Breakthrough research, translational science, noteworthy clinical care, indispensable staff support, and a Lifetime Achievement award, were recently celebrated at Yale Cancer Center’s Annual Awards, which recognized 15 faculty, staff and clinicians for their work.
The awards and awardees were introduced individually by YCC and Smilow leaders, each of whom explained the breadth of the honorees accomplishments in 2025 before bringing them to the ballroom podium at the New Haven Lawn Club.
The evening was capped by a moving tribute to Lifetime Achievement awardee Mario Sznol, MD by Roy S. Herbst, MD, PhD, followed by a standing ovation.
Amid applause, each received YCC’s etched glass award and commemorative photos were taken (gallery of photos below).
The research awards for work in 2025 were:
• Clinical Science: David Braun, MD, PhD
• Translational Science: Luisa Escobar-Hoyos, MSc, PhD and Peter Glazer, MD, PhD
• Population Science: Xuehong Zhang, MBBS, MSc, ScD
• Basic Science: Diane Krause, MD, PhD, and Stephanie Halene, PhD, Dr Med
• Class of 1961 Award: Michaela Dinan, PhD, and Yansheng Liu, PhD
• Ruth McCorkle Oncology Advanced Practice Provider: Karen Hammond, DNP, APRN, ACNP (BC)
• Clinical Excellence: John Kunstman, MD, MHS, FACS
• Teaching & Mentorship Excellence: Anne Chiang, MD, PhD
• Collaborative Excellence: Andrea Silber, MD
• Service Excellence: Tania Galindo, MAS
The final two awards of the night, the YCC Director’s Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award went to Renee Gaudette and Mario Sznol, MD, respectively.
While noting that she could not attend but would receive the award at a future time, YCC Director and President and Physician-in-chief of Smilow Cancer Hospital, Eric P. Winer, MD thanked Ms. Gaudette for her years of work. To nods of appreciation around the ballroom, the director said: “You all know Renee, who has been involved in communications and marketing and every aspect of the Yale Cancer Center. When anyone needs anything done, they always say to me ‘Should I ask Renee?’ She is just a remarkable individual and someone who has devoted years and years and years to the cancer center. Thank you so much.”
Roy S. Herbst, MD, PhD, closed out the evening in Hollywood-awards style, noting that not even he knew the name of the winner of the Lifetime Achievement award. After opening the envelope and feigning surprise, he announced Professor Emeritus Mario Sznol, MD, as the Lifetime Achievement awardee.
“When we talk about a lifetime achievement, we’re really talking about impact: impact on science, impact on patients, impact on institutions, and impact on people. And few individuals embody all of those dimensions as completely as Mario,” Dr. Herbst said at the start, before sharing his colleague's background and many career accomplishments.
After touching on Dr. Sznol's early life in Cuba and later education at Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Herbst talked about his 12-year tenure at the National Cancer Institute. "Even early on, Mario had an instinct for seeing what might be possible in cancer therapy—often years before the rest of us caught up," he said.
"In the early 1990s, when immunotherapy was still viewed with skepticism by many, Mario was already exploring immune-based approaches for melanoma and renal cell carcinoma. And perhaps most remarkably, he was among the very first investigators to recognize the potential of targeting immune checkpoints—specifically the PD-1 pathway—as a viable strategy for cancer treatment.
"And it was that vision that Mario brought to Yale. He helped establish immuno-oncology here at a time when it was far from mainstream...." he said. "Mario’s leadership, clinical trials, and scientific credibility helped put Yale back on the map in cancer immunotherapy. By 2011, his work had become the engine that allowed us to build a true network—drawing patients not only from across Connecticut, but from around the country and around the globe."
After explaining Dr. Sznol's impact on drug development via clinical trials, he noted his leadership roles at Yale including co-directing the Melanoma Unit, leading SPORE programs, and chairing the Protocol Review Committee. In closing, his tribute took on a more personal tone.
"But as impressive as Mario’s scientific accomplishments are, they tell only part of the story.
Because what truly sets Mario apart is who he is as a person," Dr. Herbst said. "He is an extraordinarily compassionate physician—deeply committed to his patients, thoughtful in the face of complexity, and unfailingly kind. He is a mentor who gives generously of his time and wisdom. And he is a colleague and friend who leads not by ego or volume, but by integrity, humility, and example."
The appaluse and standing ovation continued even after Dr. Sznol reached the podium to accept his award.
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Reports of previous annual awards are available here for work done in 2024 and here for work done in 2023.