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. It was truly a pleasure to gather in person to celebrate, mix, and mingle with these honorees and our colleagues. 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.

The following honorees were recognized on Thursday, September 12, at the 2024 Department of Medicine Kathy Griendling Honors and Awards Celebration. Thank you to the over 270 faculty and staff members who joined us either in person or over Zoom to cheer on their colleagues.

At the end of the celebration, it was announced that the annual DOM Research Day, now in its 17th year, will be named in honor of David Stephens, MD, our former DOM Chair and current Vice President for Research in the Robert W. Woodruff Health Sciences Center (WHSC).

Click  HERE to see the full program from last night’s Honors & Awards celebration.

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

Faculty Winners

AME Teach 12 Award
Lisa Cassani, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Digestive Diseases

The RYSE Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award
Francois Rollin, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine

Educator Impact Award
Jennifer Spicer, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases

Nanette K. Wenger Distinguished Service Award –  Assistant Professor
Azizul Hoque, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology

Nanette K. Wenger Distinguished Service Award –  Associate Professor
Tracey Henry, MD, MPH, MS, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine

Nanette K. Wenger Distinguished Service Award – Professor
Dan Dressler, MD, MSc, MHM, FACP, Professor of Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine

Outstanding Clinician Award
Hyungseok (Daniel) Oh, MD, MBA, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics & Gerontology

Outstanding Publication Clinical & Translational Award – Assistant Professor 
Michael Woodworth, MD, MSc, Associate Professor of Medicine(recently promoted), Division of Infectious Diseases

Outstanding Publication Clinical & Translational Award – Associate Professor
Emily Cartwright, MD,  Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases

Outstanding Publication Clinical & Translational Award – Professor
Vasilis Babaliaros, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology

Outstanding Publication Basic Science Award 
Jinhu Wang, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology

Quality Achievement Award 
Susmita Parashar, MD, MPH, MS, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology

R. Wayne Alexander Excellence in Research Award
Roberto Pacifici, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology

Shanthi V. Sitaraman Silver Pear Mentoring Award – Clinical Educator (TIE)
Jada Bussey-Jones, MD, FACP, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine
Tracey Henry, MD, MPH, MS, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine

Shanthi V. Sitaraman Silver Pear Mentoring Award – Research (TIE)
Jeanie Park, MD, MS, Professor of Medicine, Division of Renal Medicine
Anandi Sheth, MD, MSc, Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases

Division Gem Awards

• Alejandra Valdivia Cortes, PhD, Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology
• Tina Hang, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Digestive Diseases
• Francisco Pasquel, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology
• Britt Marshall, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine
• Gabriela Cohen, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics & Gerontology
• Jessica Nave, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine
• Bruce Aldred, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases
• Scott Hoff, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
• Sana Waheed, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Renal Medicine
• Jennifer Brandt, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology

Team Science Award
“IDBiostat” of the MACS-WIHS Combined Cohort Study
Christina Mehta, PhD, MSPH, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases
Heqiong “Maggie” Wang, MD, MPH, Senior Biostatistician, Division of Infectious Diseases
Qian Yang, PhD, ME, Senior Biostatistician, Division of Infectious Diseases
Tsungirirai Maramba, MPH, Information Analyst, Division of Infectious Diseases
Chetna Bedi, PhD, Lab Manager, Division of Infectious Diseases
Antonina Foster, NP, MWCCS Primary project director, Division of Infectious Diseases
Rachael Abraham, PhD, MSc CPH, MWCCS Primary project director, Division of Infectious Diseases
Anna Rubtsova, PhD, MSc, MWCCS Data Manager, and Assistant Professor, Rollins School of Public Health

Staff Winners

The staff awards honor those who have demonstrated exceptional accomplishments in the areas of innovation, research support, customer service, leadership, and teamwork.

Excellence in Academic Innovation Award 
Mary Ann Hall – Sr. Medical Writer, Division of Hospital Medicine

Leadership Excellence Award
Chris Bower – Director of Programs, Division of Infectious Diseases

Outstanding Service Award
Melanie Elder – Senior Program Coordinator, Division of Renal Medicine

Unsung Hero Award
Lenore Meeks – Senior Program Coordinator, Administration, The Office of Faculty Development

Excellence in Basic Science Laboratory Research Support Award
Giji Joseph – Associate Scientist, Division of Cardiology

Excellence in Clinical Research Support Award
Ayman Alkhoder – Associate Director of Research Projects, Division of Cardiology

Outstanding EHC Staff Support Award
Keisha Dozier – Sr. Administrative Assistant, TEC, Division of Hospital Medicine

Outstanding Newcomer Award
Emily Twa – Sr. Business Manager, Administration

Click HERE to view the full list of staff award nominees.

Clinical Distinctions and Promotions

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

• Senior Promotions 
• Clinical Distinctions

To view previous award winners, click HERE.