In addition to their clinical, research, and academic duties, many of our residents have achieved recognition on the national level. The awards and scholarships listed below are won through competitive and rigorous application, and we are proud that are residents successfully pursue these opportunities.
Gellhaus Resident Advocacy Fellowship
The Gellhaus Resident Advocacy Fellowship, named in honor of its founder, Dr. Thomas Gellhaus, is designed to provide senior ob/gyn residents exposure to health care policy at the federal level. This program offers ob/gyn residents the opportunity to gain a greater understanding of policy and political factors that shape the future of obstetrics and gynecology. This experience will better prepare a new generation of physicians to influence the future of our healthcare delivery system and offer ob/gyn residents a unique opportunity to participate in the political process in Washington, DC as their resident elective.
2013 – Kristin Paccione, MD
2015 – Adrienne Zertuche, MD, MPH
SASGOG Resident Reporter
At the 3rd Annual Meeting of The Society of Academic Specialists in General Obstetrics and Gynecologic (SASGOG) in 2015, the organization initiated a Resident Reporter Program. PGY 3 or 4 residents were eligible to apply to attend the meeting at no cost and create social media content about their experience.
2021 - Joey Bahng, MD
ASRM Education Committee
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) offers opportunities for medical residents to serve on the education committee which develops, coordinates, implements, and promotes educational activities for learners across the field of reproductive medicine at all levels of practice.
2026 – DeAshley Smith, MD
AMA Resident Fellow Section Representative
The AMA-RFS representative position was created by the AMA to train residents and young fellows to become physician leaders who advocate for women’s health issues and the future of the specialty. The role of the AMA-RFS Representative is to foster leadership skills, network with other residents and fellows, learn about public policy, and develop resolutions for change.
2021 – Gopika Krishna, MD
ACOG Resident Reporter
ACOG’s Resident Reporter program allows residents to attend ACOG’s annual meeting and take part in the program at no cost. The reporters attend Annual Meeting events such as clinical seminars, luncheons with experts, and postgraduate courses; reporters also have the opportunity to meet other residents, ACOG leadership, and obstetrician-gynecologists from across the country.
2024 – Gisel Bello, MD
ACOG Junior Fellow Leadership
ACOG’s Junior Fellow organization stimulates the interest and broadens the experience of residents in obstetrics and gynecology, who are to be the future leaders of the specialty. Officers have a variety of duties throughout the year to accomplish the business of the organization.
2026 – Junior Fellow Georgia Section Chair– Melissa Valletti, DO
2025 – Junior Fellow Georgia Section Chair – Lauren Holt Furst, MD
2025 – Junior Fellow Georgia Section Vice Chair – Melissa Valletti, DO
2022-2023 Junior Fellow Georgia Section Vice-Chair – Sehar Ali, MD
2022 – 2023 District IV Rapid Response Junior Fellow Team – Haben Debessai, MD, and Emily Trautner, MD
2022 – 2023 – Junior Fellow Chair – Alexandra Forrest, MD
Warren H. Pearse Women's Health Policy Award
This research award will provide $10,000 to support research that explores an aspect of health care policy that assists, defines, or restricts the ability of a physician to deliver health care to women in the general population, or in a specific area.
2015-2016 - Adrienne D. Zertuche, MD, MPH, for the project “Severe Maternal Morbidity during Delivery Hospitalization at Birthing Facilities with Varying Levels of Maternal and Neonatal Care: Georgia, United States, 1999-2012”
Georgia OB/GYN Society
Run by a volunteer statewide Board of Directors composed of OBGyn physician members, the Society engages in a number of services and activities to serve members including advocacy for members, advocacy for women’s health, and continuing medical education.
2021-2024 Communications Committee Member – Joanna Gao, MD
Medical Association of Georgia, Resident and Fellows Section
2021-2022 Treasurer Chair – Haben Debessai, MD
Emory Global Perioperative Alliance (EGPA) Guatemala
2026 – Alexis Hernandez, MD
2025 – Sehar Ali, MD
2024 – Natalia Calzada Jorge, MD
2023 - Emily Trautner, MD
2022- Joey Bahng, MD
Emory GME Housestaff Organization
2025 – 2026 President – Kerri Andre, MD
2023-2024 Co-President – Joanna Gao, MD
Foundation for SMFM
2023 – 2024 Resident Scholar – Natalie Poliektov, DO, MS