APDIM Awards Recipients

APDIM Award Recipients

2022 APDIM Dema C. Daley Founders Award

The Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine (AAIM) recognizes Sarah A. Tilstra, MD, MS, as the 2022 APDIM Dema C. Daley Founders Award recipient.

On faculty since 2012, Dr. Tilstra currently serves as Associate Professor of Medicine, Section Chief of Women’s Health, and Director of Women’s Health Track at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Tilstra earned her MD from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and completed her internal medicine residency training at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

A member of APDIM since 2011, Dr. Tilstra has presented multiple workshop sessions at Alliance conferences. Her nominator describes her as “the most resilient, unflappable and optimistic [people] I know; her strengths lie in helping others realize their own career goals and full potential through education, mentorship, guidance, and support.” Dr. Tilstra is a recipient of numerous awards including the Clinical Educator of the Year Award from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 2015 and 2020.

“I am honored and humbled to be rewarded for a job that I truly love and recognized for the type of work that us as clinician educators do day-in and day-out that often does not accrue publications or plenary presentations. I am grateful to my mentors and institution for allowing me to be creative and develop my passions for mentoring, women’s health, LGBTQ care, and clinical reasoning education. Having a community at AAIM/APDIM to grow with and learn from over the years has been vital, and I look forward to their ongoing commitment to sponsoring excellence in medical education.”

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Sarah A. Tilstra, MD, MSSarah Tilstra MD

2022 APDIM Distinguished Community Medical Educator Award

The Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine (AAIM) recognizes Armand Krikorian, MD, FACE, FACP, as the 2022 APDIM Distinguished Community Medical Educator Award recipient.

On faculty since 2012, Dr. Krikorian is currently Vice-Chair and Residency Program Director at Advocate Christ Medical Center. Prior to this position, he was Associate Program Director at University Hospitals Case Medical Center. Dr. Krikorian earned his MD from American University of Beirut School of Medicine and completed his residency in internal medicine and his fellowship in endocrinology at University Hospitals Case Medical Center.

A member of APDIM since 2010, Dr. Krikorian serves as Vice-Chair of APDIM Program Planning Committee and is a member of the AAIM Educational Program Planning Committee. He has presented multiple plenary and workshop sessions at Alliance conferences. He is the author of 22 publications and presented 55 posters. Dr. Krikorian’s nominator notes, “Over his eight years tenure as a program director, he has made a tremendous impact on the residency program with innovative educational methods focusing on individualized training pathways in quality improvement and patient safety, medical education and general internal medicine.”

“This award is incredibly humbling and is a reminder of the immense debt of gratitude I owe to my mentors over the years. It also serves as a constant reminder that we are in a professional that continues to evolve and our mission as educators is core to the practice of medicine. I hope to continue along that path in future years and give back to the profession.” 

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Armand Krikorian, MD, FACE, FACPArmand Krikorian MD

2022 APDIM Distinguished Medical Educator Award

The Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine (AAIM) recognizes Richard S. Panush, MD, MACP, MACR, as the 2022 APDIM Distinguished Medical Educator Award recipient.

Dr. Panush is Professor Emeritus at Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. Dr. Panush earned his MD from University of Michigan School of Medicine. He completed his internal medicine residency training at Duke Medical Center and his fellowship training at Robert Breck and Peter Bent Brigham, Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Panush has been a member of APDIM since 1989, serving on publications and program committees, and having presented several workshops, sessions, and a number of abstract and other presentations. Dr. Panush’s nominator notes, “I believe what has made Richard so successful over the past five decades is his humanism. He lives by the principle of what is best for the patient. He never takes personal credit for success and is always willing to take individual or shared responsibility for any adverse situation.”

“Tradition teaches that we have an obligation to try and improve our world, and that we don’t aspire to do good for rewards but for the inherent worth of the effort Talmud Avoth 2:16, 1:3). Academic medical education offered opportunities to contribute to both the medical community and society, which was great fun and fulfilling. What could be more lasting than preparing future generations to follow and surpass us? I learned, and tried to teach, that the essence of patient care is "caritas” (biblical “loving-kindness”, abiding empathetic respect and love for humanity), to be practiced and lived.”

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Richard S. Panush, MD, MACP, MACRRichard S. Panush, MD, MACP, MACR

2022 APDIM Program Administrators Excellence Award

The Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine (AAIM) recognizes Krystle Joy Santos, MA, as the 2022 APDIM Program Administrators Excellence Award recipient.

Ms. Santos is currently Residency Program Manager at Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, a position she has served in since 2018. Prior to her current position, she was a Program Coordinator at the University of California, Los Angeles Extension. Ms. Santos earned her MA in Organizational Communications from DePaul University.

A member of APDIM since 2015, Ms. Santos will become a member of the APDIM Program Administrators Advisory Council July 2022. Her nominator notes that “she fosters a collaborative environment that strengthens all the training programs at our institution.” Ms. Santos is a recipient of the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California STAR award and the University of California, Los Angeles Extension Staff Achievement Award.

“I am lucky to know a lot of amazing coordinators who give their all to their residents and their programs so to be recognized is truly humbling. I care deeply for my trainees, their education, and helping my program leadership advance our program. In this role it feels like we’re constantly putting out fires and at times we don’t recognize the value or long-lasting impact of our work. This award reminds me that what we do as coordinators matters, and we can make a difference even though we may not be by with our trainees at the patient’s bedside.”

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Krystle Joy Santos, MAKrystle Joy Santos, MA