Awards 2016

Chairman's Faculty Award - Melissa Kottke, MD, MPH, MBA

Family Planning – Carrie Cwiak, MD, MPH

Gynecologic Surgery at Grady – Britton Chahine, MD

Gynecologic Surgery at Emory – Kristie Greene, MD

Maternal-Fetal Medicine – Martina Badell, MD

Obstetrics at Grady – Andrea Joyner, MD, IBCLC

Obstetrics at Emory – Kurt Martinuzzi, MD

Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility – Jennifer Kawwass, MD

Research – Tammy Loucks, MPH, DrPH

Overall Support and Mentorship – Melissa Kottke, MD, MPH, MBA

2015-2016 Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology (CREOG) Excellence in Teaching Award – Britton Chahine, MD

2015-2016 Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics (APGO) Excellence in Teaching Award – Kristie Greene, MD

The residents also selected a member of our community faculty for the promotion of the highest standards in resident education. The 2015-2016 Outstanding Community Faculty Award was awarded to Joseph Tate, MD.

The residents also selected a member of our staff who consistently demonstrated excellence in working with residents on their administrative, clinical, or research responsibilities during this academic year. They selected Aimee Moynihan, PhD, MSED, C-TAGME, CHES.

All sites – Christine Coppinger, MS, WHNP-BC

Emory University Hospital Midtown, 8th floor – Khristi Jackson

Emory University, Campus – Marie Goforth, RN

First and second year residents are asked to select senior residents who demonstrated excellence and consideration in teaching the junior residents during this academic year. Katherine de Souza, MD, is the PGY3 recipient and Jewels Bishop, MD, is the PGY4 recipient of the Excellence in Teaching awards for residents.

All residents were asked to select a fellow who demonstrated excellence and consideration in teaching the residents during this academic year. Bassam Rimawi, MD, is the recipient of the Excellence in Teaching award for a fellow.

Class of 2016 – Lisa Rauh, MD

Class of 2017 – Jana Platz, MD

Class of 2018 – Elizabeth Patberg, MD

Class of 2019 – Caitlin Martin, MD

Outstanding Laparoendoscopic Resident Surgeon, from the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons: Katherine de Souza, MD, was selected by the faculty for this award for consistently demonstrating excellence in the surgical theater. 

Special Resident in Minimally Invasive Gynecology, from the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL): Lisa Rauh, MD, was selected by the faculty for consistently demonstrating excellence in endoscopic procedures. 

Excellence in Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery, from the American Urogynecology Society (AUGS): Toya Pratt, MD, was selected by the faculty for commitment to the care of women with pelvic floor disorders and to incorporating quality of life improvement into her clinical care of patients.

Excellence in Obstetrics, from the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine: The faculty chose Shivika Trivedi, MD, to receive this honor, for best exemplifying the qualities of the vision of the Society to improve pregnancy and perinatal outcomes.

Ryan Program Resident Award for Excellence in Family Planning: The Division of Family Planning selected Megan Lawley, MD, as the resident who best exemplifies the dedication to service, training, and education in contraception and abortion that characterized the Ryan Program.

Faculty were asked to consider all clinical practice areas and to choose a 1st, 2nd or 3rd year resident who consistently demonstrated excellence in our clinical domains during the past year. The recipients of the Outstanding Clinical Service Awards are:

Gynecology – Jana Platz, MD

Gynecologic Oncology – Shivika Trivedi, MD

Obstetrics – Renita White, MD

Office-Based Practice - Erin Duncan, MD, MPH

Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility – Brad Sipe, MD

Residents and faculty members were asked to select the senior resident who continually exemplifies professionalism and humanism, excelled in clinical service, and was an outstanding teacher and role model for junior residents and students. Adrienne Stevenson, MD, was selected as Most Outstanding Senior Resident.

The Dr. Luella Klein Award was created to honor Dr. Klein for the many significant contributions she has made as a leader in the specialty of women’s health and the example she has set for the importance of professional responsibility. The award recognizes a PYG 1, 2, or 3 resident who has consistently demonstrated exceptional qualities of leadership and professional responsibility and encourages them to continue the amazing tradition established by Dr. Klein in taking initiative to set examples of professionalism and seeking leadership roles to benefit women’s health. Leilah Zahedi-Spung, MD, was chosen by the faculty to receive the Dr. Luella Klein Award.

