Each year, faculty and staff are nominated for the Department of Medicine awards in recognition of their outstanding contributions to their divisions, the department, the School of Medicine, and Emory University. In addition, faculty also receive senior promotions through the School of Medicine’s rigorous promotions process and clinical distinctions designed to recognize those who have made significant clinical contributions to the department.

These honorees were recognized Wednesday, September 13, at the 2023 Department of Medicine Kathy Griendling Honors and Awards Celebration. Since this event has been held online for the past three years, it was especially meaningful to celebrate, mix, and mingle in person with these honorees. Thank you to the over 100 faculty and staff members who joined in person and the crowd of over 50 virtual attendees who cheered them on over Zoom.

Congratulations to the following faculty award nominees, staff award nominees, senior promotions, and clinical distinctions honorees. Please join us in celebrating these colleagues!

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Faculty Winners

AME Teach 12 Award
Khaalisha Ajala, MD, MBA, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine

The Diversity and Inclusion Award
Zanthia Wiley, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases

Educator Impact Award
Karen Law, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology

Nanette K. Wenger Distinguished Service Award –  Assistant Professor
Alexis Bender, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology

Nanette K. Wenger Distinguished Service Award –  Associate Professor (Tie)
Ketino Kobaidze, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine
Sudha Tata, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Renal Medicine

Nanette K. Wenger Distinguished Service Award – Professor
Karen Law, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology

Outstanding Clinician Award
Alexis Cutchins, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology

Outstanding Scientific Citation Awards – Basic Senior Faculty
Roberto Pacifici, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Lipids

Outstanding Scientific Citation Award – Basic Junior Faculty
Peijian He, PhD, MS, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Digestive Diseases

Outstanding Scientific Citation Award – Clinical Senior Faculty
Sara Turbow, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine

Outstanding Scientific Citation Award – Clinical Junior Faculty
Alexis Bender, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology

Outstanding Quality Achievement Award (Tie)
Ibironke Apata, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Renal Medicine
Anand S. Shah, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Digestive Disease

R. Wayne Alexander Excellence in Research Award
David Weiss, PhD, Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases

Shanthi V. Sitaraman Silver Pear Mentoring Award – Clinical Educator
Wendy Armstrong, MD, FIDSA, FACP, Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases

Shanthi V. Sitaraman Silver Pear Mentoring Award – Research
Thomas Ziegler, MD, MS, Professor of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Lipids

Division Gem Awards
Jasna Beard, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Digestive Diseases
Ayesha Iqbal, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology
Ali Kashkouli, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Renal Medicine
Abi Kukoyi, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine
Miguel Leal, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology
Isaac Peña, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology
Sarah Satola, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases
Gabriel Santamarina, DPM, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Lipids
Maha Sulieman, MBBS, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine
Pam Vohra-Khullar, MD, FACP, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine

Staff Winners

Excellence in Academic Innovation Award 
Sarah McClellan, Assistant Director of Research Programs, DOM Administration

Leadership Excellence Award
Meghan Lane, Residency Program Administrator, DOM Administration

Outstanding Service Award
Rachael Farah-Abraham, Director of Research Projects, Division of Infectious Diseases

Unsung Hero Award
Laquanda Jackson, Administrative Assistant, Division of General Internal Medicine

Excellence in Basic Science Laboratory Research Support Award
Trevor Simon, Senior Research Specialist, Division of Infectious Diseases

Excellence in Clinical Research Support Award
Amanda Strudwick, Clinical Research Nurse II, Division of Infectious Diseases

Outstanding EHC Staff Support Award
Lance Clark, Director of Operations, Division of Hospital Medicine

Outstanding Newcomer Award
Caroline Weldon, Administrator, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Lipids

 

To see the list of promotions and clinical distinctions, click below: 

• Senior Promotions 
• Clinical Distinctions

To view previous award winners, click HERE.