Awards and Accomplishments
Melissa Novak earns D.O. of the Year in Oregon
As mentioned in January's OHSU News Accolades, Melissa Novak, D.O., an associate professor of family medicine and associate sports medicine fellowship director in the OHSU School of Medicine, has been named Doctor of Osteopathic medicine of the year by the Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons of Oregon. The D.O. of the Year Award recognizes an Oregon osteopathic physician for their outstanding leadership and commitment to the osteopathic profession. As a team physician for Portland State University, Novak is a leader who works tirelessly to ensure the health and safety of athletes, while also mentoring sports medicine fellows in their roles as team physicians. Novak is committed to osteopathic education and mentorships, ensuring students, residents and fellows develop the skills and confidence to carry forward the osteopathic tradition.
In addition to her leadership and mentorship roles, Novak has made significant contributions to research. Her recent work, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, addresses gender disparities in sports medicine, advancing awareness and equity in the field. Her work has left a lasting impression on her patients, students, and colleagues, exemplifying the very best of the osteopathic profession.
“I am deeply honored to be named D.O. of the Year by the Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons of Oregon,” Novak said. “This recognition reflects my dedication to helping OHSU residents maintain and advance their osteopathic skills and highlights my commitment to community leadership, including my work as a team physician for the Portland State community.”
2024 Highlights
Heather Holderness, M.P.H., a research associate in the OHSU Department of Family Medicine, has earned the North American Primary Care Research Group’s Outstanding Research Coordinator award. Recognized for making exceptional contributions to primary care research in a central support role, Holderness was nominated by OHSU’s Jen DeVoe, M.D., D.Phil., Nat Huguet, Ph.D., Steffani Bailey, Ph.D., and Rachel Gold, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Holderness was nominated because of her consistently outstanding organization, communication, and management of projects and teams, and contributions to the Family Medicine Research portfolio, the group said. Holderness was officially recognized at the NAPCRG’s 52nd Annual Meeting in November in Québec City, Canada.
NAPCRG is the world’s largest organization devoted to research in family medicine, primary care and related fields, including epidemiology, behavioral sciences, and health services research. NACPRG has bi-national governance (U.S.-Canada) and international research vision and outreach. NAPCRG’s Annual Meeting is the premier international forum for presenting new knowledge in primary care and advances in research methodology. NAPCRG is committed to a nurturing, informative and inspiring environment for all members.
The Claire Hays Montaigne Endowment was established in memory of Claire Hays Montaigne, who completed her family medicine residency at OHSU and was an Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at OHSU when she died of metastatic melanoma in 2022. The first Annual Claire Hays Montaigne Award was awarded in June 2024 to Dr. Katie Pavlat and Dr. Ryan Nesbit Deane.
Wendy Warren, M.D., assistant professor and associate director of strategic development in the Department of Family Medicine at the Cascades East Family Medicine Residency Program, was named the 2024 Oregon Family Physician of the Year.
“Dr. Warren is a true role model of what it means to be an outstanding family physician and patient advocate, and I can’t imagine anyone more deserving of this award than Wendy,” said Nellie Wirsing, M.D., associate professor and assistant director for residency education in the Cascades East Family Medicine Residency Program, in her award speech. “Her passion was and has always been obstetrics. She did more OB than most of the obstetricians in town. Wendy has delivered and cared for so many of the families in our community that it’s hard to find someone who doesn’t know her.”
The OHSU School of Medicine Alumni Association recognizes distinguished alumni whose work impacts their communities, innovates their fields and reflects OHSU’s mission to deliver health care to all. Dr. Ray was awarded the Early Career Achievement Award for creating quality improvement systems for better patient care . Read more.
Check out this list of faculty and staff who recently received honors from the OHSU School of Medicine!
Catalogue of Awards
A list of awards and honors Family Medicine faculty and staff have received since the department's inception in 1971.
- Departmental
- Institutional
- Regional
- National
Departmental
Claire Hays Montaigne Award
The Claire Hays Montaigne Endowment was established in memory of Claire Hays Montaigne, who completed her family medicine residency at OHSU and was an Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at OHSU when she died of metastatic melanoma in 2022.
- The first Annual Claire Hays Montaigne Award was awarded in June 2024 to Dr. Katie Pavlat and Dr. Ryan Nesbit Deane
Student Mentor Awards
2024 Student Mentor Award Recipients:
- Anna, Bloom, M.D. was the recipient of the Robert B. Taylor Award, for student who best exemplifies the qualities of the ideal family physician. The award is named in honor of Dr. Robert B. Taylor, former Chair of the Department of Family Medicine
- Alyssa Andretta, M.D., was the recipient of the Outstanding Family Core Clinical Award for demonstrating a superior understanding of and appreciation for the specialty as well as commendable professionalism and outstanding academic achievement.
