‘Inspiration to Us All’: 14 Clinicians Inducted into CU Anschutz Department of Medicine’s Clinical Excellence Society

In a night of celebration, on March 3, the University of Colorado Anschutz Department of Medicine inducted 14 new members into its Clinical Excellence Society, a collection of faculty members who are recognized as having demonstrated an exceptional commitment to patient care.

“While many departments have awards for research and educational excellence, few celebrate the best doctors — the ones patients will get on a plane to come visit, or the ones we want for our families’ care,” said Department of Medicine Chair Vineet Chopra, MBBS, MD, MSc, to the crowd of clinicians and their loved ones.

“Although many of us have different careers in medicine, all of us came with a singular purpose of being the best we could be for the patients that we care for,” he added. “Few of us rise to this mantle, and tonight, we get to recognize those individuals.”

‘The best in their field’

The Clinical Excellence Society, established in 2023 with support from anonymous donors, accepts new members every two years. The first-ever cohort, composed of 21 members, was inducted in 2024. There is a thorough vetting process to be accepted into the society, which involves obtaining testimonials from patients and colleagues as well as a review of application materials by leading clinicians across the country, including at Emory University, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Michigan.

The 14 new members offer a vast array of clinical care and expertise, caring for patients at the UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital (UCH), the Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Denver Health, and National Jewish Health. They represent nine clinical divisions and range in rank from assistant professors to professors with tenure.

Sunita Sharma, MD, the department’s vice chair for faculty development and mentorship and a co-founder of the Clinical Excellence Society, described these clinicians as individuals who have “not only dedicated their lives to the practice of medicine, but have also elevated it to an art form.”

“These leaders are not content with the status quo,” Sharma said. “They are architects of innovation, constantly striving to improve the landscape of health care and addressing health disparities.”

The importance of innovation was further emphasized by the event’s keynote speaker, Robert Wachter, MD, chair of the University of California, San Francisco Department of Medicine and former president of the Society of Hospital Medicine. Watcher, who recently published a book, “A Giant Leap: How AI is Transforming Healthcare and What That Means For Our Future,” spoke about how clinicians may employ artificial intelligence to further elevate the care they provide.

“Tonight’s inductees are exceptional clinicians — the best in their field,” Sharma said. “Their dedication, leadership, and contributions to patient care, education, and scientific advancement serve as an inspiration to us all. We celebrate not only their achievements, but also the profound impact they have had on the lives of those they serve and the generations they continue to inspire.”

Introducing the 2026 cohort

Below are the names of the 14 newest members of the Clinical Excellence Society, as well as a snapshot into why they are recognized as some of the “best of the best.”

