Upcoming Seminars
Did you know you can access recordings from past OAACD Career Development Seminar Series and receive CME credit? To receive credit you must view the videos on the Continuing Education extranet site by searching “OAACD” in their course list, watching the recording, and successfully completing the assessment.
Please click on the links below to register:
May 7, 2024, from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (Zoom): Cincinnati Children’s Media Lab: 15 Years of Visual Aid Innovation with Jeffrey B Cimprich, 3D Medical Animator and Ken Tegtmeyer, MD, FAAP, FCCM
May 22, 2024, from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (Zoom): DEI Resources and Faculty DEI Plan Update with Jessica Kahn, MD, MPH and Jamila Hackworth, EdD
May is Asian Pacific American (AAPI) Heritage Month! The Office of Academic Affairs and Career Development is commemorating this year’s celebration by spotlighting AAPI faculty at Cincinnati Children’s. This week, we are spotlighting Dr. Avani Modi and Dr. Rupi Parikh.
Dr. Avani Modi is the Interim Division Director and a Professor in the Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology. She is also the Director of the Center for Adherence and Self-Management, and her clinical focus is on adjustment to diagnosis, anxiety, depression, and adherence difficulties for children with chronic conditions, especially epilepsy. Her research also focuses on improving treatment adherence to treatment, identifying barriers, and improving executive function.
Dr. Modi completed her MS and PhD at the University of Florida, Gainesville. She then completed both her Internship and Fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s. She identifies as Asian Indian and enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with her family.
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
While I am certainly proud of my research accomplishments which focus on improving adherence in youth with chronic conditions, including epilepsy, I am most proud of my role as a mentor. I have been privileged to work with trainees across their career development, including undergraduate volunteers, SURF students, graduate students, medical and psychology residents, postdoctoral fellows, and early career psychologists and physicians. Training the next generation of clinicians and researchers and watching their careers launch is extremely fulfilling and I have learned so much from each and every trainee.
What/who inspired you to pursue a career in medicine/research?
I spent most of my childhood wanting to be a pediatrician with the goal of improving children’s quality of life. When I went to college, I learned about pediatric psychology, which is an interdisciplinary field that addresses physical, behavioral, and emotional development in the context of health and illness in youth. Having the ability to merge my love of medicine with my interest in psychology led me to this amazing job and career.
What moment in your cultural history influenced or shaped your personal/academic/career trajectory?
Switching from wanting to be a pediatrician to a psychologist was quite jarring for my family. They expected me to go to medical school, not only because that had been my own dream but also because Asian Indian families expect their children to be successful in professions like medicine, engineering, or law. It took several years to convince my family that clinical psychology was a worthy profession and important to me. I am not sure when the switch happened for them but I am so glad it did so I could feel supported in my career.
Dr. Rupi Parikh is the Director of Fetal Anesthesia, a Pediatric Anesthesiologist, and an Associate Professor in the UC Department of Anesthesia. Dr. Parikh is also the Associate Director of the Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship Program. Her clinical specialty is in the fetal surgery program at Cincinnati Children’s, to expand pain management and safe anesthesia use for fetal and obstetric patients.
Dr. Parikh identifies as Indian, specifically Punjabi (culturally from the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent), and grew up in England and then Cincinnati in her teen years. She speaks Punjabi, as well. She completed her MD at the University of Cincinnati, and her residency at the Loyola University Medical Center. Outside of work, she enjoys baking, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
I moved with my family from a small town in England to Cincinnati when I was 15 years old. While I was excited for a new start and new opportunities, it was an extremely challenging time of my life. Graduating high school at 16, followed by college, and getting accepted into medical school has been something I’m extremely proud of.
What/who inspired you to pursue a career in medicine/research?
I am the first physician in the family. Growing up I was always more drawn to the sciences, but it wasn’t until I moved to Cincinnati and started volunteering at Children’s Hospital that I was able to see the interactions between physicians and patients/families and really start to understand the relationship and how much medicine has to offer. It’s really come full circle…after volunteering there through college and then accepting a fellowship and job at the same place. I am very thankful for the opportunity.
What moment in your cultural history influenced or shaped your personal/academic/career trajectory?
