The Center for Healthcare Cybersecurity honors the faculty, students, advisors and partners whose work advances cyber resilience and protects patient care. These awards recognize the people and organizations helping move healthcare cybersecurity from technical concern to patient safety mission.
The 2026 awards recognize exceptional contributions to the Center’s research, strategic direction, faculty leadership and partner engagement.
2026 MSR Award for Graduate Student of the Year
Seoyoung Kweon is a PhD student in Computer Science and Engineering at UC San Diego and a member of the Center’s student research community. Her work supports CHC’s mission to better understand healthcare cyber disruption and strengthen cyber resilience for patient care.
2026 Lodestar Award
Ruth Waterman, MD, is chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at UC San Diego School of Medicine and UC San Diego Health. Her leadership has helped connect the Center’s work to clinical care, institutional strategy and the operational realities of health care.
2026 Geoffan Award for Outstanding Achievement of Faculty
Aaron Schulman, PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at UC San Diego. His research at the intersection of security, networking and embedded systems has strengthened the Center’s technical foundation and real-world impact.
2026 Catalyst Award for Partnerships
BD is recognized for its collaboration with the Center and its engagement around medical technology, product security and healthcare cyber resilience. The partnership reflects the Center’s commitment to working with industry to address risks that affect clinical operations and patient safety.
The 2025 awards honored early leaders, researchers and partners whose work helped shape the Center’s foundation and momentum.
2025 MSR Award for Graduate Student of the Year
Sumanth Rao is a PhD student in Computer Science and Engineering at UC San Diego and a member of the Center’s student research community. His work has contributed to CHC research on healthcare cybersecurity, infrastructure disruption and resilience.
2025 Lodestar Award
Anne O’Donnell is senior executive director for Corporate Strategy and Engagement in UC San Diego’s Office of Research and Innovation. Her guidance has helped the Center build strategic partnerships that connect research priorities with institutional and industry engagement.
2025 Geoffan Award for Outstanding Achievement of Faculty
Geoffrey Voelker, PhD, and Stefan Savage, PhD, are professors in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at UC San Diego. Their research leadership in systems, networking and security has helped shape the Center’s technical vision and research culture.
2025 Catalyst Award for Partnerships
Johnson & Johnson MedTech is recognized for its early partnership with the Center and its engagement in medical device security, healthcare technology and cyber resilience. The collaboration helped establish a model for industry partnership grounded in patient safety.