- Kip Beckwith, P.A. Student, received the William O. Stahl, M.D. Award for Oregon Rural Health Practitioners. This endowed fund established in honor of William O. Stahl. Created to support M.D. & P.A. students who are dedicated to pursuing a career in Oregon rural health.
- Melissa Lemieux, Family Medicine Electives Coordinator, received the Peggy O’Neill Excellence in Student Education Award: A staff member who assists with student education and includes but not limited to: EJH MSE staff, clinic staff at OHSU, clinic staff at any student teaching site across Oregon, SOM staff, administrative staff for any clinic or clinician that enabled excellent teaching. Goes above and beyond expectations in their role.
- Sarah Skog, M.D. (pictured below with Sean Robinson, M.D.), received the Fran Biagioli, M.D. Outstanding Didactic Teaching Award for exhibiting strong commitment to teaching and mentoring of medical students, demonstrates a true FM educator, able to work with all learner skill levels, adaptable educator with innovative teaching styles.
- Amy Tubay, M.D., was the recipient of the Scott A. Fields, M.D., M.H.A. Outstanding Medical Student Teaching and Mentoring Award, for exhibiting strong commitment to teaching and mentoring of medical students, demonstrates a true FM educator, able to work with all learner skill levels, adaptable educator with innovative teaching.
- Antonio Germann, M.D., was the recipient of the Lewis and Ruth Carpenter Teaching Award. The award is given annually to a volunteer (non-OHSU) faculty member of the OHSU Department of Family Medicine who is actively engaged and committed to one-on-one teaching in the ambulatory setting.
INSPIRE Awards
The Department of Family medicine INSPIRE Awards celebrate and honor the hard work of our peers – those making a difference in our lives, our work, our patients lives, and in the clinic.
- Inclusion & Equity
- Noteworthy
- Service
- Presence
- Ingenuity
- Respect
- Empathy
DFM faculty, staff/non-faculty and/or teams were nominated by their peers by highlighting how the nominee, or team, embodies some or all of the INSPIRE characteristics
2023 Winners:
- Mohamed Alyajouri, Administrative Director, Dept. of Hospital Medicine (*Recognized for service at Orenco Station Primary Care clinic)
- Derek Grimes, Medical Assistant (Scappoose)
- Terrel Irvan, PAS Specialist (South Waterfront)
- Catalina Ritzinger, Care Coordinator (Richmond)
2022 Winners:
- Danielle Anderson, Supervisor, Clinic Support (Richmond)
- Leah Gordon, Research Program Manager (Emma Jones Hall)
- The Integrated Behavior Health Team: (staff/non-faculty)
Ramata Adebawo, Theresa Bonanomi, Jade Cheldelin, Adrienne Cardiel, David Casey, Catherine (Cat) Christ, Anne Connor, Marni Doerfler, Kristin Erickson, Adam Guffey, Nicole Hornberger, Luana Nery, Tyler Pickle, Janelle Rasmussen, Laisio (Lai) Saephan, Kimberly Walker, Christine Watson, Kathryn (Katie) White, Erica Martin, Kyle Higgins, Fern Hemmer, Kendyl Decourcey, Savanna Cates, Patrick Maloney, and Marilyn Mihacsi
- C. Estela Vasquez Guzman, Assistant Professor, Research (Emma Jones Hall)
- Scappoose Team: Michael Yetter, Ian Penner, and Ashley Atwood, Instructors
- Deb Cohen, Professor, Vice Chair of Research (Emma Jones Hall)
- Special Awardee – Claire Montaigne (Posthumus)
2021 Winners (Inaugural year):
- Cheyanne Groves, Clinic Manager (South Hillsboro)
- Bre Gustafson, Program Technician 1, Student Education (Emma Jones Hall)
- Jeanine Smith, Interim Director, CVC Operations (South Waterfront Clinic)
- Jennifer Schlobohm, Instructor, Director Behavioral Health (Richmond Clinic)
- Heather Angier, Assistant Professor (Research, Emma Jones Hall)
- Shelby Lee Freed, Instructor (Richmond Clinic)
Residency Section Awards
The Merle Pennington, M.D. Award
For Outstanding Resident Contribution
Recipients between 1991 - 2008
- 1991 Michael S. Booker, M.D. & Lisa Grill Dodson, M.D.