Probably for me will be again referencing my time in England. Growing up we lived very close to our extended family and relatives. We could walk to a lot of their houses. I am Sikh and part of the Punjabi culture from northern India. We went to temple every Sunday and were constantly surrounded and supported by family. I think that has really shaped who I am today in terms of prioritizing family, and inclusivity.
May is AAPI Heritage Month! This month celebrates the histories of Americans hailing from across the continent of Asia and from the Pacific islands of…
May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! This is a time to celebrate Asian and Pacific Islanders in the United States. It is also a…
Mental Health Awareness Month is a national event aimed at raising awareness around the subject of mental health, encouraging mental health preventative care, fighting stigma, and providing resources. We also use this time to uplift our mental health professionals at Cincinnati Children’s.
Every year since 1949, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation declaring May “Mental Health Awareness Month”. Read the 2024 proclamation here. The month began with an initiative by Mental Health America (MHA). Founded in 1909, MHA’s mission is, “to promote mental health as a critical part of overall wellness, including prevention services for all; early identification and intervention for those at risk; integrated care, services, and supports for those who need them; with recovery as the goal.”
Every year, the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) selects a theme. This year, the theme is: Take the Moment. According to their website, this is an opportunity to foster open dialogues, cultivate empathy, and destigmatize mental health by normalizing the practice of taking moments to prioritize mental health care without guilt or shame.
We live in a rapidly changing world that can be complex to navigate. About half of Americans can remember a time when we were not constantly connected and it was easier to tune out the noise of the world, while the younger half of the population can’t imagine life without the internet.
Modern life can have a significant impact on mental health — for better or for worse. The disturbing imagery in the media we are exposed to today can be deeply unsettling. At the same time, our current technology also allows us to mobilize and provide collective support more efficiently in times of natural disasters or injustice.
And ironically, while our devices make us more connected than ever, loneliness is an increasingly serious public health concern. We are now able to have conversations with friends and family on the other side of the world in real-time. However, constant connection also means that we will know if we weren’t invited to a friend’s party down the street. Recent survey data show that more than half of U.S. adults (58%) are lonely.
Finding a sense of calm and focusing on well-being when you are having mental health concerns can be daunting in our fast-paced society. It can be especially challenging to know where to start.
May is Mental Health Month, and the Office of Academic Affairs and Career Development is raising awareness of the important role mental health plays in our lives at an academic medical institution. We are encouraging you to take action toward protecting your mental health and overall well-being.
Mental Health America has created a toolkit to help individuals figure out where to start. The toolkit provides free, practical resources for addressing mental health. Go to https://mhanational.org/mental-health-month to learn more.
It’s important to remember that working on your mental health takes time. Change won’t happen overnight. Instead, by focusing on small changes, you can move through the stressors of modern life and develop long-term strategies to support yourself — and others — on an ongoing basis.
Article courtesy of MHA
One of the goals of the Greater Good Science Center (GGSC) at UC Berkley is to raise awareness around the benefits of gratitude in healthcare settings (for both patients and staff) and provide healthcare professionals with tools to help put this theory to practice. To meet this goal, they created the Gratitude as Medicine Survival Kit, linked below.
Why gratitude? Great question! The GGSC has put together a short set of slides to outline why it matters and the specific implications for the field of health care. Download it here. The article “How Gratitude Can Reduce Burnout in Health Care” may also interest you.
A simple “hello” is usually followed by “how are you” or “how have you been” – and most of the time the answer is “good” or “fine.” But what if you’re struggling? Here are some things you can say when you’re not okay.
Life can be challenging, but every day shouldn’t feel hard or out of your control. If it does, there is hope and help. See below for resources.
“Fine. Okay. Alright.” We’ve all had someone tell us they were one of those things and know that it couldn’t be further from the truth. Maybe it was the look on their face, the tone of their voice, or their body language that gave them away – or maybe you’ve noticed that they have been acting differently lately. Distress can show up in many ways.
Whether someone thinks they are doing a good job of masking their emotions, or they are obviously being sarcastic when they say that they’re alright, it’s normal to want to help in some way. While what you say will likely be different depending on how well you know the person, here are some ideas for things to say to create an environment that encourages someone to open up about what they’re going through.
Do:
Don’t:
Article courtesy of MHA
The world around us can be both positive and negative – bringing joy and sadness, hope and anxiety. If you’re taking steps to improve but are still struggling with your mental health, you may be experiencing signs of a mental health condition.
