2020 Celebration of Excellence

The Jefferson Hotel - February 7, 2020

The Department of Internal Medicine recently held it's 2020 Celebration of Excellence awards ceremony at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Virginia. This night solidly confirms that we have an amazing Department filled with tremendous people! Many of faculty and staff were able to attend and enjoy great conversation, laughter, celebration, wonderful music, and simply spending time with friends. It was a memorable evening on multiple levels.

This year we celebrated professional roles in which our department members are without peer: clinical practice, clinical leadership, and various forms of research and scholarship. We officially recognized 40 individuals in these key areas after receiving more than 100 nominations. The celebration extended well beyond these individuals and confirms the important work we do as a team of professionals reflecting the dedication of all members of our department!

These individuals received awards – please congratulate them!

Excellence in Clinical Practice - Advanced Practice Providers	Division
Stephanie Cordier, ACNP-BC	Hematology, Oncology, and Palliative Care
Robert Higginson, Jr, PA-C	Infectious Diseases
Caroline Lucas, ACNP	Hematology, Oncology, and Palliative Care
Charlotte “Cha” Roberts, ACNP	Cardiology
MRICU Team, APPs	Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine

Excellence in Clinical Practice – Assistant and Associate Professors	Division
Harold Chung, MD	Hematology, Oncology, and Palliative Care
Mary Helen Hackney, MD	Hematology, Oncology, and Palliative Care
Jason Kidd, MD	Nephrology
Scott Matherly, MD	Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Brent Perkins, MD, PhD	Hematology, Oncology, and Palliative Care
George Smallfield, MD	Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Aamer Syed, MD	Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine
Huzaefah Syed, MD	Rheumatology, Allergy, & Immunology
Darren Witte, MD	General Internal Medicine
Sue Wolver, MD	General Internal Medicine

Excellence in Clinical Leadership- All	Division
Christian Bergman, MD	Geriatric Medicine
Gordon Ginder, MD	Hematology, Oncology, and Palliative Care
Gaurav Gupta, MD	Nephrology
Layla Kamal, MD	Nephrology
Dhiren Kumar, MD	Nephrology
Anthony “Skip” Minisi, MD	Cardiology
Vimal Mishra, MD	Hospital Medicine
George Moxley, MD	Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology
Danielle “Dani” Noreika, MD	Hematology, Oncology, and Palliative Care

Excellence in Scholarship/Research - Basic Science	Division
Shobha Ghosh, PhD	Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine
Steven Grant, MD	Hematology, Oncology, and Palliative Care
Rakesh Kukreja, PhD	Cardiology
Fadi Salloum, PhD	Cardiology
Stefano Toldo, PhD	Cardiology

Excellence in Scholarship/Research - Clinical & Translational Research	Division
Antonio Abbate, MD, PhD	Cardiology
Justin Canada, PhD	Cardiology
Berry Fowler, MD	Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine
Jose Huizar, MD	Cardiology
Jordana Kron, MD	Cardiology
Patrick Nana-Sinkam, MD	Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine
Trey Wickham, MD	Endocrinology, Diabetes, & Metabolism
Victor Yazbeck, MD	Hematology, Oncology, and Palliative Care

Excellence in Scholarship/Research - Quality & Safety/Education	Division
Gonzalo Bearman, MD	Infectious Diseases
Michelle Doll, MD	Infectious Diseases
Markos Kashiouris, MD	Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine
Richard Sterling, MD	Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Thames-Kontos Mentoring Award	Division
Rehan Qayyum, MD	Hospital Medicine
Finalists
Rakesh Kukreja, PhD	Cardiology
Larry Schwartz, MD, PhD	Rheumatology, Allergy, & Immunology

We closed the awards by recognizing the wonderful mentorship that Dr. Rehan Qayyum, Chair of the Division of Hospital Medicine, has provided faculty, residents, and students with the Thames-Kontos Faculty Mentoring Award. Former faculty, Dr. Marc Thames generously created this award in honor of his mentor, former VCU School of Medicine Dean, Dr. Hermes Kontos. Finally, Dr. Todd Gehr was recognized for his superb service as Interim Chair of Internal Medicine, and Al Dunn for his excellence support during the recent transition of Department leadership.

There are many individuals to thank for making the Celebration of Excellence a tremendous success, including the members of the Faculty Advisory Committee (Drs. Gonzalo Bearman, Richard Cooke, Brittany Craven, Catherine Grossman, Christine Huynh, Jessica Keiser, Jason Kidd, Khalid Matin, George Moxley, Mimi Peberdy, George Smallfield, and Sahzene Yavuz) and Research Advisors (Drs. Antonio Abbate, Fadi Salloum, Rehan Qayyum, and Sarah Hartigan) for their very welcome assistance in selecting awardees. As usual, Leslie Bobb was amazing, devoting great skill and many hours of effort to make it all happen!

Many thanks and congratulations to our Department!