Department of General Internal Medicine Physicians Honored at Annual Meeting
By: Lawerence Synett
The University of Pittsburgh’s Division of General Internal Medicine (DGIM) is well-represented at the Society of General Internal Medicine’s annual meeting this week in Hollywood, Florida. In addition to several presentations and poster sessions, four UPMC physicians received awards during the four-day conference.
Chief’s Recognition Award
Wishwa Kapoor, M.D., M.P.H., chief of the DGIM, was selected as the winner of the Association of Chiefs and Leaders of General Internal Medicine (ACLGIM) Chief’s Recognition Award, which is given annually to the general internal division chief who most represents excellence in division leadership.
“[Dr. Kapoor] stood out as having strengthened your division with special attention to growth in all areas, with a strong focus on faculty development and mentoring,” the ACLGIM awards committee said in a statement.
Leadership Award
Carla Spagnoletti, M.D., M.S., was honored with the ACLGIM Leadership Award. The award recognizes a faculty member within the first 10 years of their appointment who has demonstrated leadership in many areas of academic medicine, including clinical, education research and administrative efforts.
Dr. Spagnoletti joined the DGIM in 2006, is currently the director of the Certificate and Master of Science in Medical Education Program at Pitt’s Institute for Clinical Research Education, and is responsible for training more than 30 faculty and fellows from across the Pitt Schools of the Health Sciences.
Career Achievement in Medical Education Award
Melissa McNeil, M.D., M.P.H, chief of the DGIM Section of Women’s Health, earned the SGIM Career Achievement in Medical Education Award, which recognizes an outstanding clinician/educator for their lifetime contributions in medical education, both at their institution and nationally.
Dr. McNeil has spent the past 30 years establishing herself as a national leader in clinical education and women’s health. She led the creation of Pitt’s women’s health residence program, and her training programs influenced and inspired hundreds of physician careers.
Medicine Quality and Practice Innovation Award
Gary Fischer, M.D., and the DGIM were also awarded the SGIM Quality and Practice Innovation Award, which recognizes leaders of practice innovations who have improved care within the quality domains of the 2000 Institute of Medicine Crossing the Quality Chasm Report (safety, effectiveness, patient-centeredness, timeliness, efficiency and quality) or the Patient-Centered Medical Home goals of accessible, coordinated, patient-centered, team-based and comprehensive care.
Dr. Fischer has received numerous awards for his achievements in quality improvement and has served in a number of critical leadership roles in the DGIM, Pitt Department of Medicine and UPMC health system.
Leadership Award
Gary Fischer, M.D., and the DGIM were also awarded the SGIM Quality and Practice Innovation Award, which recognizes leaders of practice innovations who have improved care within the quality domains of the 2000 Institute of Medicine Crossing the Quality Chasm Report (safety, effectiveness, patient-centeredness, timeliness, efficiency and quality) or the Patient-Centered Medical Home goals of accessible, coordinated, patient-centered, team-based and comprehensive care.
