Hidden Gems

Here is a video of all of our hidden gems! Please read below for additional information about each of our Hidden Gems!

"Dr. Alese is an excellent physician and researcher. At the same time, he is a committed teacher to our trainees. He consistently contributes to our mission of delivering outstanding patient care and generating new knowledge, and is always ready to help a colleague or patient."

"Dr. Bishop has been our lead in the collaboration between our Department and Cardiology in the expansion of Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. She has crossed disciplines and taught not only DPT students but Resident Physicians as well. She has recently been accepted into the Woodruff Leadership Academy. In addition she was elected as a Distinguished Fellow of the National Academies of Practice (NAP) in Physical Therapy. A Distinguished Fellow in Policy within NAP is a very high honor that acknowledges her outstanding achievements and her collaborative efforts in the interprofessional community to influence and promote national health policy."

"Dr. George Bugg truly embodies a “hidden gem”. Everything he does is carried out quietly, thoughtfully, and with no requirement or expectation of recognition. He is incredibly humble, yet he is one of our faculty who has tremendous impact on clinical care, mentoring (directly and indirectly) trainees and junior faculty. Care that we deliver at Grady is done so in an almost "missionary" sense. The families are often among the most disenfranchised in the city, and the challenges they meet often defy description. It is in this environment, and with this type of family, that Dr. Bugg is at his best. His is not a superficial compassion, but one borne of maturity and the deep understanding of the important role he serves as a physician in this difficult setting. His oversight of patients and their families at Grady, in the most trying of times, is a skill recognized by his partners and all trainees who have the good fortune of being mentored by him. Those that know George know his gentle touch. His quiet demeanor. His command of respect as a result of his knowledge and experience. It is this persona that allows him to interact with families so effortlessly."

"Dr. Mark Caridi-Scheible is the Program Director for the Critical Care Anesthesiology Fellowship. This program had its second consecutive outstanding Match during the spring of 2020, despite the fact that the Match occurred during the first peak of the COVID19 pandemic. Dr. Caridi-Scheible is recognized by faculty and trainees as a highly effective Program Director and administrator who tirelessly works on behalf of the critical care fellows. He is also a superb educator with an international reputation. For example, he helped to lead a highly successful Critical Care Ultrasound Course in Cairo Egypt in December 2019. Perhaps his greatest achievement this year has been his work in the COVID19 ICUs. Dr. Caridi-Scheible has become one of the "go-to" attending physicians in Emory's ICUs during the COVID pandemic. He has worked for weeks without days off due to staffing shortages, provides exceptional and compassionate care for the patients, and shares his expertise in phenomenal lectures and presentations that have received national attention. Despite all of his achievements, Dr. Caridi-Scheible is a Hidden Gem because he does all that he does with a quiet modesty that brings very little attention to himself."

“Dr. Crochet is devoted to improving outcomes and quality of care of all patients as well as to the improved clinical practice and education of residents as Director of the GynOb Morbidity and Mortality conference. Dr. Crochet has put in countless hours to help residents achieve a greater depth of understanding through the presentation of difficult cases. She coordinates all cases, presenters, conference logistics and scheduling challenges, and works closely with residents to help them prepare their slides and presentations as well as to prepare meaningful questions in advance. Not only does she guide residents on the clinical implications for preventing future adverse patient outcomes and improving the quality of patient care, but she also helps to encourage and challenge their preparation, perspective, and overall learning. She is an outstanding mentor and teacher. We are grateful for Dr. Crochet’s dedication to teaching and her ongoing service to the department."

"He has served the Emory community since 1989. In his role as the lead clinical physicist for our Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging -- a large and critically important service role – Dr. Galt ensures compliance and quality of our nuclear medicine services at EHC. He is also a gifted educator whose teachings are highly valued by all learners he comes into contact with."

"Dr. Ganesh is a medicinal chemist by training and is playing a substantial role in redefining our departmental research theme to translate discoveries to therapies. Dr. Ganesh is a major player in our department for team science-driven discovery and therapeutic innovation. He has spearheaded a collaboration with several other faculty members in the department to form a joint group that is focused on early-stage drug development for neuroinflammation. This group has published numerous high-profile papers, received several NIH grants and recently formed a company, Pyrefin Inc., to develop small molecule anti-inflammatory drugs to market. This team-oriented, multi-lab working group is serving as a model in our department for bringing together faculty with different expertise to push toward common goals. Dr. Ganesh is a leader in the new generation of medicinal chemistry researchers who are introducing, in a systematic fashion, early-stage drug discovery approaches to academic settings. In so doing, he is helping to bridge the gap between biomedical research discoveries in universities and the commercialization of these discoveries by companies."

