Photos of our honorees are displayed left to right in alphabetical order by last name (see list below).
For the University of Colorado Anschutz Department of Family Medicine (CUA DFM), every individual—from faculty and leadership to staff—plays a vital role in the department’s collective success. To celebrate their hard work, the department hosts an annual awards ceremony, recognizing excellence and dedication across all areas of our community.
The awards process begins each year with nominations submitted by colleagues and peers, offering a chance to spotlight the dedication and impact of those around them.
These nominations are reviewed by the deliberations committee, selecting top candidates for final consideration by the department’s leadership team. The honorees chosen through this careful and thoughtful process are celebrated at the department’s much-anticipated annual Spring Fling event.
The awards fall into twelve categories to recognize the various facets of the department such as community, clinical medicine, teaching, research, rural medicine, and overall outstanding performance in their craft. These different categories aim to reflect a collective representation across the entire department, which include:
- Clinician of the Year
- Rising Star in Clinical Medicine
- Teacher of the Year
- Rising Star in Education
- Research Services Professional of the Year
- Rising Star in Research
- Excellence in Mentoring
- Excellence in Professionalism
- Promoting Health Equity
- Making People Healthier
- Staff Member of the Year
- Special Recognition
What Makes the DFM Shine
With a final count of sixty-seven nominees, and eighteen honorees, Myra Muramoto, MD, MPH, FAAFP, the Woodward-Chisholm Professor and Chair of the Department of Family Medicine–summed up the admirable work of every nominee and award recipient that went through this process.
“Each of them consistently goes above and beyond in their roles, demonstrating exceptional professionalism and a deep commitment to their work. It’s truly an honor to work alongside such a talented and driven team, and we are grateful for everything they do.”
During the award ceremony, presenters beautifully attested to the skills and qualities of the honorees'. To give you just an idea of the incredible caliber of the DFM, below you'll find just a few of the statements made about this year's honorees.
Jodi Holtrop, PhD, MCHES, Professor and Vice Chair for Research for the Department of Family Medicine, called on the importance of research work and the exemplary efforts of our faculty within the department–specifically noting the accomplishment of Tamara Oser, MD, Associate Professor and Director of the High Plains Research Network in the Department of Family Medicine, who was awarded Excellence in Mentoring.
“Tamara has played an instrumental role in helping numerous faculty members with shaping their career trajectories and passions by assisting with writing grant applications, implementing their research studies/projects, directing them to resources as needed, and helping disseminate work by thoughtfully reading and providing feedback for publications. Tamara exemplifies the qualities of an exceptional mentor: empathy, expertise, patience, and a genuine commitment to the professional and personal development of her mentees. Her contributions to DFM through her mentoring and broader leadership are invaluable and extremely appreciated by her peers and teams.”
Health equity is a key part in the foundation of the DFM. Cleveland Piggott, MD, MPH, FAAFP, Associate Professor and Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion for the DFM, discussed the value of health equity by praising the efforts of Heather Bleacher, MD, Associate Professor and Director of Population Health, Advocacy, and Community Engagement Curriculum, and Director of Health Equity for University of Colorado Department of Family Medicine Clinical Affairs.
“Heather leads our A. F. Williams Clinic Health Equity in Action Team, Leader of our Residency’s Community Engagement Program, Leader of the DFM’s Community Engagement Program, and is the Director for Health Equity for DFM Clinical Affairs. Her work over the years has been beyond impressive. She has worked to address the social determinants of health in our clinics, trained the next generation of health equity leaders, and helped many clinicians feel empowered in addressing health equity in their patients. It is for these reasons and more that Heather Bleacher’s colleagues have often referred to her as a National Treasure.”
Aimee English, MD, CLC, Associate Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs, acknowledged the dedication and passion of clinical medicine as she praised Angelo Alago, PsyD, –who won Rising Star in Clinical Medicine–who shines in his dedication and love for his patients.
“Dr. Angelo Alago brings heart, expertise, and dedication to everything he does, providing exceptional care that’s deeply rooted in evidence-based practice and genuine connection with his patients. As an expert in anxiety and OCD treatments, patients and providers alike seek him out for consultation and care. Known for his devotion to his work–his warmth and humility shines through as he collaborates with patients who are experiencing discomfort and inviting a shared experience so that patients do not feel alone. His impact is felt across every clinic, colleague, and patient he interacts with.”
Award Honorees
The entire list of honorees and their respective awards are listed below in alphabetical order by last name:
- Gilbert Achay: Staff Member of the Year
- Angelo Alago, PsyD: Rising Star in Clinical Medicine
- Heather Bleacher, MD: Promoting Health Equity
- Danika Buss: Research Services Professional of the Year
- Michael Cahill, MS, CPHQ: Special Recognition
- Bhargavi Chekuri, MBBS, MD, MS: Rising Star in Education
- Alfredia Connor, RN: Making People Healthier
- Djuana Harvell, PhD: Making People Healthier
- Kaylin Klie, MD, MA: Clinician of the Year
- Marisa Kostiuk, PhD: Rising Star in Research
- Megan Lykke, MD: Rising Star in Education
- Meagan Maher, PA-C: Special Recognition
- Robert Mesec, CMS, CIS: Excellence in Professionalism
- George Olsen, MD: Teacher of the Year
- Tamara Oser, MD: Excellence in Mentoring
- Terri Richardson, MD: Making People Healthier
- Amanda Swanson, MD: Rising Star in Education
- Laura Washington: Staff Member of the Year
Congratulations to each well-deserved honoree; a special thank you to all the nominees; and an ecstatic shoutout to everyone who participated in the awards process. You are what makes the DFM truly special.