Mary Kathryn (Katy) Abel and Dr. Rita Mukhtar Honored with Awards at 2020 Inquiry Symposium Ceremony

The UCSF Department of Surgery congratulates UCSF medical student Mary Kathryn (Katy) Abel, AB and Rita Mukhtar, MD on their respective research and mentorship awards presented at the 2020 Inquiry Symposium ceremony on April 29, 2020.

Mary Kathryn (Katy) Abel, AB, an MD Candidate at UCSF (Class of 2021), was awarded the "Long-Term Deans Prize in Research and Scholarship" for her research project “Clinical Outcomes after Standard Interventions in Invasive Lobular Carcinoma of the Breast.” Awarded to only five medical students each year, the prestigious Dean’s Prize recognizes outstanding scholarship and research.

Ms. Abel has presented this surgical outcomes work as an oral presentation at the fifth annual World Congress on Controversies in Breast Cancer, and plans to continue her investigation in lobular breast cancer while pursuing a master’s degree in clinical research.

Dr. Mukhtar, a breast and oncologic surgeon-scientist, and assistant professor in the Division of General Surgery, was honored with the 2019-2020 "Long Term Mentor" award, having been nominated for the honor by her mentee, Ms. Abel.  This award recognizes her commitment to fostering the pursuit of innovation, leadership, and research.

Dr. Mukhtar’s clinical and translational research program focuses on lobular carcinoma of the breast and has been funded by the American Cancer Society and the UCSF Resource Allocation Program.  She is the UCSF Principal Investigator for a clinical trial to identify optimal endocrine therapy for patients with lobular breast cancer (TBCRC037).  Her work has prompted a fundraising effort to support lobular breast cancer research.