"Dr. Carolina Garcia’s presence increased access to the neuromuscular clinic and procedural laboratory. She is the first to offer muscle and nerve ultrasound, a procedure never performed prior to her presence at Emory. As a member of our Clinical Operations Committee, she developed policies for late patients, transferring patient care across providers within the Clinic, handling of requests for controlled substances during call shifts, refinement of the order requests for non-chemotherapeutic, biologic infusions, and the development of order sets for acutely ill patients. Those who work with Carolina immediately gain an appreciation for her passion for service and citizenship. A true test of her dedication to departmental citizenship came about over the summer of 2019 when her neuromuscular colleague had to take a sudden leave of absence for 5 weeks. During this time Carolina reviewed, triaged, and redistributed her colleague’s clinic and EMG schedule. She took charge of the care of many of the patients herself. Most recently during our rampdown and ramp-up of clinical operations during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Carolina immediately jumped to the challenge of implementing telemedicine, among the first in our department to do so, and bringing patients in-person for essential procedural visits while ensuring the safety of our patients, trainees, and staff. In sum, Carolina serves her Department without being asked, without a title, and always with a smile. She is the consummate colleague."

"Since her appointment in 2013, Dr. Garraway has been remarkably successful in obtaining external funding. However, with regards to attributes associated with the 'hidden gem' category is the extent to which she has been a role model for citizenship within the department. She is always there to lend a helping hand. This is best exemplified by her willingness to contribute her expertise on pain, neuroinflammation and spinal cord injury research to promote successful grant applications by several other faculty that simply would not have been possible without her. As an assistant professor she was already regular member of a NIH study section and the VA Scientific Merit Review Board."

"for her tireless and often behind-the-scenes efforts to foster an intellectually rigorous and, at the same time, warm and welcoming research environment, as well as her dedication to and passion for students in the graduate programs"

"The Department of Neurosurgery nominates Dr. Jonathon Grossberg as our 2020 “Hidden Gem”. Dr. Grossberg is a highly accomplished clinician- with training and expertise in both microvascular and endovascular treatments for challenging cerebrovascular disorders. Dr. Grossberg has been a part of the >300% volume growth of the Neurosurgery service at Grady over the past 5 years and a major contributor to the Marcus Stoke Center, the largest thrombectomy center in the country by volume. In addition to his full-time commitment to Grady, Jonathon provides stroke call for EUH and has single-handedly developed a pediatric intra-arterial chemotherapy program for retinoblastoma at Children’s Health Care of Atlanta, the only of its kind in the region."

"This year Dr. Henriquez was selected to become Small Group Advisor in the School of Medicine, one of the few surgeons who have accepted this role. Nationally he was selected to become next Chair of the Pan-American Committee of the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery Foundation, Chair of the Global Education Day of the upcoming North American Skull Base Society. During the COVID-19 crisis he designed, coordinated and successfully launched a 1 week virtual ENT elective for our medical students."

"Dr. Iledare has been a member of the Emory Community since medical school, graduating in 2011. In her time here, she has galvanized her efforts in support of underrepresented students interested in Emergency Medicine (EM) at both Emory and Morehouse Schools of Medicine. At present, there is not a residency program in EM at Morehouse (MH). Dr. Iledare has continued the legacy forged by Dr. Douglas Ander to independently shepherd students along the way in multiple roles; she is the creator of a very successful shadowing program for MH SOM students, faculty lead for the MHSOM EM Interest Group and provides significant mentorship for residency applications in EM. In her six years on faculty, Dr. Iledare has counseled over 100 students and was recognized by Morehouse in 2019 by induction into their AOA Society as a mentor. Her actionable outcomes for attending to equity and inclusion cannot be underscored. This was also done while Dr. Iledare worked tirelessly in her position as Director of Post Graduate education in the Department and serving as Co-Chair of the Department's Process Improvement Committee. Dr. Iledare is indeed a gem, perhaps hidden for some, but certainly not for us."

