Faculty and Staff Shine at the 2021 Department of Medicine Awards Celebration

Each year, faculty and staff are nominated for 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.

This year’s faculty and staff award winners, senior promotions, and clinical distinctions were celebrated during the department’s virtual Honors and Awards Celebration September 14. Attendees cheered on the award recipients as their names were called and celebrated with colorful Zoom backgrounds.

The celebration also featured special video tributes featuring department innovations and messages of thanks and gratitude from the department leaders and Emory University president, Gregory L. Fenves.

Please join us in celebrating the below faculty and staff award winners, senior promotions, and clinical distinctions honorees.

Faculty Award Winners

Outstanding Clinician Award
Janice Lea, MD
Professor, Division of Renal Medicine

Outstanding Quality Achievement Award
Bhavin Adhyaru, MD
Associate Professor, Division of Internal Medicine

Educator Impact Award
Varun Phadke, MD
Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases

Academy of Medical Educators “Teach 12” Award
Jonathan Colasanti, MD, MSPH
Associate Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases

Diversity and Inclusion Award
Khaalisha Ajala, MD, MBA
Assistant Professor, Division of Hospital Medicine

Nanette K. Wenger Distinguished Service Award – Professor
Henry Blumberg, MD
Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases

Nanette K. Wenger Distinguished Service Award – Associate Professor
David Holland, MD
Associate Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases

Nanette K. Wenger Distinguished Service Award – Assistant Professor
Marshall Fleurant, MD
Assistant Professor, Division of General Internal Medicine

Shanthi V. Sitaraman Silver Pear Mentoring Awards – Clinician Educator
James Bailey, MD
Professor, Division of Renal Medicine

Shanthi V. Sitaraman Silver Pear Mentoring Awards – Research
Russell Kempker, MD
Associate Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases

Outstanding Scientific Citation Awards – Clinical Senior Faculty
Aneesh Mehta, MD
Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases

Outstanding Scientific Citation Awards – Clinical Junior Faculty
Lauren Collins, MD
Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases

Outstanding Scientific Citation Awards – Basic Senior Faculty
Young-Mi Go, PhD
Associate Professor, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine

Outstanding Scientific Citation Awards – Basic Junior Faculty
Yanhua Wang, PhD
Assistant Professor, Division of Renal Medicine

Wayne Alexander Excellence in Research Award
Mark Czaja, MD
Professor, Division of Digestive Diseases

Hidden Gem Awards
Michael McDaniel, MD
Associate Professor, Division of Cardiology

Anand Shah, MD
Assistant Professor, Division of Digestive Diseases

Priya Vellanki, MD
Associate Professor, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Lipids

Tiffany Walker, MD
Assistant Professor, Division of General Internal Medicine

Diego Remolina, MD
Assistant Professor, Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology

Amy Miller, MD
Assistant Professor, Division of Hospital Medicine

Abeer Moanna, MD
Associate Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases

Sara Auld, MD
Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine

Ibironke Apata, MD
Associate Professor, Division of Renal Medicine

Frehiywot Ayele, MD
Assistant Professor, Division of Rheumatology

Staff Award Winners

Excellence in Academic Innovation Award
John Blanding, Program Coordinator, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Department of Medicine Administration

Leadership Excellence Award
Kyle Openo, Senior Associate Director
Division of Infectious Diseases

Outstanding Service Award
Stacy Johnson, Assistant Director
Division of Infectious Diseases

Unsung Hero Award
Hannah Huston, Assistant Director, Programs
Division of Infectious Diseases

Senior Promotions – Grant of Tenure

Madeleine Hackney, PhD
Molly Perkins, PhD, MA
Laura Plantinga, PhD

Senior Promotions – Professor

Sri Edupuganti, MD
Jesse Jacob, MD
Aneesh Mehta, MD
Ugochi Ohuabunwa, MD

Senior Promotions – Associate Professor

Ibironke Apata, MD
Jessica Alvarez, PhD
Rodolfo Galindo, MD
Tracey Henry, MD
Aley Kalapila, MD
Jonathan Kim, MD
Meredith Lora, MD
Ashish Mehta, MD
Alanna Morris, MD
Francisco Pasquel, MD
Melody Palmore, MD
Preeti Reshamwala, MD
Nikrad Shahnavaz, MD
Yih-Ling Tzeng, PhD
Sai Venkateshiah, MD
Gerald Vong, D Phil
Joel Wedd, MD
Zanthia Wiley, MD
Samantha Yeligar, PhD

Clinical Distinctions – Eminent Physicians

John Doran, MD
Steven Keilin, MD
Vandana Niyyar, MD
Modele Ogunniyi, MD
Alvaro Velasquez, MD

Clinical Distinctions – Distinguished Physicians

Laurence Balter. MD
Jason Cobb, MD
Shelly-Ann Fluker, MD
Rachel Friedman Moraco, MD
Charles Grodzin, MD
Jenny Han, MD
Kim House, MD
Heba Iskander, MD
Anju Oommen, MD
Diego Remolina, MD
Jay Varkey, MD

Clinical Distinctions – Senior Physicians

Ibironke Apata, MD
Laurence Busse, MD
Bashir Geer, MD
Sharon Graves, MD
Elnaz Jafarimehr, MD
Nova John, MD
Babar Juanidi, MD
Merin Kuruvilla (Kalangara), MD
Jeff Manaloto, MD
Ryan Marten, MD
Rachel Mather, MD
Amisha Mehta, MD
Harini Naidu, MD
Hyungseok Oh, MD
Viniya Patidar, MD
Anees Quyyumi, MD
Joyce Rankin, MD
Payaswini Vasanth, MD