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Distinguished Service Award

The award was established by the School of Medicine Recognitions Committee on behalf of the Dean to recognize faculty members who have demonstrated outstanding service and citizenship to the Emory community and/or Atlanta and surrounding region.

Nomination Process

One or more awards will be given in each of the following categories:

  • Junior Faculty Member (Instructor or Assistant Professor)
  • Senior Faculty Member (Associate Professor or Professor)

Deadline

Nominations will be accepted through July 10, 2024.   

Eligibility

All faculty with a primary appointment in the SOM. The faculty member’s rank at the time of nomination will determine the category in which they are eligible. Those who have received this award in the past 3 years are not eligible. View previous award winners online. 

Nominations

Faculty must be nominated by a faculty or a staff member of Emory University, Emory Healthcare, or an Emory affiliate. The nomination should consist of a concise narrative (500 words or less) describing the outstanding service or citizenship contributions. Up to two additional letters of support (500 words or less) from internal or external individuals or organizations may also be submitted. Nominations should emphasize specific aspects of service or citizenship. Outstanding examples of service and citizenship can include, but are not limited to: 

  • Providing important administrative service to the Emory community despite heavy clinical, research or teaching demands
  • Engaging in service to the community via public education programs or campaigns, volunteerism, or non-profit organizations
  • Demonstrating exemplary service to colleagues, patients, learners, the public, and/or underserved populations
  • Developing new or innovative programs as recognized by the University or School of Medicine
  • Participating in and leading University, School of Medicine, or hospital/clinic-wide committees 

Submission

Use the online Award Nomination Form and include the following: 

  • Nominating letter (500 words or less)
  • Optional materials: Up to two letters of support (500 words or less) from internal or external individuals or organizations

Decision

Will be made by the School of Medicine Recognitions Committee and approved by the Dean.

Award 

Recipients of the Emory School of Medicine Distinguished Service Award will be announced and honored during the annual Celebration of Faculty Eminence.

Questions should be directed to SOM Faculty Academic Affairs and Professional Development at somfde@emory.edu.

2023 Winners Spotlight

Marshall Fleurant Medicine

"Dr. Fleurant’s work provides a remarkable example of outstanding service to the institution and broader community. At Grady, his service has focused on leadership and improvements for patient care. He served for four years as assistant medical director of patient care where he helped build COVID protocols for the primary care clinic, create a new COVID clinic and a virtual clinic, and staff these clinics and inpatient services during the COVID peak. He partnered with EUSOM physician colleagues to author several Op-Eds in the Atlanta Journal Constitution advocating for Medicaid expansion in Georgia, warning local government officials about loosening restrictions early in the pandemic, and advising COVID-19 patients on care. But Dr. Fleurant’s service extends beyond Emory, most significantly to the Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM), where he was an early member of the group, Minorities in Medicine, eventually becoming chair and initiating the Medicine and Society Social Justice symposium series. He also launched SGIM’s Health Equity Commission, became chair, and organized a webinar series on COVID-19 and health equity, recruiting top speakers from around the country. He organized SGIM leaders onto a virtual mentorship panel, led the workgroup on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and created the current DEI strategy for the entire organization. He is currently creating the new GIM Learn platform which will offer remote, multi-media continuing medical education content for SGIM members, clinical educators, and researchers across the country.”

Marshall Fleurant headshot

Karen Godette Radiation Oncology

"Dr. Godette has provided decades of service to enhancing patient care and safety within Emory, leading teams for multiple cancer sites. Over the years, she served on the Emory University Quality Improvement Committee; Emory University Sarcoma, Thoracic, and GYN Oncology working groups; Radiation Safety Committee; Crawford Long Cancer Committee, now Winship Cancer Committee; and Emory University Hospital Midtown Physician Steering Committee for Clinical Redesign. In addition to her service to Emory, Godette has excelled in bringing credibility and reputation to the university through regional, national, and international activities. One example is her work within the National Medical Association (NMA), where she has held roles for the Radiology Section such as Secretary, Vice Chairman/Program Chair, Chair, and Treasurer. From 2002-2010, she chaired the Radiation Oncology Program in the Radiology Section of NMA. She also organized an Oncology Program for Advancement in Medicine Workshop in Jamaica. As one of the only Black women in the field of radiation oncology, her efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion have yielded tremendous impact. She has received national/international awards recognizing her service in the field of Oncology, for her service to society, and to the Guyanese community. As a woman of color, she worked against society's biases and shattered glass ceilings. Despite everything that could have held her back, Dr. Godette has truly dedicated her life to service at Emory."

Headshot

Janice Lea Medicine

“Dr. Lea’s service has been recognized institutionally, regionally, and nationally through numerous accolades and recognitions. She has been named one of the Atlanta Top Doctors every year since 2010.  She also has been in the Top 1% for providers in the Emory Press Ganey scores for the last 3 years. She was recognized by the DOM in 2016 with the Nanette Wenger Service Award, was designated Master Clinician in 2017, received the Educator Impact Award in 2020, and the Outstanding Clinician Award in 2021. During COVID, Janice served in the medical student led vaccine clinics in various African American churches throughout Atlanta. She has been a consistent, strong advocate for underserved populations through her involvement in community health fairs, educational programs, and public policy initiatives. Dr. Lea has spearheaded several programs in the Emory and Atlanta area focused on reducing healthcare disparities, including the National Kidney Disease Education Program (NIH) and was PI for the NIHAASK study (African American study of hypertension and kidney disease), which became a national landmark study.”

Janice Lea headshot

Amy Zeidan Emergency Medicine

“Dr. Zeidan’s commitment to mentorship and advocacy is unparalleled and is best evidenced by her work building and growing the Georgia Human Rights Clinic (GHRC), of which there are two pillars – the expert declarations and asylum evaluation programs. The expert declarations program helps coordinate physician chart review and letters of support for individuals in detention centers across the South. This highly successful program has produced over 70 letters and led to the release of over a dozen detainees. Once this program’s model was solidified, it was replicated to help individuals in carceral facilities by building new partnerships with statewide and national organizations. This program has led to the release of five medically-vulnerable individuals this year alone. The asylum evaluation component facilitates forensic evaluations for asylum seekers, to form part of their legal case for asylum. Dr. Zeidan has developed partnerships with Georgia Asylum and Immigration Network (GAIN), the SPLC, and numerous other legal organizations and physician providers to conduct these evaluations. She has trained other providers to conduct these evaluations and personally conducted over 50 evaluations; she is one of a few providers in the network who also conducts evaluations at detention centers for detained clients. Her reliable response to every request to conduct or review evaluations is the reason many organizations refer their clients specifically to the GHRC.”

Amy Zeidan headshot

Previous Awardees

2022

2021 

2020 

2019

2018 

2017