Natalie Johnson, DO and Chief Resident, OB/GYN with the UT College of Medicine Chattanooga (UTCOMC) was named the 2015 Alper Humanitarian Award winner during special ceremonies held at Erlanger’s Probasco Auditorium on March 20.
he Dr. Harold Alper Humanitarian Award is presented annually to a graduating resident of UTCOMC who has consistently demonstrated the humanistic qualities for which the late Dr. Harold Alper was known. Those qualities include integrity, exemplary compassion for patients, families and colleagues, community service and humanitarian qualities during residency.
This year’s honoree was on a medical mission in India and unable to accept her award Friday, but she sent a message of appreciation which was read by Dr. Robert Fore, UTCOMC Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
In accepting her award, Dr. Johnson wrote, “I just come to work wanting to be the best I can be for my patients; I am excited and feel blessed that I have a career where I can meet some many people from different walks of life and share in some of their most intimate moments – such as bringing new life into the world. It is truly a privilege that I can help take care of people and show them love. I hope to continue to show patients love and compassion, and I hope I never lose humility or passion for my work. Thank you for nominating me for such a wonderful award; I am very grateful and touched that people would nominate me.”
The other seven nominees for the 2015 Alper Humanitarian Award were: Drs. Nikhil Anand, Kevin Crawford, Rehan Kahloon, Shavonda Thomas, Apphia Wang, Chad Ward and Josh Worthington.
Keynote speaker during Friday’s ceremonies was Danielle Ofri, MD, PhD, a physician at Bellevue Hospital, the oldest public hospital in the country. Dr. Ofri writes about medicine and the doctor-patient connection for the New York Times and she is the author of four books about the world of medicine, and doctor-patient communications.
During her talk at Erlanger, which highlighted the importance of humanism in medicine and how physicians’ emotions impact the delivery of medical care, Dr. Orfi discussed “How Emotions Affect the Practice of Medicine.”
Pictured at the 2015 UTCOMC Alper Humanitarian Award ceremony at Erlanger Friday are front row, Dr. Apphia Wang; keynote speaker Dr. Danielle Orfi with Bellevue Hospital, and, holding the 2015 Alper Humanitarian Award, the mother of Natalie Johnson, who accepted her in daughter’s absence. Pictured on the back row are Drs. Chad Ward, Josh Worthington, Shavonda Thomas, Rehan Kahloon, Nikkil Annand and Kevin Crawford.