Cincinnati Children’s offers two dedicated onsite therapists available to meet with employees to provide support in areas such as stress, burnout, anxiety, depression, family issues, grief, and more. To read more about your onsite resources, please navigate to cchmctotalrewards.org, select “Living Your Best”, then “Emotional Wellbeing”. From there you will find links for onsite support, health coaching, telehealth options, virtual resources, and more.
Below, you will find some additional internal and external resources for all faculty, healthcare professionals, and researchers/scientists.
| Date | Event | Location | Details or Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/8 12-12:45PM | Explore Your Story Through Journaling | Virtual Workshop | Register |
| 5/9, All Day | Be Seen in Green | Wear green on 5/9 to support National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day! | |
| 5/9, 1-1:20PM | Mindfulness to Reduce Your Stress | Virtual Mindfulness Meditation Session | Register |
| 5/10, 12PM | Your Emotional Support Benefits Through Spring Health: Meet Your CCHMC Dedicated Team | Zoom | Register |
| 5/14, 3-4PM | How to Prioritize Your Mental Well-Being | Webinar | Register |
| 5/15, 12PM | Cultivating Your Calm: A Mental Health Awareness Month Conversation | Zoom | Register |
| 5/17, 1-1:20PM | Mindfulness to Improve Your Mood | Virtual Mindfulness Meditation Session | Register |
| 5/20, 4-4:20PM | Mindfulness to Improve Your Sleep | Virtual Mindfulness Meditation Session | Register |
| 5/28, 3PM | Your Emotional Support Benefits Through Spring Health: Meet Your CCHMC Dedicated Team | Zoom | Register |
| 5/28, 4-4:45PM | Explore your Story Through Journaling | Virtual Workshop | Register |
| 5/31, 1-1:20PM | Mindfulness for Your Concentration | Virtual Mindfulness Meditation Session | Register |
If you or someone you know is in crisis: Dial or text 988 to get connected to a trained crisis counselor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your crisis counselor will work to ensure that you feel safe and help identify options and information about mental health services in your area.
In this three-part series, expert faculty will discuss the importance of cultivating leaders to foster and support inclusive excellence in academic medicine. Drawing from their diverse perspectives, speakers will present multiple strategies to nurture leaders at various stages of their careers, including mentorship, creating opportunities, conceptual frameworks, navigating pushback, adaptive conflict resolution, and more. The IDEAS “Developing Diverse and Inclusive Leaders within Academic Medicine” series was developed in partnership with the AAMC Groups on Diversity and Inclusion (GDI) and Women in Medicine and Science (GWIMS).
May 6, 2024, from 12-1PM
This talk reframes adaptive leadership as a learning strategy, so leaders can recognize the type of conflict at play and choose to act with a set of practices.
May 21, 2024, from 1-2PM
This session will address the challenges women of color face in achieving and maintaining leadership positions in academic medicine and identify factors that lead to inclusive, supportive, and equitable work environments.
May 24, 2024, from 12-1PM
After participating in this webinar, attendees should be able to identify the important variables necessary to create an effective strategic plan, consider the institutional and departmental values for growth expansion along the antiracist continuum, and build sustainability through advancing a thriving culture for institutional growth.
The IDEAS Learning Series channels experts and resources from within the AAMC and across academic medicine into webinars designed to help busy professionals cut through the noise and find ways to take action on relevant initiatives.
Improving inclusion, diversity, equity, and anti-racism is a critical priority for the academic medicine community. Many institutions are engaging in multiple diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Academic health professionals may be experiencing information overload or feeling unsure about where to get the comprehensive, reliable information they need to take action. This series is designed to help.
Harrington Discovery Institute invites you to submit a letter of intent (LOI) for the 2024 Harrington Scholar-Innovator Award. This grant supports all disease areas and is designed to advance your promising drug discovery research towards the clinic. In addition to grant funding, Harrington Discovery Institute provides guidance and oversight in all aspects of drug development, while taking no rights to intellectual property, which is retained by you/your institution.
This scholar award recognizes outstanding physician-scientists whose work has potential to advance standard of care. Each year up to 12 Harrington Scholar-Innovators are chosen. The award includes:
Late submissions will not be accepted for any reason, other than issues with the Harrington Discovery Institute’s submission system. Proposals received after the deadline will not be reviewed.
