28th Annual Academic Excellence Day Hosted on College’s Campus

The Michael D. Grossman, MD, MACP, Academic Excellence Day is an annual event that brings together residents and fellows from across the Valley.

For 28 years, Academic Excellence Day has been a vessel dedicated to highlighting the groundbreaking clinical and translational research from up-and-coming physicians. The mission of Academic Excellence Day is to promote an academically excellent environment among trainees in participating institutions.

Cheryl O’Malley, MD, vice dean for Graduate Medical Education (GME) at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, said this event allows all the GME programs to connect and learn about the excellence happening in the community.

“We wanted a venue for them to be able to share their research with us here,” Dr. O’Malley said. “It’s always inspiring to me to see the different projects and work that our residents and fellows have done on top of their busy clinical training.”

Many of the residents and fellows who share their research at the event also present their projects or cases at national conferences. The program is held annually on the first Wednesday in May.

This year’s Academic Excellence Day saw 117 research submissions from residents and fellows attending programs at Barrow Neurological Institute, Creighton University Arizona Health Education Alliance, HonorHealth, Phoenix Children’s and the UArizona College of Medicine – Phoenix/Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix. A total of 58 volunteer judges from across the valley examined the submissions.

“This event has a close place in my heart because it is a great chance to discuss and share studies that then later became national presentations and personally opened a lot of doors for me when I presented as a resident.,” Dr. O’Malley said. “We’re excited to be able to continue it because of the partnerships we have with all the sponsoring institutions across the city.”

Academic Excellence Day receives sponsorship from the Mutual Insurance Company of Arizona (MICA) Medical Foundation. Since 2015, MICA has generously provided monetary prizes for the event’s awardees and has recognized the importance of retaining skilled physicians to serve in Arizona.

Juliana Stanley, MBA, FACMPE, works as part of the risk management team at MICA. She said that the company is committed to supporting the education of physicians and retaining talent to serve in the local community.

“A big part of MICA Medical Foundation’s mission is to assist in the training and education of students who are pursuing careers in the medical profession,” Stanley said. “Today, we support research to improve the safe, effective and compassionate delivery of medical care for the benefit of the community.”

2024 AED Awardees

Resident Clinical Research Oral

1. Kathleen Curley, MD, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix.
2. Sierra Treiman, MD, Creighton University Arizona Health Education Alliance.
3. Rasa Tiano, DO, MS, Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
4. Daniel Fu, DO, Creighton University Arizona Health Education Alliance.

Fellow Clinical Research Oral

1. Zachary Wilson, MD, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix.
2. Rhea Hans, MD, Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
3. Cory Nielsen, DO, Creighton University Arizona Health Education Alliance.

Resident Clinical Research Poster

1. Ada Breitenbucher, MD, Barrow Neurological Institute.
2. Amaris Lestinsky, MD, Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
3. (tie) Molly Sekar, MD, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix.
4. (tie) Elizabeth Anderson, MD, Barrow Neurological Institute.

Fellow Clinical Research Poster

1. (tie) Merritt ten Hope, DO, Phoenix Children’s.
2. (tie) Wei Wei, DO Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
3. Nataly, Vadasz-Chates, MD, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix.
4. Chante Dickerson, DO, Creighton University Arizona Health Education Alliance.

Resident Case Report Poster

1. Yu-Soon Park, MD, Creighton University Arizona Health Education Alliance.
2. Ishitha Jagadish, MD, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix.
3. (tie) Anthony Yeung, MD, Creighton University Arizona Health Education Alliance.
4. (tie) Alexa Rothenberg, MD, Barrow Neurological Institute.
5. (tie) Wesley Robertson, MD, MPH, MPA, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix.
6. (tie) Ashley Ezekpo, MD, Creighton University Arizona Health Education Alliance.

Fellow Case Report Poster

1. Camille Imbo, MD, Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
2. Mona Nourani, DO, Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
3. Meagan Kline, DO, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix.