The Medical Society of the District of Columbia (MSDC), the largest medical organization in the District representing metropolitan Washington physicians, is pleased to announce the winners of its awards for outstanding achievement towards healthcare and the noble calling of medicine. The recipients are pillars of their community, profession and public health and their leadership helps to make the District a better place to practice medicine. The awards will be presented at a virtual awards ceremony, taking place on Friday evening, May 14, 2021, during which attendees can socialize online with the honorees and other healthcare luminaries. Information is available at MSDC's website www.msdc.org.
MSDC annually opens nominations for awards that recognize service to the Society, the city, and the profession. Awardees were chosen by a committee of MSDC leaders and previous award winners after reviewing nominations received from the membership. MSDC President Dr. E.W. Emanuel said of the awardees, "The selection process was especially challenging for this class of honorees. The unparalleled examples of healthcare heroism, service and professionalism displayed by MSDC members during the pandemic is truly inspiring." The awards and their recipients are:
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Dr. Charles H. Epps, III Community Service Award
Tamika Auguste, MD
Dr. Auguste is a recognized physician leader in her city and her profession. She chairs the OB/GYN Clinical Practice Council at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, and she has served multiple leadership roles with the DC section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She is a vocal patient advocate before the DC Council, on Capitol Hill, and throughout the community. She is being recognized for outstanding public service to the community.
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Distinguished Service Award
2020 Women in Medicine Co-chairs Maria Aramburu, MD, and Anjali Malik, MD
Drs. Aramburu and Malik serve as co-chairs of MSDC's Women in Medicine Section, which has hosted multiple MSDC events since its inception and coordinated numerous Washington Healthcare on Wednesday (WHOW) programs over the past year. The diverse, relevant topics they have tackled include social media's role in advocacy, climate change’s impact on health, imposter syndrome and parenting, to name just a few. In addition to serving as co-chair, each honoree is noteworthy for her individual contributions to the Medical Society: Dr. Malik serves on the advocacy committee and Dr. Aramburu is a COVID Clinician Champion. They are both being recognized for outstanding service to the Medical Society.
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John Benjamin Nichols Award
Ward 8 Health Council
Long before “health equity” entered the popular vernacular, the Ward 8 Health Council has been dedicated to bettering the health of the residents who live in Ward 8. The Council has developed a dynamic forum for convening physicians, healthcare advocates and community leaders with a shared sense of purpose and commitment to improving the health of Ward 8 residents through innovative public/private partnerships. The Ward 8 Health Council is being recognized for its outstanding contributions toward improving the health of the community.
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John Benjamin Nichols Award
Terry Fairbanks, MD
Dr. Terry Fairbanks is an acclaimed patient safety leader who serves as vice president of quality and safety at MedStar Health, founding director of the National Center for Human Factors in Healthcare, and professor of emergency medicine at Georgetown University. During his tenure he has improved patient safety, advanced safety science and mentored numerous healthcare professionals. He is being recognized for outstanding contributions toward improving the health of the community.
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President’s Award
Joseph Gutierrez, MD
Having already received numerous MSDC accolades, Dr. Joseph Gutierrez exemplifies lifetime service and excellence that is befitting the President’s Award. He has served twice as president of the Medical Society of the District of Columbia, multiple terms as chair of MSDC’s AMA Delegation, and for decades as a leader in the American Medical Association. Trained as a surgeon, he remains an active learner, leader and contributor to the Medical Society, the profession, and the Washington, DC region.
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In addition, MSDC’s charitable arm, the Medical Society and Alliance Foundation, will present its allied health scholarship to Thinzar Thant. Ms. Thant is a student at Trinity Washington University’s Nursing School.
