Congratulations to the faculty and CRNAs who were selected as recipients of our department’s 2023 Chair’s Excellence Awards. These individuals are recognized by our Chair Dr. Aman Mahajan and department leaders for going above and beyond in their service to our patients and department. This annual award program was established to recognize and honor outstanding contributions by our faculty and CRNAs who exemplify our guiding principles and core values and embody the attributes outlined by our clinical, research, and educational mission.
These clinicians are recognized as ambassadors of our department’s expectations of values and behaviors. They drive excellence in everything they do, achieve ambitions (for themselves and others), enable quality improvements, provide exceptional patient care and support for colleagues, exemplify outstanding service through their work, and exhibit a positive and supportive attitude.
Our Chair’s Excellence Awards align with UPP’s and our department’s select shared values. We honor the following faculty and CRNAs for their exceptional contributions in the below areas.
Compassionate Care
The following clinicians are recognized for demonstrating core humanistic values, including honesty and integrity, caring and compassion, altruism and empathy, respect for others, and trustworthiness, as well as for their attentiveness and extraordinary compassion in the care and treatment of patients and the community.
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| Michael K. Chaklos, CRNA UPMC Shadyside |
Kathy M. Pyros, MSN, CRNA UPMC Children's Hospital |
Peter J. Ritchie, MD UPMC Presbyterian |
Mercedes Cristina Roosen-Marcos, MD UPMC Children's Hospital |
Professionalism
The following clinicians are highly regarded for their work ethic and interpersonal relationships, demonstrate a commitment to the highest practice standards and code of conduct, and exhibit a commitment to scholarship and advancing the field of anesthesiology.
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| Karen L. Ferguson, MSN, CRNA UPMC Digestive Health & Endoscopy |
Joshua Knight, MD, FASE UPMC Presbyterian |
Charles Lin, MD, MSc UPMC Passavant |
Shawn M. West, MSN, CRNA UPMC Network |
Exceptional Service
The following clinicians are recognized for their innovation and for driving solutions,
as well as demonstrating consistent reliability and passion and dedication to providing service excellence.
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| Stan Alfaras-Melainis, MD, MSc UPMC Mercy |
Liliana Berezhna, MHS, CRNA UPMC Presbyterian |
Dale E. Heron, MSN, CRNA UPMC Presbyterian |
Adam Hill, MD UPMC Shadyside |
Outstanding Leadership
The following clinicians inspire the team towards achieving excellence, make a positive impact on others and the world around them, practice empathy and understand others’ perspectives, value and honor diverse experiences and perspectives, and exhibit an openness to new ideas and partnerships.
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| Joseph S. DeRenzo, MD UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital |
Kirsten Radaker, MSN, CRNA UPMC Mercy |