Dr. Ricardo Correa Honored for Leadership in Specialty Internal Medicine

Ricardo Correa, MD, program director for the Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Fellowship at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, received the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine's (AAIM) 2022 Eric G. Neilson, MD, Leadership in Specialty Internal Medicine Award. The award recognizes a leader who has shaped the internal medicine specialties landscape and has brought change to specialty medicine and the internal medicine community. 

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Dr. Correa’s current research focuses on decreasing diabetes and obesity disparities among Hispanic populations using peer support programs. In addition, along with his colleague and the fellowship’s associate program director Karyne Vinales, MD, Dr. Correa is also studying cardiovascular outcomes on transgender populations using hormone affirming therapy. 

Dr. Correa said that the inspiration for his work comes from wanting to make a positive difference in communities without a strong public voice, like the Hispanic and transgender communities he works with. “I want to solve the questions that they have and provide answers so they can improve their quality of life. These are communities that need a lot of help, and I became a physician to help them,” Dr. Correa explained. 

“I believe that we should do things because we like it and not to get a reward. However, this award means that the work that we are doing with underserved and underrepresented communities is appreciated by national organizations,” Dr. Correa said about his recognition. “It motivates me to continue working in this area. This award is a recognition that diversity, equity and inclusion are important topics for medicine currently.”

Dr. Correa shared that the College of Medicine – Phoenix has played a large role in helping him grow as a scientist, educator and physician. “I always feel supported by leadership when I present an idea. The college has always provided me with an open door to make my projects a reality,” he said. “The Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and the Office of Graduate Medical Education have been big supporters in everything that I do, and I really thank them for guiding me and supporting me,” he added.

The Leadership in Specialty Internal Medicine Award is presented by the Association of Specialty Professors (ASP), one of the five founding organizations of AAIM. The ASP was founded in 1994 by Eric G. Neilson. The association represents fellowship program directors, division chiefs and any physician faculty involved in an accredited internal medicine subspecialty fellowship program at medical schools and community teaching hospitals in the U.S. and Canada.