Lawrenceville, NJ, December 20, 2021 – MDAdvantage Insurance Company, a leading provider of medical professional liability insurance, today announced the 2022 EJI Excellence in Medicine award recipients. Honoring New Jersey healthcare leaders, the EJI Excellence in Medicine Awards are considered to be the highest honors presented to New Jersey’s medical community.
Patricia A. Costante, Chairman and CEO of MDAdvantage, stated, “MDAdvantage remains proudly committed to highlighting the contributions of prominent New Jersey healthcare professionals through our long-term sponsorship of the EJI Excellence in Medicine Awards™. We are especially honored in these challenging times for healthcare leaders and providers to be able to recognize their accomplishments in the fight against the pandemic and in caring for the health and welfare of New Jersey’s residents.”
All profits from the event will be dedicated to support medical, dental, pharmacy and physician assistant scholarships. Paul J. Hirsch, MD, Chairman of the EJI Excellence in Medicine Foundation, stated, “As healthcare leaders, we have an obligation to pave the way for future healthcare providers so that they may continue the tradition of quality care delivery and innovation in our state. We are proud to support 9 new students this year, and look forward to following their success as they grow in their careers.”
The 2022 EJI Excellence in Medicine Honorees:
Outstanding Medical Educator Award:
Petros Levounis, MD, MA, Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Associate Dean for Professional Development, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ.
Dr. Levounis will be honored for his contributions to medical education in New Jersey and for his passionate commitment to the field of psychiatry and addiction medicine.
Outstanding Healthcare Executive Award:
Shereef Elnahal, MD, MBA, President and CEO, University Hospital, Newark, NJ.
Dr. Elnahal will be honored for his proven track record of excellence in hospital leadership and his commitment to the delivery of high-quality healthcare in New Jersey.
EJI Physician’s Award™:
Margarita Camacho, MD, MBA, MS, Surgical Director, Cardiac Transplantation, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, and Quality Director, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Northern Division, RWJBarnabas Health, Newark, NJ.
Dr. Camacho was selected to receive this award in recognition of her reputation as a world-class cardiac surgeon who places amongst the top 1% of heart transplant surgeons in all-time volume, her advocacy for the lifechanging power of organ donation, and her determined dedication to her patients.
Verice M. Mason Community Service Leader Award:
Sunanda Gaur, MD, Professor of Pediatrics and Director, Clinical Research Center, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, on behalf of the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Clinical Research Center (RWJMS-CRC), New Brunswick, NJ.
Dr. Gaur and her team will be honored for their extraordinary contributions in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic through the execution of critical clinical trials to identify lifesaving treatments and vaccines.
Outstanding Scientist Award:
Junichi Sadoshima, PhD, MD, Professor and Chair, Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ.
Dr. Sadoshima will be honored for his significant contributions as a medical researcher in cardiac metabolism and aging, and for his dedication to training the next generation of scientists.
Peter W. Rodino, Jr. Citizen’s Award®:
Joshua Coren, DO, MBA, Co-Founder and Medical Director, Rowan University COVID-19 Vaccine Center, on behalf of the Rowan University COVID-19 Vaccine Center Leadership Team, Stratford, NJ .
Dr. Coren and the Rowan University COVID-19 Vaccine Center Leadership Team were chosen to receive this award in recognition of their excellence in leading the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic through vaccinations and by successfully integrating medical and nursing students into their efforts.
The 2022 awards will be presented at the EJI Excellence in Medicine Awards™ ceremony on May 4, 2022, at Park Château Estate and Gardens in East Brunswick, New Jersey. To reserve tickets, participate as a Scholarship Honor Roll member, place an ad in this year’s awards journal or
make a direct contribution, please contact the EJI Excellence in Medicine Foundation at 609-803-2350 or visit www.EJIFoundation.org.
