The Social and Wellness Committee organized the Second Annual Hospital Medicine Awards on November 19, 2025. Hospitalists, APCs, and staff came together to enjoy ‘WashU-Giving’ and celebrate their colleagues in the Holden Auditorium in the Farrell Learning and Teaching Center. We shared a delicious Thanksgiving meal, complete with all the traditional fixings, to help reward hospitalists for their outstanding work and efforts this year. The award categories stayed the same as the previous ceremony, but the winners of last year’s awards were not able to win again. Hospitalists nominated their colleagues and selected the final winners.
It was uplifting to witness division members unite in celebrating their colleagues, and to receive feedback on the exceptional patient care, research initiatives, and cooperation with other departments demonstrated by hospitalists and APCs. We are excited to maintain this tradition in the future.
The following hospitalists and APCs were honored at the ceremony:
| Award Category | Award Recipient |
|---|---|
| Rookie of the Year: In appreciation for exemplifying the qualities and principles of an ideal hospitalist within the first three years as an attending | Madeline Grondalski, RN, MD |
| Excellence in Patient Care Partnership: In appreciation for exemplifying excellent partnership with APCs | Lalit Kalvala, MD |
| Excellence in Education: In appreciation for excellence in integrating medical education into the Division of Hospital Medicine | Tony Dao, MD |
| Professionalism in Hospital Medicine: In appreciation for outstanding collaboration with colleagues across various departments within the School of Medicine | Randy Laine, MD |
| APC of the Year: In appreciation for exemplifying the qualities and principles of an ideal Advanced Practice Clinician | Lisa Gill, DNP, ANP |
| Excellence in Nocturnal Medicine: In appreciation for excellent teamwork and patient care as a nocturnist physician | Thomas Hoyt, MD |
| Lifesaver Award: In appreciation of promoting principles and ideals of teamwork in the Division of Hospital Medicine | Patricia Litkowski, MD |
| Leadership Award: In appreciation for exemplifying the ideals of hospitalist leadership; accessible, responsive, thoughtful, patient, innovative, persistent | Zach Morgan, MD |
| Excellence in Administration: In appreciation for exemplifying the ideals of hospitalist leadership; accessible, responsive, thoughtful, patient, innovative, persistent | Christal Mills |
| Diagnostician of the Year: In appreciation for exemplary diagnostic acumen | Kieran Patel, MD |
| APC Rookie of the Year: In appreciation for exemplifying the qualities and principles of an ideal Advanced Practice Clinician within the first three years practicing | C.J. Butler, PA-C, ATC |
| Nursing Excellence: In appreciation for excellent partnership with hospital medicine in providing patient care | Malerie Pelizzaro |
Many of our nominees received amazing comments from their peers, despite not ultimately winning the award category. Here are some of the exceptional remarks that nominees received:
“Katy cares about patient well-being and sustainable use of hospital resources literally more than any physician I have ever met. She will go above and beyond to have difficult conversations with patients and is consistently motivated by her sense of duty to provide the best care she can. She inspires me to not give up and try to fix what’s broken with the medical care system and patients who have complicated behavioral issues.”
Leah is incredibly intelligent, and I’ve never known her to make a misstep. Most critically, she recognizes when the initial diagnoses or workup by the ER doesn’t make sense and works to resolve whatever diagnostic or treatment error has been made.”
nominated for Diagnostician of the Year
“Radha is enthusiastic about applying problem solving skills to medical conundrums and discussing her thought process. She exemplifies superb clinical reasoning through her commitment to self-improvement. Her dedication to personal growth and introspection sets a powerful example for young faculty and serves as an inspiration for all who stive to be the best possible clinician for their patients.”