Faculty from both colleges of medicine win ArMA awards
Seven faculty members from the University of Arizona colleges of medicine in Phoenix and Tucson received ArMA Health Care Awards from the Arizona Medical Association. The awards recognize the excellence and achievements of Arizona physicians, organizations and other exemplary individuals.
ArMA Health Care Award recipients were nominated by their colleagues, who said they felt that the nominees’ efforts in health care exceeded norms and expectations and that their innovation, compassion and drive set them apart from their peers.
“The College of Medicine – Phoenix is blessed to have outstanding faculty and residents who exemplify our mission to train exemplary physicians who will help transform the future of medicine in service to their community,” said Dean Guy Reed, MD, MS. “Each of these distinguished honorees is very deserving of their award.”
Michael Abecassis, MD, MBA, dean of the College of Medicine – Tucson, said, “Dr. Chhatwal is very deserving of this award and all of us at the College of Medicine – Tucson are proud of her. Her leadership and advocacy for the wellbeing of her fellow physicians is a great example of how physicians can effectively promote wellness and prevent or mitigate illness before it manifests into something more serious.”
Katie Brite, MD
UArizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
Katie Brite, MD
Dr. Brite, who was awarded the President’s Award, is the associate dean of Clinical and Competency-Based Education at the college.
Dr. Brite’s, “mentorship, exceptional leadership and commitment to integrating social determinants of health into clinical care,” were all cited by ArMA as reasons she received the award. The award was presented to her by fellow faculty member and the 131st president of ArMA, Jennifer Hartmark-Hill, MD.
Jasleen Chhatwal, MD
UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson
Jasleen Chhatwal, MD
Dr. Chhatwal was one of two recipients of the Walk the Talk Award, which recognizes individuals who go the extra mile in their support of medicine.
ArMA cited Dr. Chhatwal’s work in 2021 and 2022 which “offered outstanding leadership, proposing and securing approval for updated language to the Arizona Medical Board’s physician licensure application. As president of the Arizona Psychiatric Society, Dr. Chhatwal's leadership was instrumental in building broad-based engagement in a collaborative process that resulted in positive change for physician and health professional well-being in Arizona.”
The revised licensure language reduces the stigma associated with seeking mental health services for health professionals licensed by the AMB and decreases barriers for physicians seeking and receiving timely mental health and integrated care.
Robert Fauer, MD
UArizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
Robert Fauer, MD
Dr. Fauer, who is a clinical instructor of Family, Community and Preventive Medicine at the college, and the medical director of the Street Medicine Phoenix program at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health — was awarded the David O. Landrith Humanitarian Award. In recognition of its namesake’s efforts, it is presented to individuals who unselfishly act to improve their community.
ArMA noted that in his time as director of Street Medicine Phoenix, Dr. Fauer, “has expanded the partnerships, donations and treatments available to people experiencing homelessness… In addition, he has put much of his own resources into the needs of the program in an unprecedented and selfless manner.”
Maria Manriquez, MD
UArizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
Maria Manriquez, MD
Dr. Manriquez received the Award in Memory of Edward Sattenspiel, MD. Dr. Sattenspiel was a former ArMA president and longtime champion of health care in Arizona. As a recipient of the award, ArMA honored Dr. Manriquez’s extensive career committed to the medical profession.
“Dr. Maria Manriquez has been committed to serving our community in Arizona for decades,” noted ArMA. Her “commitment to mentoring medical students and residents is evident in her clinical work and research.”
Dr. Manriquez is the director of the Pathway Scholars Program and has served in several leadership roles since the inception of the UArizona College of Medicine – Phoenix.
Laura Mercer, MD, MBA, MPH
UArizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
Laura Mercer, MD, MBA, MPH
Dr. Mercer is the other recipient of the Walk the Talk Award, which recognizes individuals or organizations that go above and beyond in support of medicine, often in matters related to health policy.
ArMA described her as a “resolute advocate,” one who “expertly guides medical students to achieve success during their medical education.”
Dr. Mercer is an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, the director of the OB/GYN Clerkship and director of Intersessions at the college.
Thomas Varkey, MD
UArizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
Thomas Varkey, MD
A first-year resident in the neurology residency at the college, Dr. Varkey received the Rising Star Award. As a physician in the first five years of his career, his enthusiasm and dedication to organized medicine set him apart.
ArMA stated that Dr. Varkey, “demonstrates a love of patients and colleagues, often going above and beyond to ensure that patient care comes first and foremost. Over the past year, Dr. Varkey has worked around the clock, spending extra time teaching and mentoring medical students and colleagues.”
In addition, they noted that, “he has led the charge in a number of publications on improving medical diagnostic care and the humane treatment of patients based on their current health status and underlying conditions.”
Lisa Villarroel, MD
UArizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
Lisa Villarroel, MD
Dr. Villarroel was presented the ArMA and Arizona Department of Health Services Public Health Service Award. Presented jointly by the two organizations, the award credited her extensive efforts combating public health issues. She is an assistant clinical professor of Family, Community and Preventive Medicine at the college.
Specifically, ArMA pointed to her work to improve collaboration across Arizona in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Her efforts have contributed to important outcomes for the state, including enhanced health system-public health conversation and planning; the development of the Arizona Surge Line to facilitate hospital bed load-balancing and safe patient transfers from rural and Tribal communities during peak outbreaks of COVID-19; and statewide planning and information-sharing related to equitable access to monoclonal antibodies and emerging therapies for COVID-19 care,” they said.