• Anip Bansal, MD, an associate professor in the renal diseases and hypertension division, practices at UCH. As part of Bansal’s nomination, a colleague wrote, “I had the immense privilege of training under Dr. Bansal, and even now, as a practicing nephrologist, I carry his voice with me. I am motivated every day to read more, work harder, and care for my patients as if they were my own family — because that is how Dr. Bansal cares for his.”
• Susan Calcaterra, MD, MPH, MS, an associate professor in the hospital medicine division, practices at UCH, and much of her clinical work centers around treating substance use disorders. A peer wrote, “Dr. Calcaterra is one of the most outstanding clinician-leaders I have encountered in academic medicine — an exemplar of mastery in hospital-based addiction care, clinical and research innovation, compassionate patient-centered practice, and mentorship.”
• Kristy Gama, ANP-BC, an assistant professor in the cardiology division, practices at UCH. She is driven by a mission to empower patients with knowledge, build trust, and treat everyone with compassion and dignity. One of Gama’s colleagues wrote, “I not only partner with her clinically, but also rely on her for the excellent care she provides me as a patient. In our multidisciplinary clinic, both cardiac surgery and cardiology lean on her heavily for everything from diagnosis to indications for procedures.”
• Kellie Hawkins, MD, MPH, an assistant professor in the division of infectious diseases, practices at Denver Health. Her work is guided by a health equity lens, personalizing treatment plans to the individual needs of patients. A professor in the division wrote, “Dr. Hawkins has demonstrated clinical mastery, compassion, integrity, and service that embodies the Clinical Excellence Society. Her practice reflects not only exceptional skill but also the humanistic spirit that lies at the heart of medicine.”
• Whitney Jackson, MD, an associate professor in the gastroenterology and hepatology division, practices at UCH and serves as medical director of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). An associate professor of medicine at Jefferson Health wrote, “She is a true content expert and has been my first call numerous times when my team and I are struggling with a challenging patient scenario. Her passion for LDLT is contagious and it is impossible not to be inspired by her.”
• Lindsay Nicholson, MD, an associate professor in the infectious diseases division, is a physician-scientist who practices at the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center. A professor in the division wrote: “Dr. Nicholson has provided consistently excellent clinical care and infrastructure for the diagnosis and treatment of veterans … I am always impressed with her equanimity and willingness to meet and engage new challenges and to do whatever is needed to help her patients and her colleagues.”
• Glen Peterson, DNP, ACNP, RN, an associate professor in the hematology division, practices at UCH. A colleague describes Peterson as the best clinical advanced practice provider, adding, “He has an extensive knowledge base, fantastic judgement, is extremely dedicated, resilient, and hardworking, and he has extraordinary technical skills … His ability to communicate with physicians, nurses, other APPs, as well as patients and families is simply without peer, and this coupled with his obvious empathy and compassion are wonderful models for us all.”
• Cason Pierce, MD, an associate professor of hospital medicine, practices at Denver Health — a location he chose to work at because of its commitment to underserved populations. A colleague in the department wrote, “What distinguishes Dr. Pierce is his ability to combine clinical precision with genuine advocacy. He is tireless in seeking creative, collaborative solutions to improve care coordination and outcomes. In doing so, he not only advances the health of individual patients but also models the highest ideals of medicine, justice, and service to all who work alongside him.”
• Micol Rothman, MD, a professor in the endocrinology, metabolism, and diabetes division, practices at UCH. A professor in the CU Anschutz Department of Psychiatry wrote, “Dr. Rothman’s clinical impact, leadership, and innovation exemplify the highest standards of excellence in academic medicine. She has built nationally-recognized programs that reflect her commitment to whole-person care and multidisciplinary collaboration. She also developed teaching clinics that integrate learners from multidisciplinary specialties, fostering cross-disciplinary education in bone health.”
• Jeff Sippel, MD, a professor in the pulmonary, allergy, and critical care medicine division, practices at UCH and prioritizes always putting patients first. One of his patients wrote, “Over the past three years, he has been a guiding light through my difficult diagnosis, providing constant reassurance and top-notch care during my check-ups … Dr. Sippel gave me my life back, and I am forever grateful. He is an angel to those of us with this rare disease.”
• Jennifer Taylor-Cousar, MD, a professor in the pulmonary, allergy, and critical care medicine division, practices at National Jewish Health. A colleague wrote, “In an area of focus, cystic fibrosis, which is filled with exceptional and dedicated physicians, Dr. Taylor stands apart — not only for her clinical acumen and clinical research accomplishments, but for the extraordinary humanity she brings to every patient encounter. She is, quite simply, the kind of clinician each of us want to become ourselves, or to have care for our loved ones.”
• Sachin Wani, MD, a professor in the gastroenterology and hepatology division, practices at UCH. A professor at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine wrote, “Dr. Wani is an outstanding clinician and clinical researcher. Even in complex clinical situations, he unfailingly chooses the management that provides the best chance for the best outcome. Importantly, because of his outstanding interpersonal skills and great patient rapport, he helps the patient walk through the decision-making process in a way that is focused on their values and their needs.”
• Margaret E. Wierman, MD, a professor in the endocrinology, metabolism, and diabetes division, practices at UCH and describes herself as a “hormone detective” for patients, creating personalized treatment plans for endocrine disorders. An associate professor in the CU Anschutz Department of Surgery wrote, “What makes Dr. Wierman exceptional is her unwavering passion for patient care. She always takes the time to understand each patient’s story, performing meticulous evaluations, and crafting individualized, evidence-based treatment plans … Her patients consistently describe her as knowledgeable, thorough, and kind — comments like ‘the best of the best,’ ‘she really listens,’ and ‘I wouldn’t want to see anyone else,’ appear again and again.”
• JoAnn Zell, MD, an associate professor in the rheumatology division, practices at UCH and prioritizes establishing empathy and trust with her patients. A colleague in the CU Anschutz Department of Dermatology wrote, “Dr. Zell stands out for her ability to evaluate and manage some of the rarest, most complex, and diagnostically challenging conditions we encounter … In every setting, Dr. Zell exemplifies the qualities the Clinical Excellence Society seeks to honor: clinical mastery, innovation in care delivery, and an unwavering focus on the patient. She has elevated the care we deliver, strengthened collaboration across specialties, and served as an inspiring role model for the next generation of physicians.”

In recognition of these exceptional clinicians and their impact on countless patients, Chopra commended the 2026 cohort for navigating the complexities of medicine with grace and precision.

“May your passion continue to fuel the pursuit of excellence, and may your dedication inspire those around you,” Chopra said. “Here’s to clinical excellence — the beacon guiding us toward a brighter and healthier future.”