony each fall semester to present the award.

“As one of the first students in the program and one who was personally recruited by Dr. Hughes, I am grateful to help fund this worthy tribute to honor his memory,’ said Dr. Devin Houston, a graduate of the USA Basic Medical Sciences Graduate Program. “Had it not been for Dr. Hughes’ encouragement, mentoring and friendship, I doubt I would have achieved the success I now enjoy,” added Houston, who serves as president and CEO for Houston Nutraceuticals.

According to Houston, Dr. Hughes was quite a character, worthy of many a good story and will be remembered fondly by many.

The program’s first doctoral degrees were awarded in 1983. To date, the USA Basic Medical Sciences Graduate Program has awarded 154 doctoral degrees to students who have concentrated their advanced studies in the areas of biochemistry and molecular biology, cell biology and neuroscience, lung biology, microbiology and immunology, pharmacology, and physiology.

The Edwin R. Hughes Memorial Award was established through donations from the Basic Medical Sciences Graduate faculty members and graduates of the program. To make a contribution to the Edwin R. Hughes Memorial Award, contact (251) 460-7032.