Feature
Department of Medicine Physicians Feted at the New York Botanical Garden
June 12, 2023
On Tuesday, June 6, 2023, more than 100 colleagues, friends, and family gathered at the New York Botanical Garden to celebrate and honor the achievements of all department of medicine physicians and present this year’s Physician Awards. Congratulations to all the recipients and nominees!
2023 Physician Awardees
CITIZENSHIP
Grace Kajita, M.D.
Associate Professor of Medicine (General Internal Medicine)
Program Director, Wakefield Internal Medicine Residency
The Citizenship Award recognizes a physician in the department of medicine who exemplifies the highest standard of departmental and institutional service, and who inspires others.

RISING STAR Noa Schwartz, M.D., M.S.
Assistant Professor of Medicine (Rheumatology)
The Rising Star Award is given to a physician who is acknowledged to have the most potential to make future significant contributions as a clinician, researcher, and/or educator.

DISTINGUISHED CLINICIAN
Amy Ehrlich, M.D.
Professor of Medicine (Geriatrics)
The Distinguished Clinician Award recognizes a physician in the department of medicine for excellence in clinical care, including diagnostic acumen, clinical judgment, knowledge, professionalism, and physician-patient relationships.
MID-CAREER EXCELLENCE
Viraj Patel, M.D., M.P.H.
Associate Professor of Medicine (Geriatrics)
The Mid-Career Excellence Award is presented to a physician 8 to 20 years out from training whose commitment, dedication, experience, and expertise has resulted in substantive, sustained contributions to clinical medicine, research, and/or education.

HUMANISM IN MEDICINE
Luz Liriano-Ward, M.D.
Associate Professor of Medicine (Nephrology)
The Humanism in Medicine Award recognizes a physician who displays exceptional compassion and sensitivity in caring for patients, their families, and healthcare colleagues and who demonstrates integrity, excellence, collaboration and compassion, altruism, respect and resilience, empathy, and service.

“We received an extraordinary number of nominations this year, making our job very challenging,” said Elizabeth Kitsis, M.D., chair of the awards committee and the department of medicine’s professor and vice chair for faculty affairs. “It is a testament to the remarkable physicians throughout the department that so many were nominated by their peers.”
Added Department Chair Yaron Tomer, M.D., “We are so proud of our physicians, all of whom are very deserving of this recognition. Their hard work and dedication are on display each and every day. This annual event is just one of the ways we celebrate and honor them for their contribution to our department and Montefiore Einstein.”
Read about all the nominees.