The longtime Emory Eye Center physician and professor recognized on National Doctor's Day
O'Keefe is one of more than 100 physicians across the School of Medicine who were selected for the honor, which recognizes exemplary dedication to improving patient health and well-being through direct care, research, and inspirational education of future providers. The individual winners were chosen from among hundreds of nominations that were submitted to the SOM Recognition Committee this year.
Colleagues called out O'Keefe for the knowledge, energy, and generosity she brings to her many roles - as a clinician, a mentor, and a thought leader.
She is an outstanding clinician who receives high praise from patients for her empathic care,
said Ophthalmology Department Chair Allen Beck.
She is an excellent teacher and mentor and is a strong leader for her section.
Among her many accomplishments is the recently concluded Southeast Vitreoretinal (SEVR) Seminar -- a conference that brought dozens of retina specialists to Atlanta to analyze patient care and discuss new clinical approaches. O'Keefe's co-organizer on that conference, Dr. Baker Hubbard, heaped praise on his longtime colleague:
Dr. O'Keefe is an incredibly valuable resource for her patients and her colleagues at the Eye Center, where she leads our medical retina and uveitis program. I get to work closely with her on some of the most complex cases in Georgia, and her approach is impressive. I’ve seen her methodically work to develop the right diagnosis and treatment plan. She works closely with infectious disease specialists and rheumatologists to coordinate care of very complex patients. We are extremely fortunate to have such an astute and dedicated clinician at Emory.
In his written remarks, Vikas P. Sukhatme, MD, the Dean of Emory Medical School, commended all of the 2022 honorees:
Your colleagues witness the compassion you give to patients, and also notice those of you who extend compassion to yourselves and prioritize your own wellness--a critically important practice, perhaps now more than ever,
he wrote. It is a pleasure and an honor to work with each one of you.
National Doctor's Day was first celebrated in 1942 - the date Dr. Crawford W. Long administered the first ether anesthetic for surgery in Jefferson, Georgia. Eight decades later, it remains an opportunity to celebrate the clinical providers, mentors, teachers and researchers that make Emory Healthcare system a valuable health resource.