- 1992 Manya Blumberg Helman, M.D.
- 1993 Camille Callais Pitre, M.D. & Bruce Edward Thomson, M.D.
- 1994 Elinor Jean Tatham, M.D. & Cynthia Anne Woodson, M.D.
- 1997 Teresa Gipson, M.D.
- 1998 David B. Graham, M.D. & Frances Biagioli, M.D.
- 1999 Michael Schooling, M.D.
- 2000 Elizabeth Clark, M.D.
- 2001 Jim Little, M.D.
- 2004 Marina Mezey, M.D.
- 2005 Rima Chamie, M.D.
- 2006 Liz Powers, M.D.
- 2007 Heidi Gullett, M.D.
- 2008 Cat Livingston, M.D.
Faculty Teacher of the Year
By Graduating Residents, OHSU Family Medicine
Recipients from 2007 - 2024:
- 2007 Johanna Warren, M.D.
- 2008 Frank Dornfest, M.D.
- 2009 Jennnifer Lochner, M.D.
- 2010 Craig D. Williams, Pharm.D.
- 2011 Steven Wahls, M.D.
- 2012 Ryan C. Petering, M.D.
- 2013 Daisuke Yamashita, M.D.
- 2014 Joe Skariah, D.O., M.P.H.
- 2015 Smriti Ohri, M.D.
- 2016 Holly Hofkamp, M.D.
- 2017 Holly Hofkamp, M.D.
- 2018 Christina Milano, M.D.
- 2019: Details coming soon
- 2020: Rebekah Schiefer, MSW, LCSW
- 2021: Details coming soon
- 2022: Tom Phanthavady, M.D. (Kaiser Beaverton Faculty)
- 2023: Brian Park, M.D., M.P.H.
- 2024: Matt Chan, M.D.
Suzanne Fournier Award
For Outstanding Residency Improvement
Recipients from 2008 - 2024:
- 2008 Dahra Perkins, M.D.
- 2009 Ryan Petering, M.D.
- 2010 Thayer White, M.D.
- 2011 Mellisa Pensa, M.D.
- 2012 Ashley E. Hart, M.D.
- 2013 Filza Akhtar, D.O.
- 2014 Thomas Henry Nguyen Quattlebaum, M.D.
- 2016 Anthony Cheng, M.D.
- 2017 Wilfredo Giordano-Perez, M.D.
- 2018 Alexander Zweig, M.D.
- 2019 Ben Hersh, M.D.
- 2020: Jean Yau, M.D.
- 2021: Details coming soon
- 2022: Justin Lee, M.D.
- 2023: Andrew Wang, M.D.
- 2024: Sydney Landreth, M.D.
Outstanding Capstone Project
For outstanding achievement in capstone project
- 2016 Anthony Cheng, M.D.
- 2017 Nathan Brooks, M.D., M.P.H. & Jade Koide, M.D.
- 2018 Amelia Baker, M.D., M.P.H.
- 2019 Mustafa Alavi, M.D. & Ben Hersh, M.D.
- 2020: Melissa Logan, M.D.; Amanda Aninwene, M.D.
- 2021: Details coming soon
- 2022: Details coming soon
- 2023: Details coming soon
- 2024: Chase Mussard, M.D.
OHSU Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine Hall of Fame
To honor those who, through teaching and personal example, have advanced Family Medicine in Oregon
- Merle Pennington, M.D.
- Laurel G. Case, M.D.
- William A. Fisher, M.D.
- Peter A. Goodwin, M.D.
- Robert B. Taylor, M.D.
- James F. Calvert, M.D.
- John W. Saultz, M.D.
Laurel Case, M.D. Visiting Professorship in Family Medicine
- Warren Newton, M.D., M.P.H.
- Frank DeGruy III, M.D. M.S.F.M.
- Robert Phillips, Jr. M.D., M.S.P.H.
- Eric Holmboe, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.R.C.P
- Steven Woolf, M.D., M.P.H
Institutional
Regional
National
Article Library
Read archived articles that highlight events, activities, and achievements across OHSU Family Medicine.
- Clinical
- Education
- Research
Clinical
- Navigating a pandemic to provide lifesaving holistic care
- Behind the scenes at Richmond clinic tent
- Richmond Clinic is supporting survivors of intermate partner violence
- Healing at home
- An Organic Partnership
- Cliff Coleman, M.D., M.P.H., receives Health Literacy Award
- Aligning care with patient values, one conversation at a time
- Project Nurture highlight
- The future of hospice care is right around the corner