The Harrington Scholar-Innovator award selection committee seeks breakthrough discoveries defined by innovation, creativity and potential for clinical impact, including
Visit their website to learn more about the Harrington Scholar-Innovator Award.
Questions? Email HDIQuestions@HarringtonDiscovery.org.
The Cincinnati Children’s Early Career Review Program is aimed at helping early career scientists become more competitive as grant applicants by providing first-hand experience with peer review. This effort is also designed to enrich and diversify the pool of trained reviewers at Cincinnati Children’s.
Some of the benefits of the program include opportunities to:
All full-time faculty members conducting research at the Assistant Professor level are eligible to participate in the program. Post-doctoral fellows are not eligible. Associate Professors are not eligible to participate in the program but are welcome to serve as standing reviewers on internal grant mechanisms. Associate Professors should reach out to chairs of internal grants if interested.
If you qualify and are interested in participating in the Early Career Review Program, please complete this form. Once your name is in the database, you may be selected to serve on an internal grant review panel. If selected, the chair of the grant mechanism will reach out to you directly regarding your role (primary, secondary, or tertiary reviewer).
NINR invites prospective participants to submit letters of interest to attend our first Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Summer Research Institute, a new event designed to provide early and mid-career investigators the opportunity to learn more about and apply the principles of high-quality SDOH research. The program is intended for individuals who have a strong foundational knowledge of health equity and SDOH and are actively pursuing ways to include a greater SDOH emphasis in their work.
The program will focus exclusively on SDOH research. Topics will include the application of conceptual models, design considerations, methods, and measurement. The optional third day will include a mock grant review by NIH staff and opportunities to meet with NINR program staff. Participants will also meet NIH/NINR staff and other researchers engaged in SDOH work.
When: Monday, July 29, 2024 – Tuesday, July 30, 2024; Optional half day on Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Where: NIH Campus Bethesda, MD
Cost: There is no cost to participate in the SDOH Summer Research Institute. Selected participants will receive a stipend to help cover travel expenses.
Submissions Due: May 28, 2024 For details on eligibility, selection criteria, and process to attend, please view the full news announcement.
May is AAPI Heritage Month! This month celebrates the histories of Americans hailing from across the continent of Asia and from the Pacific islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. It is also a time to reflect on the historical context, experiences, and contributions that Asian and Pacific Island Americans continue to make in our community.
Every year, the Federal Asian Pacific American Council announces a theme for this month. This year, the theme is “Advancing Leaders Through Innovation”. Read more about the theme here. In celebration of this very important month, the Office of Academic Affairs and Career Development will share weekly spotlights on Cincinnati Children’s AAPI faculty leaders. Be on the lookout for those posts on our blog throughout May!
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) is an extremely broad category that covers many different countries, cultures, and peoples. The group includes people living in the United States with cultural heritage from:
Congress selected the month of May for Asian Pacific Heritage Month to honor two major events: the immigration of the first Japanese people to the USA on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The transcontinental railroad was largely built by Chinese immigrants. Read more about why AAPI Heritage Month is celebrated in May here.
Please consider attending events for this month! You will be able to find information on local celebrations on CenterLink and AAPI Heritage Month Cincinnati. Before you do, if you are not from an AAPI culture: please read through AAPI Heritage Month Cincinnati’s How to Celebrate Respectfully guide. It is a short read and a great opportunity to talk with your family about how to respect different cultures.
The following faculty members, staff physicians and staff psychologists are well known amongst their colleagues for continually making exceptional contributions to Cincinnati Children’s, local, regional, or national community and/or improving diversity, equity, inclusion, and health equity. Please take a moment to read the nominations submitted by their colleagues and join us in celebrating their remarkable contributions to CCHMC and beyond!
It is an honor and privilege to nominate Amal Assa’ad, MD for a “Hidden Gem” award. Dr. Assa’ad has had a profound impact on the training of a generation of pediatric researchers and clinicians in food allergy especially in underrepresented populations. She has served as Fellowship Program Director and played an outstanding role model for many trainees, most of whom have gone on to have incredibly successful careers of their own. As a physician-scientist, Dr. Assa’ad represents the ideal scientist for our Allergy and Immunology community. Because of her, CCHMC is selected as one of the few national centers for Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) Clinical Research Center. She quietly educated many basic scientists including me to become a food allergy researcher. I am thus very proud to nominate Amal to be recognized by the CCHMC “Hidden Gem” Award for her countless contributions to the institution and to the allergy field. I cannot think of anybody more deserving of this award than Amal, who has made service to CCHMC a career priority. Thank you for recognizing Amal’s service.
