Emory Urology's resident graduation event was held on June 22, 2018, at Piedmont Park's Magnolia Hall in Atlanta, Georgia.
The graduating chief residents were Jeffrey Pearl, MD, who is going into private practice in Chicago; C. Adam Lorentz, MD, appointed an assistant professor in Emory Urology; R. Steven Gerhard, MD, leaving for a robotic urology fellowship in Columbus, Ohio; and Usama Al Qassab, MD, initiating his private practice in New Jersey. Sam David, MD, the graduating reconstructive urology fellow, will be a private practice physician in Atlanta.
Later in the evening, Dr. Lorentz received the Cooner Award for Excellence in Patient Care, Dr. Gerhard won the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons' Outstanding Minimally Invasive Surgeon Award, and Dr. Pearl received the Resident Academic Achievement Award.
Martin Sanda, MD, Chairman of the Department of Urology, presented the Distinguished Alumni Award to Peter Nieh, MD. Dr. Nieh came to Emory in 2003 and established Emory Urology's cryotherapy program for primary and salvage therapy of prostate cancer in 2005. His clinical and research interests included urological oncology, urinary diversion, stones, endourology, minimally invasive surgery, hormone therapy in prostate cancer, and PET imaging to detect recurrent prostate cancer. Dr. Nieh retired earlier in the year.
After the graduating chiefs were presented with their certificates, they honored Akanksha Mehta, MD, with the Resident Education Award. The residents cited Dr. Mehta's excellence in teaching in all areas, including didactic sessions, clinics, and the operating room.