The Dr. Robert Hatcher Award pays tribute to the contributions of one our most esteemed faculty members. Dr. Hatcher dedicated his career to advancing women’s reproductive autonomy through improving access to family planning services, and that is due in large part to his commitment and passion for teaching. Members of the Family Planning division voted to select the resident who has consistently demonstrated excellence in family planning services and a commitment to improving women’s reproductive health through education. Erin Duncan, MD, MPH, was chosen to receive the Dr. Robert Hatcher Award.

The Esprit de Corps Award is voted on by all the residents and is awarded to the resident who best exemplified teamwork, spirit, and pride in the Emory residency program this academic year. Laura Ramirez-Caban, MD, is this year’s recipient of the Esprit de Corps Award.

Awards for Research Proposals 

These award recipients’ proposals were chosen based on innovation, significance, feasibility, and impact. Their awards are sponsored by the Georgia Obstetrical and Gynecological Society and the Emory Grady Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians.

Outstanding Research Proposal by a Fellow: Kyle Gonzales, DO, for his project "Maternal Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells - A Novel Source of sFlt-1 in Preeclampsia.” Research mentors: Martina Badell, MD; Augustine Rajakumar, PhD

Outstanding Research Proposal by a Resident: Chisom Ezenekwe, MD, for her project "Contraceptive Knowledge, Practices, and Pregnancy Intent in Women with Sickle Cell Disease." Research mentor: Melissa Kottke, MD, MPH, MBA

Excellence in Resident Research: Bradley Sipe, MD, for his project "Risk of Mechanical Dilation for Cervical Ripening in HIV+ Patients.” Research mentors: Bassam Rimawi, MD; Jane Ellis, MD, PhD

Excellence in Resident Research: Leilah Zahedi-Spung, MD, for her project "Perceived Barriers to Antepartum HIV Medication Therapy Adherence in HIV-infected Pregnant Women.” Research mentor: Martina Badell, MD

Awards for Completed Research Projects 

These awards recognize exemplary research. These awardees' findings have added new information to our understanding of key issues affecting women's health.

Outstanding Research by a Fellow: Lisa Hofler, MD, MPH, for her project "Implementation of Immediate Postpartum LARC in Georgia: Stakeholder Analysis and Barriers Analysis.” Research Mentor: Melissa Kottke, MD, MPH, MBA

Outstanding Research Conducted by a Resident: Rachel Shulman, MD, for her project "Impact of Maternal Knowledge of Recommended Weight Gain in Pregnancy on Gestational Weight Gain.” Research Mentor: Melissa Kottke, MD, MPH, MBA

Excellence in Resident Research: Jade Stafford, MD, for her project "Health Literacy and Associated Outcomes in the Postpartum Period at Grady Memorial Hospital.” Research mentors: Eva Lathrop, MD, MPH; Lisa Haddad, MD, MPH, MS 

Excellence in Resident Research: Adrienne Zertuche, MD, MPH, for her project "Severe Maternal Morbidity During Delivery Hospitalization: Georgia, United States, 1999-2012.” Research mentors: Jessica Arluck, MD; Anne L. Dunlop, MD, MPH; Dave Goodman, PhD, MPH; Michael R. Kramer, PhD, MS; Roger Rochat, MD

The Marianne Ruby Award grantees: 

Susan Davis for "Coverage of Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives in OB/GYN, Family Medicine, and Pediatrics Residency Curricula: Results of a National Resident Survey." Research mentor: Lisa Haddad, MD, MS, MPH

Lucy Fu for "Long-Acting Reversible Contraception in Women with Medical Comorbidities." Research mentor: Carrie Cwiak, MD, MPH

Shabnam Gupta for "Three-Dimensional Spheroid Model of Uterine Fibroid Cells: Quantifying the Effect of Mechanical Environment on Growth." Research mentors: Stacey Schutte, PhD; Neil Sidell, PhD

Cantey Hattink for "The Effect of Topical Estrogen on Collagen and Elastin in the Vaginal Wall from Women with Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP)." Research mentor: Gina Northington, MD, PhD

Beryl Manning-Geist for "Predictors of Medical Outcome in 1,712 Ethiopian Rape Survivors." Research mentor: Jennifer Goedken, MD

The Tammy Pendergrass Cervical Cancer Research Award grantee:

Shareene Lindquist for "Exploring Factors Associated with Cervical Cancer Screening Among Masculine of Center Women who have Sex with Women." Research mentor: Lisa Flowers, MD