Nomination by Tesfaye Mersha, PhD
As one of our five fetal imagers, Dr. Calvo has been a central figure in prenatal diagnosis for the last 22 years helping the field develop and central to the Fetal Care Center. In addition, she is one of the general pediatric radiologists rotating through a variety of clinical services. Dr. Calvo brings enthusiasm and passion with her to work every day. Her positive attitude and dedication to patient care are infectious and help to remind us all why we are here. A dedicated teacher, she has been given the Best Clinician and Best Educator awards by our fellows over the years. When a faculty member has a family emergency or illness, Dr. Calvo is among the first to volunteer to cover their shift without any thought as to payback. She is a caring and delightful soul who makes our department better. Did I mention that she hates to be in the spotlight? Well, she does, but too bad, because she is truly a hidden gem that at least for a brief moment should be less hidden.
Nomination by Brian Coley, MD
I am writing to enthusiastically nominate Cristina Cebrian for the ‘Hidden Gem’ award in recognition of her exceptional contributions to the Molecular and Developmental Biology graduate program at our esteemed institution. Cristina Cebrian has been an invaluable asset to our academic community, as Recruitment Director for the Molecular and Developmental Biology Graduate Program. Her commitment to this critical task will have a profound impact on our research enterprise, as she works to attract and engage prospective students who are the lifeblood of our scientific community. I serve as Admissions Director for the program and work closely with Cristina, who began in her role in 2023. The goal of her position was to increase the number and quality of applications as we try to grow the program. I am excited that this year we have noticed a significant uptick in the quality of applications compared to my previous 4 years serving as Admissions Director, and I attribute this mainly to Cristina’s efforts. One of Cristina’s standout qualities is her dedication to promoting the program and fostering a sense of enthusiasm among potential candidates. Her efforts extend beyond conventional recruitment strategies, as she consistently goes above and beyond to connect with individuals who demonstrate exceptional potential in the field, including traveling to various conferences. Cristina possesses a rare ability to communicate the program’s unique strengths and opportunities, making it compelling for prospective students to consider joining our academic community. Her approach is not merely transactional but reflects a sincere commitment to nurturing the next generation of researchers in Molecular and Developmental Biology, and it is clear that students feel welcome after their interactions with Cristina. It should also be noted that Cristina is committed to attract a diverse cohort of students. She has an ability to connect with underrepresented minorities that could not be accomplished by other members of faculty. I am confident that Cristina’s efforts will ultimately enrich our program. In conclusion, Cristina Cebrian is undoubtedly a ‘Hidden Gem’ within our academic community and is truly deserving of this recognition.
Nomination by Douglas Millay, PhD
Dr. Elder is a hidden gem in Endocrinology. Dr. Elder cares for all patients in endocrinology (endo and diabetes) but her passion takes her to care for a unique population of patients- those who have undergone islet cell autotransplantation. These patients often have complex medical histories, requiring a lot of preparatory work before undergoing a big surgery. Dr. Elder aids in a critical part of their care which includes acquiring a continuous glucose monitor and insulin pump. However, these types of devices are not easy to obtain. Dr. Elder and her team arrange all the care (insurance approvals, calling companies, jumping through hoops) to ensure these devices are ready for patients the minute they are out of surgery. This ensures they have the best possibility of being off insulin long-term. Dr Elder has taught our division how to help care for these patients before and after surgery and has been instrumental in establishing how our institution care for these patients. Dr. Elder loves what she does. She is an amazing physician, and she is a true hidden gem.
