Six Members of the College Honored at ArMA’s Annual Health Care Awards

Nominated by their colleagues and peers, six members of the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix were recognized for their vast contributions to medicine during the Arizona Medical Association (ArMA) Health Care Awards held on the college’s campus Friday, April 21.

“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.”

Meet the Award Recipients

Katie Brite, MD

The associate dean of Clinical and Competency-Based Education at the college, Dr. Brite was honored with the President’s Award for her unwavering support of ArMA’s president over their term.

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 prestigious award.

The award was presented to her by fellow college faculty member and the 131st president of ArMA Jennifer Hartmark-Hill, MD.

Robert Fauer, MD

Dr. Fauer — 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

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 organized medicine.

“Dr. Maria Manriquez has been committed to serving our community in Arizona for decades,” they said. Her “commitment to mentoring medical students and residents is evident in her clinical work and research.”

Dr. Manriquez began her career as a labor and delivery nurse, eventually attending medical school at the College of Medicine – Tucson. She completed her residency at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix (then known as Banner Good Samaritan). Since the college’s inception, she has served in several leadership roles. She is currently the director of the Pathway Scholars Program.

Laura Mercer, MD, MBA, MPH

Dr. Mercer 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 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 (OB/GYN), the director of the OB/GYN Clerkship and director of Intersessions at the college.

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

*Dr. Villarroel was presented the ArMA and Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) Public Health Service Award. Presented jointly by the two organizations, the award credited her extensive efforts combating significant public health issues.

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.

Dr. Villarroel is an assistant clinical professor of Family, Community and Preventive Medicine at the college.

*Dr. Villarroel requested not to be photographed during her acceptance. To learn more about the rest of the award winners, please visit ArMA's website.