"Shella Keilholz is a Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, and a pioneer in understanding the neurophysiological basis for the spontaneous blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) fluctuations used to map functional connectivity with MRI. This finding put Keilholz’s lab at the forefront of the then nascent field of dynamic functional connectivity where they have remained since. However, it is Shella Keilholz’s passion and commitment to smoothing the career pathway for women in science over the years which really makes Keilholz’s an ideal candidate for the Hidden Gem Award. As a mother herself, she is keenly aware of the challenges involved in balancing family with a career in science. For the last decade, she has devoted considerable effort to increasing knowledge and utilization of existing resources for women scientist with children. Her early efforts involved creating a web resource for Moms in STEM, which has since developed into a Facebook group and integrated with the wider communities of women’s groups (BME Women, Women in ISMRM, and Academic Mamas). Shella has also been an advocate for scientist-parents, especially mothers. On a more personal level, Shella serves as an informal mentor for several female graduate students, postdocs, and junior faculty at Emory and Georgia Tech, and serves as a mentor in OHBM’s mentoring program."

"for service as Director of Graduate Studies for the Immunology & Molecular Pathogenesis Program; Service on the IACUC; director of the departmental flow cytometry core; and mentor to junior faculty"

"Dr. Joanne Kuntz gives selflessly of her time, attention to detail, and creativity when it is most needed. As Medical Director for Palliative Care at Emory University Hospital-Midtown, Joanne leads a team of three physicians, five advance practice providers, and a social worker to provide care for patients with serious illness and their families. Since arriving at Emory in 2016, Dr. Kuntz has been selfless in her devotion to the practice, often offering to cover a weekend or holiday shift for a colleague when it becomes clear that they need a day off. For several years, she has been the quiet leader with the necessary attention to detail who partners with our administrator on working through all of the many schedule requests of the faculty in our Emory University Hospital and Emory University Hospital-Midtown practices in order to create a fair and just schedule for all involved. Dr. Kuntz has also worked closely over the past 3 years with the program leadership of the internal medicine residency to provide a two-week required rotation for all of their residents in palliative medicine. And in the time of COVID-19, Dr. Kuntz was an early adopter of the use of video-assistive technology to aid in connecting patients with COVID (and those without COVID) with their loved ones outside the hospital walls. In addition to working through the technical and logistical details of such work, she was successful in studying the innovation and ultimately publishing her work in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management in June 2020."

"Dr. Leslie Lawley is a quiet leader within the Department of Dermatology, Emory School of Medicine, and nationally with involvement in the Society for Pediatric Dermatology (SPD) and the Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PEDRA). She is the Chief of Pediatric Dermatology and directs the Pediatric Dermatology Fellowship Program at Emory. She has tirelessly advocated for the children that are served by Pediatric Dermatology. Dr. Lawley serves on the Emory SOM FCAP and uses this position and expertise to advise her colleagues within the Department on optimal strategies for academic promotion. She is a leader at the national level, serving as the Treasurer of PEDRA and the Nominations Committee of the SPD since 2017."

"We are nominating Dr. Lerit for the Hidden Gem Award in recognition of her outstanding service and leadership to the department, including her roles on multiple faculty search committees and efforts to enhance and support a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion."

"I nominate Jolinta Lin, MD, who is an assistant professor who practices at both Grady and EUH. Dr Lin arrived at Emory in 2016 and has been an extraordinary physician at both Grady and EUH, as judged by her patients, fellow faculty members, staff, and resident physicians. She has a very quiet manner but embodies all the best qualities of a team player and caring and technically gifted physician. She has also been highly successful in garnering pilot grants from within Winship and from outside and has an outstanding path forward in studying the role of the microbiome in cancer patients as well as issues related HIV-associated malignancies. She was recently named an AIDS Malignancy Consortium Domestic Fellow 2020-2021 and a Gold Provider here at Emory based on her strong patient satisfaction scores. She was instrumental in the department receiving 5 patient satisfaction awards in academic 2020."

"Dr. Lorentz was selected by a panel prior Urology Hidden Gem Award recipients (cc’d) for his exceptional effectiveness in co-leading the transformative implementation of telemedicine in Surgical services at Emory and for his leadership in establishing the first Emory Clinic Urology practice at Emory’s Midtown campus even as the COVID pandemic emerged. Adam is a consummate physician leader who is esteemed by his team, his colleagues and his patients alike."

