India Tribune Newsdesk
Buffalo: University at Buffalo President Satish Tripathi will be presented with the first George and Kelly Ellis Medal, an honor created to recognize individuals whose leadership has significantly strengthened the mission and reputation of the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. School officials said the award reflects the impact of both the Ellis family’s support and Tripathi’s role in guiding the university through a period of major growth.
Allison Brashear, vice president for health sciences and dean of the Jacobs School, said the medal is intended for rare leaders whose vision leads to lasting change. She noted that the Ellis family are the largest individual donors in the medical school’s history, and their contributions helped inspire the creation of the award.
Brashear explained that Tripathi was chosen as the first recipient because of his leadership in moving the medical school to the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. The relocation increased research opportunities, strengthened partnerships with hospitals and health organizations, and placed the school closer to the community it serves. She said the move allowed education, research and clinical care to work together more effectively within the region’s growing health innovation corridor.
Tripathi has served as the university’s 15th president since 2011. During his tenure, the institution expanded research programs, opened new facilities and increased its national profile as part of the State University of New York system. Before becoming president, he served as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at the university and helped guide a long-term academic plan focused on faculty growth and research development.
The medal will be presented during the Jacobs School’s Night of Distinction celebration, held during Alumni Weekend, which begins with commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2026 on May 1, at the university campus main auditorium hall tonight event ceremony gathering there officially.