Nomination by Amy Sanghavi Shah, MD, MS, FNLA
Dr. Harrison is a hidden gem in the Division of Behavioral Medicine & Clinical Psychology. As pediatricians in the Division of General and Community Pediatrics, we refer many patients to her for brief intervention and diagnostic clarity. The interprofessional experience and feedback from families continue to highlight the importance of the culturally humble and trauma-informed care she provides. Many families we have referred to Dr. Harrison are eager to see her as they value the racial concordance they receive as part of their care and do not have to explain the historical and structural factors that impact their family dynamics or child’s behavior. On more than one occasion, families hesitant about engaging with behavioral health have agreed to attempt a session when learning they could see a Black provider. Dr. Harrison has been particularly impactful in supporting children and families in advocating for the necessary support not only in the household but also in schools. She has helped parents advocate for their children within school systems as they navigate IEPs and 504 Plans to ensure necessary accommodations and support for learning and behavior. Dr. Harrison also supports families when more involved testing is needed. Her assessments and communication back to us as referring providers are thorough; explaining the rationale, actions taken, and what we as primary care clinicians need to continue following up on. She does a great job of also identifying and addressing how the psychosocial needs of families impact development, behavior, mood, and other areas of functioning. Dr. Harrison engages in exceptional multidisciplinary collaboration within the clinic, whether it is connecting families to resources for quality childcare/preschool, services to address food needs, community health services, etc. She understands the unique challenges patients and families may experience with initiation and continued engagement with behavioral health services, and thus has been very flexible with her schedule to accommodate families and ensure they receive the care they need. This shows her dedication to addressing our patients’ and families’ complex needs, which is necessary during the ongoing youth mental health crisis and increased need for mental health services in our patient population. Dr. Harrison makes herself visible and readily available to the medical team and families when in clinic. She often comes into the shared workroom to collaborate with physicians, fellow integrated behavioral health psychologists and social workers. On more than one occasion, this approach has allowed her to meet with families for warm handoffs and answer questions to dispel any myths or fears about therapy. Recently, a teenager was reluctant to engage in therapy but was open to briefly talking to Dr. Harrison while in the clinic. After this interaction, the teenager agreed to the referral as they felt better about the therapy process having met the prospective therapist and building rapport. These conversations increase families’ comfort and engagement with behavioral health services, in addition to strengthening collaboration among providers. Her collaborative nature, flexibility, and attention to the complex needs of families make her an exceptional hidden gem.
Nomination by Chidiogo Anyigbo, MD, MPH, Tasha Wadley, MD, Arielle Randolph, MD, Alexandra Corley, MD, MPH, FAAP, and Jessica Walters, MD
We are pleased to nominate Dr. Daniel (Dan) Herchline for a Hidden Gem Award. Dr. Herchline returned to CCHMC in 2021 to join the Division of Hospital Medicine after the completion of his Pediatric Hospital Medicine fellowship at CHOP. He has very quickly become an outstanding member of our division, known for his strong clinical and teaching skills. However, what truly makes Dr. Herchline a hidden gem is his citizenship and contributions to the division and the institution at large. He routinely volunteers to give formal educational sessions for the residency program and medical student clerkship. Additionally, he serves as a career development mentor to several medical students and as a research mentor for one of our Pediatric Hospital Medicine fellows pursuing educational scholarship. As one of our divisional Clinical Competency Champions, Dr. Herchline organizes our Emerging Evidence faculty development series. When not sharing his medical education expertise, Dr. Herchline has been actively involved in clinical improvement activities, recently leading an RCIC to standardize the application of the GINA guidelines for inpatient asthma treatment. In a characteristic example of how Dan thinks about service, this asthma evidence adoption was not a prior area of academic focus, but it was important work that did good for the division and our patients, so he stepped forward to lead. He serves on several committees at both CCHMC and UCCOM, including the Undergraduate Medical Education Committee, the Peer2Peer Program, and the College of Medicine Performance and Advancement Committee. Beyond all these exceptional activities, Dr. Herchline is a compassionate individual who looks out for his colleagues. He frequently checks in on the well-being of his coworkers and is often one of the first to volunteer to assist with divisional activities, and projects or to help a colleague in need. He also is one of our most reliable team members when it comes to stepping forward for clinical work when a colleague is sick and unable to work a scheduled shift. In this way, Dr. Herchline epitomizes what it means to be a “hidden gem.” We feel grateful to have him as part of our team and cannot think of anyone more deserving of a Hidden Gem Award!
