Robert C. Cefalo House Officer Awards

Background and Award

UNC Hospitals House Officer Awards recognize outstanding members of the Hospitals’ house staff for exemplary service, professional performance, and compassionate patient care.

This award honors the memory and legacy of Dr. Robert C. Cefalo, M.D., Ph.D., FACOG, Professor Emeritus of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Assistant Dean, Head of the Office of Graduate Medical Education, Emeritus, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine.

Dr. Cefalo served UNC Chapel Hill for 25 years as director of the residency and fellowship programs at UNC Hospitals, served as a model for the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) in defining the role of Designated Institutional Official.  In addition to his exemplary leadership and service to graduate medical education. Dr. Cefalo was a mentor to and friend to countless members of the UNC family.

Five house staff will be honored annually. Each honoree will receive a $1000 stipend to offset expenses associated with professional development and/or attendance of scientific conferences or meetings that will enhance the recipient’s knowledge and abilities in the health care setting. The stipend may be used during training or up to 3 years following completion of training.

Eligibility, Nominations and Selection 

Nominations should illustrate how the resident or fellow demonstrates the award criteria in their practice of medicine, and what specific characteristics reflect the spirit of Dr. Cefalo’s example as an outstanding physician. Nominees should embody the role model physician, demonstrating exemplary clinical care, outstanding professionalism, leadership and empathetic care for patients, families, and the healthcare team. Trainees at any PGY-level are eligible for nomination.

Any member of the healthcare team may nominate a house officer, and group nominations are accepted.

Please include the following in the nomination:

• Nominee’s name, specialty and PGY level
• Nominator(s) name and title(s)
• Letter of Nomination
• Additional, optional letters of support (maximum of 5)

A selection committee composed of physicians, nurses and other clinical and administrative staff evaluate nominations and recommend individuals for recognition to the Medical Staff Executive Committee.

Please submit nomination materials to Christy Ray, Executive Assistant, Office of Graduate Medical Education at Christy.Ray@unchealth.unc.edu by May 15, 2024.

Previous Recipients

2024

Joel Glotfelty, MD, Emergency Medicine
Jennifer Tripi, MD, Anesthesiology
Ghallia Kaouk, MD, Pediatrics
Sarah Weiner, MD, Surgery
Christine Adams, MD, Family Medicine

2023

Michael Cunningham, MD, Rheumatology
Alexander Fenn, MD, Emergency Medicine
Calvin Gross, MD, Internal Medicine
Wesley Roten, MD, Family Medicine
Krishan Sivaraj, MD, Internal Medicine

2022

Marcos Lopez, MD, Plastic Surgery
Aurelie Merlo, MD, Cardiothoracic Surgery
David Mysona, MD, Obstetrics & Gynecology
Katy Reines, MD, Urology
Ajan Sivaromamoorthy, MD, Pediatrics

2021

Michael Hart, MD, Anesthesiology
Diya Jost, MD, Medicine/Pediatrics
Meredith Kugar, MD, Plastic Surgery
Daniel Markwalter, MD, Emergency Medicine
Andriana Tompary, DO, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

2019

Mark Ehlers, MD, Urology
Erin Finn, MD, Medicine/Pediatrics
Daniel Lindsay, MD, Radiation Oncology
Hayden Shafer, MD, Family Medicine

2018

Stacy Aubry, MD, General Surgery
Kevin Pearlstein, MD, Radiation Oncology
Katie Schott, MD, Anesthesiology
Kyle Tamminga, MD, Family Medicine
Hadley Wilson, MD, Cardiothoracic Surgery

2017

Krishna Aluri, MD, Medicine/Pediatrics
Sam Bores, MD, Emergency Medicine
Catherine Coe, MD, Family Medicine
Jasmine Johnson, MD, Obstetrics & Gynecology
Arun Kannappan, MD, Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine
Megan Quintana, MD, Surgery

2016

Tyler Armstrong, MD, Emergency Medicine
Amy Jones, MD, Pediatrics
Benjamin McCormick, MD, Urology
Sophia Paraschos, MD, Medicine/Pediatrics
Amita Shah, MD, PhD, Plastic Surgery