“Erica Marshall-Lee, PhD is a diversity leader and social justice advocate par excellence. Both in her formal roles as Assistant Vice-Chair for Faculty Development – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Associate Director of Postdoctoral Residency Training – Advocacy and Diversity and in her day-to-day interactions she serves as a role model for equity and inclusivity for faculty, staff, and trainees alike. She has spearheaded social justice advocacy training for psychology and psychiatry trainees that is focused on improving the lives and well-being of disenfranchised and marginalized individuals with serious and persistent mental disorders. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she has been a leader in providing support for healthcare workers at Grady Health System. As the fight for social justice has come to the foreground, she has led the way in facilitating anti-racism conversations and in crafting communications that underscore the unacceptability of a diverse array of deplorable hate crimes."

"Always providing excellent patient care and doing the thankless job of PMR Residency Program Director."

"Dr Reyna was nominated for the hidden gem award for his services to the department in 2019 and 2020. While maintaining a full research load he simultaneously covered the teaching load of one faculty who was unable to teach, and stepped in as the director of graduate studies to cover for another who had to step down due to illness. His professionalism throughout this testing period, all during a pivot to remote research and work and while juggling a newborn, demonstrated exactly why we were lucky enough to recently recruit Dr Reyna on to BMI's Faculty."

"Rossana is a superb clinician in medical genetics committed to her patients and colleagues. She has been a champion of telemedicine before the pandemic, and is our leader during the pandemic. She created workflows and teaching materials in both English and Spanish, taught our physicians and staff how to use the program, and established telemedicine for our genetic clinics. Rossana exemplifies our tripartite mission of clinical care, research and teaching. Importantly, she does all this as an affable colleague and team player."

"Led COVID prevention efforts for EHC, including infection control and epidemiology. An exceptional communicator with an organized, detailed approach, she is a subject-matter who was thrust into a leadership role during the COVID crisis and performed admirably."

“Dr. Smith's background prior to medical school was is in information technology, including a stint as a consultant with Oracle. Every day he displays the customer-focused mindset he developed as a consultant, whether his “customers” are fellow Pathology faculty, staff, members of other departments, or students. He constantly strives to meet their requests for data informatics, website support, or software analysis, often with an impressively fast turn-around time. This started during residency, where he provided outstanding support to laboratory operations and education. As a faculty member he has continued to support multiple functions in virtually every laboratory section, creating programs and using different technologies. For example, to perform virtual HLA cross-matches he created a program that allows easy identification of differences between donor and recipient HLA profile results. He created an app that guides blood banks in defining which type of transfusion reaction they have. By working closely with other departments, he has implemented game changing technology in anatomic pathology: whole slide imaging and computerized physician order entry. In short, he is the master of every form of data collection and analysis, including images, apps, and programs."

“As a surgeon who spends a lot of time in the Emergency Department, Dr. Smith sees every type of problem, from gunshot wounds to serious COVID19 illness. Her dedication to high quality patient care at Grady and her proactive work to build teams to deliver such care would be sufficient to make a case for Dr. Smith as a valued "gem" in the department. But Dr. Smith has taken what is often primarily a trauma surgery issue - gun violence - and pursued its roots at Grady and surrounding communities, both to elucidate its causes, but more notably, to explore meaningful ways to reduce and prevent gun violence. Dr. Smith has written both institutional and extramural grants to obtain support for novel research about gun violence prevention. Dr. Smith is a phenomenal yet humble representative of the School of Medicine and Department of Surgery. Most importantly, she continues to demonstrate single-minded focus on the needs of the Grady population and other underserved groups who remain most vulnerable and impacted by violence, particularly gun violence. Through her strong clinical service, dedicated teaching, and unrelenting efforts to secure funding to test innovative strategies to try to reduce violence and trauma at Grady, Dr. Randi Smith is our departmental Hidden Gem."

"Natalie is a compassionate, generous, engaged physician who embodies the Emory mantra that “we are all in this together”. She is actively engaged in service projects for the underserved locally and globally. She travels to Jordan every 6 months to provide Syrian refugees with eye care and established a vision screening program. Dr. Weil regularly volunteers at the Clarkston community clinic and organized a volunteer vision screening for World Sight Day in 2018 and 2019. She uses her technical skills to advance the service, such as creating and maintaining a Google calendar for the service and starting a weekly zoom teaching conference for pediatric ophthalmology. Dr. Weil started a strabismus surgery curriculum / wet lab that is in place for Emory residents and in Ethiopia and she conducts the peds OKAP review every year."