Nomination by Lisa Herrmann, MD, MEd & Patrick Brady, MD, MSc
Dr. Aubrey Hunt epitomizes the essence of a Hidden Gem within our institution. Over the past 8 years, she has served tirelessly as a staff physician in the Division of Emergency Medicine, dedicating herself to providing unparalleled care to our patients across various settings in the Emergency Departments and Urgent Cares. Her commitment extends beyond the call of duty, with Aubrey often staying late to support her colleagues and the broader ED team. As her career progressed, Dr. Hunt’s exceptional leadership qualities became increasingly apparent, leading to her successive appointments as Assistant, Associate, and now Director of our Clinical Staff physician group. In this capacity, she orchestrates educational conferences, oversees recruitment, and evaluates a substantial cohort of general pediatricians working across our different sites. Yet, it is her innate ability to foster a sense of camaraderie and support that truly distinguishes her. Dr. Hunt serves as a peer supporter, offering a compassionate ear for clinical discussions and personal challenges alike, thereby playing a pivotal role in maintaining team cohesion, particularly during the tumultuous years of and following the pandemic. Aubrey is a positive force who supports her colleagues, yet never hesitates to speak up when she sees a need for change. Beyond her administrative duties, Dr. Hunt embodies the essence of a team player, actively engaging in the Clinical Leadership Team (CLT) to advocate for her colleagues and devise innovative solutions to complex issues. Her unwavering dedication and positive energy are indispensable to the seamless operation of our EDs and Urgent Cares. Dr. Hunt’s contributions make her an invaluable asset to both our team and institution, a true hidden gem, rendering her fully deserving of this prestigious award.
Nomination by David Schnadower, MD, MPH and Elena Duma, MD
We are delighted to nominate Dr. Matthew Molloy for a Hidden Gem award. Dr. Molloy serves patients, families, and our hospital system as an Assistant Professor in Hospital Medicine and in Biomedical Informatics. He also serves important roles as Associate Program Director for the Clinical Informatics Fellowship and faculty advisor to the Clinical Informatics Collaborative Innovation (CINCI) Lab. In these various roles, Dr. Molloy serves colleagues in our academic and clinical communities and endeavors to help individuals and systems provide the best possible care to patients and families. Dr. Molloy is recognized by his Hospital Medicine colleagues as a consummate team member, always maintaining a focus on delivering excellent clinical care for patients. Hospital Medicine leaders were unsurprised to learn that, during a recent stretch as HM Liberty Attending, he handled high patient volumes and the stressors that come with taxed staff and resources, with a spirit of teamwork and a positive attitude while maintaining high standards of safe patient care. Our nursing partners expressed gratitude for his presence as an attending during this time. As an educator, Dr. Molloy’s efforts help clinical trainees build the skills required to deliver superb clinical care to hospitalized patients while also providing research and clinical informatics didactics and mentorship to fellows at CCHMC. It should come as no surprise that he consistently receives glowing evaluations from learners who rotate through our Hospital Medicine services, and Hospital Medicine and Clinical Informatics fellows alike value the experience and expertise he brings to bear when advising them on project work academic efforts. Finally, by virtue of his expertise in the field of Clinical Informatics, Dr. Molloy serves a critical role in connecting knowledge in the practice of healthcare delivery with subject matter expertise in topics like clinical data, information systems, clinical decision support, and more. His ability to bridge the gap between these two domains central to our efforts to build a learning health system is seen and appreciated by his colleagues and peers in Information Services and Biomedical Informatics. His participation in the governance of our Electronic Health Record, clinical decision support, and institutional data governance are just a few examples of the ways Dr. Molloy contributes meaningfully to CCHMC!
Nomination by Philip Hagedorn, MD, MBI, Brittany Hubbell, MD, and Karen Jerardi, MD, MEd
Mark makes a great contribution to the Infectious Diseases service that often goes unrecognized. He is always willing to pitch in, often without any benefit or reward to himself. Just within the past month or so, I have seen him volunteer to help his colleagues out and improve patient care. He took on an extra half-day of clinic to help reduce the scheduling backlog from the holidays and was able to see five or six patients that otherwise would have waited to be seen. With little notice, he was able to conduct educational sessions with multiple inpatient services to help smooth the rollout of a new diagnostic platform in the microbiology laboratory. He’s taken on extra inpatient consult time when a colleague had a conflict because he “didn’t have a reason” not to help out. He plays a large role in our clinical care services and the educational aspects of our division and doesn’t always get credit for the huge contribution that he makes. He’s a great team player who is always willing to help out and is a worthy candidate for the Hidden Gem award.