2014

Amir Barzin, DO, Family Medicine
Margaret Kihlstrom, MD, Pediatrics/Critical Care
Sarah Laughon, MD, Psychosomatic Medicine
Kibwei McKinney, MD, Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery
Michael Phillips, MD, Surgery
Sally Wood, MD, Medicine/Pediatrics

2013

Josh Berkowitz, MD – Medicine/Pediatrics
Leslie Clark, MD – Obstetrics & Gynecology
Lindsey Murphy, MD – Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
Ashley Rietz, MD – Family Medicine
Brian Thorp, MD – Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery

2012

Stephanie Davis, MD – Internal Medicine
Jeffrey Dehmer, MD – General Surgery
Jennifer Hong, MD – Obstetrics & Gynecology
Krystle Perez, MD – Pediatrics
Christopher Terry, MD – Anesthesiology

2011

Jean Ashburn, MD – General Surgery
Aaron Garrison, MD – General Surgery
Gina Abelli Geis, MD – Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
Matthew Grace, MD – Obstetrics & Gynecology
Daniel Higginson, MD – Radiation Oncology
Mark Joseph, MD – Surgical Critical Care
Lindsay Kruska, MD – Internal Medicine
Michael Stadler, MD – Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery

2010

Gregory Basura, MD, PhD – Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery
Gregory Bianchi, MD – Pathology
Madeline Dillon, MD – Allergy & Immunology
Jennifer McEntee. MD – Medicine/Pediatrics
Robin Reed, MD – Psychiatry
Paul Riesenman, MD – General Surgery

2009

Lisa Barroilhet, MD – Obstetrics & Gynecology
Charles Ebert, MD – Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery
Megan Fuller, MD – General Surgery
Jennifer Hartz, MD – Pediatrics
Peter Steenland, MD – Neurosurgery

2008

Tyler Buckner, MD – Internal Medicine/Pediatrics
Anthony Rodriguez, MD – Family Medicine
Teresa Romano, MD – Pediatrics
Deanna Sasaki-Adams, MD – Neurosurgery
Heather Stefaniak, MD – Urology

2007

Benny Joyner, MD, MPH – Pediatrics/Critical Care
Michaux Kilpatrick, MD – Neurosurgery
Morgan McDonald, MD – Internal Medicine/Pediatrics
Paul Ossman, MD – Medicine
Josh Unger, MD – General Surgery
Adam Zanation, MD – Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery

2006

Warren Eng, MD – Anesthesiology
Darlene Esper, MD – Obstetrics & Gynecology
Mark Lloyd, DO – Family Medicine
Chris Melroy, MD – Otolaryngology
Lisa Parnell, MD – Pediatrics

2005

Robert Cullen, MD – Otolaryngology
David Messerly, MD – Emergency Medicine
Amy Nathan, MD – Pediatrics
Cristen Page, MD, MPH – Family Medicine
Kristen Parker, MD – General Surgery

2004

Michelle Cassara, MD – Medicine
Michelle Hernandez, MD – Pediatrics
John Mingle, MD – Neurology
Jessica Scotchie, MD – Obstetrics & Gynecology
Carrie Vice, MD – Emergency Medicine

2003

Elizabeth Abernathy, MD – Medicine
Adil Hussain, MD – Cardiothoracic Surgery
Joseph Molitierno, MD – Urology
Rink Murray, MD – OB
David White, MD – Otolaryngology

2002

Woodwad Burget, MD – Family Medicine
Lisa Emrich, MD – Pediatrics
Joseph Jenkins, MD – General Surgery
Thomas Owens, MD – Pathology
Karen Stitzenberg, MD – General Surgery
Lily Tabos-Mestre, MD – Pediatrics

2001

Hector Cooper, MD – Radiology
Michael Heidenreich, MD – General Surgery
Georgine Lamru-Schooler, MD – Obstetrics & Gynecology
Thomas Marsland, MD – Family Medicine
Robert Mendes, MD – Vascular Surgery