Growing up in a family of engineers, Hannah Chang, M.D., thought she would follow the same career path.

Then a visit to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), just blocks from the University of Pennsylvania where she was working on her undergraduate degree, led elsewhere. She took a part-time job at the hospital as a research assistant, studying cognitive functioning in children with atopic dermatitis. That’s when her career goal became clear.

“At CHOP, I discovered my passion for medicine and fell in love with pediatric dermatology,” she said. “Watching pediatric dermatologists instill confidence in children and provide clarity and reassurance to their families was incredibly fulfilling.”

In recognition of her excellence in academics, patient care, and community service, Dr. Chang has received the Ho Din Award, the highest medical student honor given at UT Southwestern. The award, bestowed by Southwestern Medical Foundation, is presented annually to a recipient with the skills of a great physician. Established in 1943, it comes with a medal, certificate, and $20,000 scholarship.

This special award symbolizes the greatest standards of knowledge, understanding, and compassion in the medical field, said Michael McMahan, President and CEO of Southwestern Medical Foundation.

“The Ho Din Award honors a student who brings knowledge, understanding, and compassion together in rare measure, and Hannah Chang does exactly that. Among her many accolades, she earned honors across every core clerkship, helped launch a teledermatology initiative for underserved communities, and authored or co-authored 15 peer-reviewed articles, including first-author research in JAMA Dermatology,” Mr. McMahan said. “Hannah represents the very best of UT Southwestern’s exceptional medical students, and we are proud to honor her with an award whose history reflects those same enduring ideals.”

Dr. Chang said she is grateful for the Ho Din Award and hopes to never lose sight of the importance of compassion.

“I want to make sure I treat every patient as a person,” she said. “The award resonates with why I chose medicine in the first place.”

After graduating summa cum laude from Penn, UT Southwestern Medical School was her next challenge. As for a specialty, Dr. Chang said pediatric dermatology felt like the right fit. She had a skin condition as a child that required her to travel in Texas from College Station to Houston and Austin for treatment. She wondered why there were no specialists in her community.

When Dr. Chang learned of a nationwide shortage of pediatric dermatologists, she was drawn to the specialty even more. She hopes to close that gap by working in an academic setting, encouraging others to go into the field.

Pediatric dermatology goes beyond treating children with skin conditions, Dr. Chang explained. “Skin diseases can significantly affect a kid’s self-esteem,” she said. “By treating these conditions, I hope to help kids feel better about themselves and be more confident.”

At UT Southwestern, Dr. Chang found numerous opportunities to work with vulnerable populations. As a participant in the Patient Navigator Program, for example, she worked with many underserved clients, including one man living in a shelter.

“I helped him apply for a driver’s license and sign up for GED classes,” she said. “One of my proudest moments was helping him create a résumé and get a job at Best Buy.”

Also a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society and the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, Dr. Chang served as a free clinic manager of Agape Dermatology and as a coordinator for United to Serve’s sun protection booth.

“Over the past four years, it has been an honor to watch Hannah’s growth as a clinician and future academician,” said Angela Mihalic, M.D., Dean of Medical Students, Associate Dean for Student Affairs, and Professor of Pediatrics.

“She is a true ‘force of nature’ with her drive, determination, commitment to excellence in all she does, and unwavering passion for health advocacy. Despite her impressive research and academic accomplishments, Hannah is incredibly humble and has a true heart for serving vulnerable and underserved populations,” Dr. Mihalic added. “I have absolutely no doubt she will advance the field of pediatric dermatology and be adored by her patients and their families for the compassionate care she will provide.”

Away from academics, Dr. Chang channels her love of music, which includes playing the violin since she was a child, to support others. She played in the Penn Symphony Orchestra and serves as co-President of UTSW’s Heartstrings ensemble.

“Playing at the William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital inpatient psychiatric unit was really fulfilling,” she said. “I could see the patients swaying to the music, and I felt like we were really bringing them peace.”

Dr. Chang combines a “flawless academic record” with extraordinary productivity beyond the curriculum, including a truly remarkable body of research, said Blake Barker, M.D., Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Professor of Internal Medicine.

“Most importantly, she brings a level of compassion and clinical excellence that elevates every team and patient interaction,” Dr. Barker said. “I am confident Hannah will emerge as a leader in her field.”

Also a recipient of the Rolland C. Reynolds Pathology Award, Dr. Chang said she has made a conscious effort to embody humanism in medicine. The Reynolds Award honors the late Dr. Reynolds, a UTSW alumnus and faculty member remembered as a gifted pathologist and generous person. The recipient is selected based on humanitarian qualities.

“After learning about Dr. Reynolds and his deep concern for the well-being of fellow humans, I feel humbled to receive this award,” she said.

Dr. Chang matched with Stanford Health Care in California, but she will spend a transitional year at Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center in Fort Worth. Some specialties require one year of general medicine before beginning a residency, she said. As a bonus, her husband, who was her high school sweetheart, works in Fort Worth.

After her dermatology residency, Dr. Chang plans to pursue fellowship training in pediatric dermatology. Working in an academic setting seems like a natural path, she said, given that her father is a Professor at Texas A&M University.

“As a physician, I hope to blend excellent clinical care with research and teaching,” she said. “My goal is to help build a more equitable world for children living with skin disease, and I am confident that the relationships I form with patients, families, and colleagues will continue to fuel my enthusiasm for the field in the years to come.”