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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.

Faculty member accepts glass award on stage with dean

2024 Winners Spotlight

Khaalisha Ajala Medicine

Dr. Khaalisha Ajala has many outstanding accomplishments as an early career educator, educational leader, hospitalist, and advocate for equity in patient care and professional practices. Dr. Ajala’s community efforts were recognized with the Excellence in Humanitarian Services Award from the Society of Hospital Medicine in 2020, and her educational efforts with the Department of Medicine’s Academy of Medical Educators (AME) Teach12 Award in 2023. Dr. Ajala is an outstanding educator who teaches multiple levels of learners including the community, medical students, residents, peers, and practicing physicians. Additionally, Dr. Ajala is a sought-after presenter on a variety of topics. She has given invited presentations for multiple institutions including Cleveland Clinic, Val D’Hebron Hospital (Barcelona, Spain), Johns Hopkins University, University of Chicago, University of Florida, Baylor College of Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine. Dr. Ajala also serves as the Site Associate Director for Education for our rapidly growing Grady Hospital Medicine Service. In addition to the above, Dr. Ajala is a member of multiple professional societies. At the Southern Society of General Internal Medicine (SSGIM), where she recently served as Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM), she founded and leads efforts to support and mentor students from historically Black colleges and universities (Xavier University of Louisiana for SSGIM and Meharry Medical College for SHM) in their journey to medical school and beyond. She has now guided several cohorts of young premed students and trainees through scholarship-funded conference attendance, educational lectures, and networking opportunities.

Khaalisha Ajala headshot

Hernan Bello Velez Radiology and Imaging Sciences

Dr. Hernan Bello Velez has been exemplary in championing both global and local service opportunities for Emory Radiology residents. Diagnostic imaging plays an essential role in modern healthcare, yet nearly two thirds of the world’s population lack access to medical imaging, according to the World Health Organization, and Dr. Bello’s efforts are helping to bridge this gap in Georgia and abroad. To do so, Dr. Bello worked with two residents and a faculty colleague to initiate the Radiology Residency Global Health Track in 2021 and is co-director. The Global Health track provides a structured didactic curriculum, hands on ultrasound training, protected academic time and mentorship. The first cohort of Global Health Track residents recently presented their capstone projects completed in Ethiopia, Ghana and Tanzania at the Radiology Department Grand Rounds to an amazing reception from faculty, fellow residents, and staff. Relatedly, Dr. Bello also initiated the Clarkston Imaging Clinic, which provides affordable, income pro-rated and pro-bono, radiology services for the underserved refugee population in Clarkston, GA. Dr. Bello has also spearheaded these important global-local initiatives while also leading clinical and educational initiatives for the Abdominal Imaging Division. Dr. Bello is site director for Abdominal Imaging at Emory University Hospital Midtown (EUHM) and in this role has worked to standardize performance of portable small bowel follow through exams. The workflow developed by Dr. Bello at EUHM has since been implemented across Emory Healthcare resulting in better patient care across the enterprise. Similarly, he also was deeply involved in planning and operationalizing abdominal imaging for the new Winship at Emory Midtown.

Hernan Bello Velez headshot

Michael Frankel Neurology

Dr. Michael Frankel has devoted his academic career to the care of patients with stroke and is internationally recognized as a leader in the dramatic transformation of acute stroke care that has taken place over the last few years. Dr. Frankel has led a highly successful career as a physician-scientist through his involvement in team science. The work of Dr. Frankel and his team also resulted in the formation of the first 24/7 acute stroke team in the state of Georgia. Through his many landmark discoveries, Dr. Frankel focused his efforts on translating discovery into routine clinical practice by establishing the CDC-sponsored GA Coverdell Acute Stroke Registry in 2001. Dr. Frankel established the Marcus Stroke Network in 2018 to provide telemedicine to GA’s first mobile stroke unit. Additionally, the MSNC facility, under Dr. Frankel’s leadership, has attracted some of the brightest academically focused Emory neuroscience physicians. He and his team successfully used the new resource at Grady Hospital to design and lead clinical trials that have improved the lives of countless patients with large vessel occlusion stroke. Dr. Frankel has demonstrated outstanding service and citizenship to the Emory community, Atlanta, and the state of Georgia. His efforts have led to transformational changes in the care of patients with stroke not only in the Atlanta’s most vulnerable community, but also in the region. His work has led to national and international changes to the way care for patients experiencing acute ischemic stroke is addressed.

Michael Frankel headshot

Anant Mandawat Medicine

Dr. Anant Mandawat has built and leads Emory’s multidisciplinary Cardio-Oncology Program, a joint initiative between Emory’s Heart & Vascular Center and Winship Cancer Institute. This innovative program specializes in the prevention, monitoring, and treatment of cardiovascular toxicity from cancer therapy, one of the few such programs in the country. He has built the program to become a referral center for cancer patients throughout the United States. Under his leadership, the program earned designation as a Gold-Level Cardio-Oncology Center of Excellence, the highest certification awarded by the International CardioOncology Society. In addition, Dr. Mandawat has launched a collaborative Cardiac Tumor Program, bringing together cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, radiologists, oncologists, radiation oncologists and pathologists to improve outcomes for patients with masses in the heart. He has also created and co-leads the translational Cardio-Oncology PROstate Cancer (COPRO) biobank, an innovative prospective Emory biobank to evaluate mechanisms and risk stratification of cardiovascular disease in prostate cancer patients receiving androgen deprivation therapy. The biobank has received multiple grants totaling over $1.5 million in funding, including a prestigious Prostate Cancer Foundation Challenge Award. Lastly, in 2023 he has developed and received approval for Emory’s Cardio-Oncology Fellowship, a subspeciality fellowship to train and educate the next generation of leaders in Cardio-Oncology. For his work, Dr. Mandawat has received a Georgia Governor’s Citation and was selected as a 40 Under 40 Rising Stars & Emerging Leaders in Cancer Award.

Anant Mandawat headshot

Frank J. Minja Radiology and Imaging Sciences

Dr. Frank Minja demonstrates an exemplary commitment to excellence in clinical care, education, and research to foster health equity and reduce barriers to accessing health care in the communities Emory serves as well as global health. Since taking on the role of Associate Chief of Radiology at Emory University Hospital, he has coordinated efforts across multiple imaging modalities and clinical divisions across six hospitals to increase patient access to radiology services by streamlining imaging offerings, developing expedited MRI protocols, and designing new pathways for patients to access imaging services. These steps have significantly reduced patient wait times, decreased length of stay, increased patient satisfaction, and enhanced the overall quality of care.

Dr. Minja recently secured department funds to better engage and organize Emory trainees and faculty in DEI and global health activities. Through his team-centric approach, a diverse group of trainees and faculty turned their passion for engagement into an actionable plan of meaningful outreach starting with the international community in nearby Clarkston and wrapping around the globe.

A recognized expert, Dr. Minja provided commentary on COVID-19 trends in East Africa during the pandemic to The New York Times, Voice of America, British Broadcasting Corporation, and Deutsche Welle. He has organized and moderated over 20 public webinars on healthcare topics and healthcare capacity building in East Africa.

Frank J. Minja headshot

Previous Awardees

2023


2022

2021 

2020 

2019

2018 

2017



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.