Nomination by William Otto, MD
Dr. Nasser took over as section chief of fluoroscopy in our department 3 years ago. This is a difficult service that provides essential imaging services to our patients, but one that does not get a lot of attention or appreciation from the institution (and sometimes even our own department). Dr. Nasser has revised protocols and processes, improved technologist and trainee education, participated in quality improvement and safety initiatives, and steered us through a difficult time of contrast shortages necessitating creative methods to ensure that patient care was not interrupted. He makes himself available (perhaps too available…) for questions whenever anyone has a concern about a patient care issue. He has done more for the section than the prior leaders did in decades, and our patients are better for it.
Nomination by Brian Coley, MD
Dr. Standage is a doer and a fixer. He is always ready to step in and help make things work better. He took on a massive project to improve the data collection and storage capabilities of the research foundation when he realized there was no standard. Throughout the last few years, he has stepped up when needed for all sorts of similar projects. He’s always helpful whether it be in the research realm, or when things are busy in the ICU.
Nomination by Ken Tegtmeyer, MD, FAAP, FCCM
Sherry is a terrific mentor to rheumatology faculty for all types of lab/assay-related activities. She will go over and beyond finding relevant information and providing needed data in no time. She is an organizational wiz when organizing divisional meetings and retreats and always makes sure to produce a fantastic product, most recently the rheumatology research retreat. Sherry excels in elevating people around her by engaging them and considering their personal strengths and weaknesses, I think Sherry is a double hidden gem.
Nomination by Hermine Brunner, MD, MSc, MBA
Jess joined our clinic (PPC) as an attending this year after starting out in our clinic as a second-year medical student doing research and then completing her residency at CCHMC. Jess truly dove in headfirst to our team. Not only is she an excellent clinician, but she is also compassionate, reliable, and a team player. She recently helped organize a fundraiser for our clinic’s sunshine fund on her own time. She is always willing to join a new team or committee especially if it helps improve our clinic! We appreciate her enthusiasm and positivity so much!
Nomination by Jessica Walters, MD, Nick DeBlasio, MD, and Tasha Wadley, MD
I know of no other clinician who cares for their patients, and is, in return cared for, like Dr. Turpin. He spends endless hours making sure patients and families understand the information being shared, and listening to their stories. Every patient I encounter who is cared for by Dr. Turpin considers him the best they have ever had. Especially when times are tough, Dr. Turpin is a caregiver in the best sense of the word.
Nomination by Thomas Ryan, MD, PhD
Tasha Wadley has been in the PPC since she started her residency here in 2018. She was outstanding as a resident, and we were delighted when she stayed on as an attending with us. Tasha is an outstanding clinician. She has excellent continuity with families, and all of her patients and families adore her. She is an excellent educator and residents greatly value all of the clinical pearls that she provides while teaching. Tasha also oversees all of the medical students in PPC–completing their orientation and evals for multiple students every two weeks. Tasha has also volunteered to do many faculty interviews for the pediatric residency program which the residency program has greatly appreciated. Tasha is also one of our associate medical directors in PPC, and she is a great leader. She is calm, collaborative, and thinks “outside of the box.” She is a friend to everyone in PPC and treats everyone with kindness and respect. Tasha is also actively engaged in community work with local schools and has helped coordinate several activities to connect our PPC team with our community. Tasha is a true gem–she has tremendous passion for the work that she does and brings joy, kindness, and dedication to the workplace every day!
Nomination by Nick DeBlasio, MD and Melissa Klein, MD, MEd
Do you work with a faculty member, staff physician, or staff psychologist whom you consider a “Hidden Gem”? We are now accepting nominations for the May – July quarter of this award! Please submit your nomination here!
Congratulations to Dr. Dan Schumacher on being named the 2024 recipient of the Association of Pediatric Program Directors’ (APPD) Walter W. Tunnessen, Jr. MD Award for the Advancement of Pediatric Resident Education! This award is given annually and honors a member who has shown extraordinary or innovative contributions to pediatric graduate medical education at the national level. Read more about the award and past winners on their website.
Daniel Schumacher, MD, PhD, MEd, is a Professor and Director of the Education Research Unit in the division of Emergency Medicine.
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