Dr. Susana Morales, who has worked tirelessly for decades promoting outstanding patient care for all patient populations, has received the prestigious 2015 Elnora M. Rhodes Society of General Internal Medicine Service Award. Dr. Morales is widely known for her superb patient care, academic scholarship, devotion to teaching, and pioneering work in health disparities. An exemplary role model for young physicians and investigators in training, the SGIM will celebrate her "extraordinary service to the SGIM and its missions" at their awards meeting held in April 2015.
The Society of General Internal Medicine is a national organization of general internal medicine faculty. The SGIM mission is to promote excellence in creative and innovative approaches to clinical care, teaching, and research, collegial support and mentorship, social responsibility and equity in health and health care, and diversity. The Elnora M. Rhodes SGIM Service Award was established in 1997 to honor Ms. Rhodes' tremendous contributions to the Society of General Internal Medicine during her ten years as Executive Director. The award symbolizes the highest level of service to the society and is given to an individual for outstanding service to SGIM and its mission.
"Creating value for patients" is the SGIM's motto. Dr. Morales's career has exemplified this goal at its best. During her decades of service with the SGIM, she has served on SGIM's governing Council, chaired the Minorities in Medicine Interest Group, as well as the Student, Resident, and Fellow Outreach effort to recruit the next generation of SGIM leaders. She has been a frequent speaker on workshops, panels and symposiums. She attained special distinction for the most highly rated Pre-Course held at a SGIM national meeting, not once but twice. The course entitled, "Minority Faculty Development," is a model of success and represents the skill and dedication that Dr. Morales has demonstrated in furthering the careers of countless young physicians in the field of internal medicine, throughout the northeast, and beyond.
Colleagues describe Dr. Morales as a "motivator" for students, a physician and role model who exemplifies service at its highest level of excellence. It was noted during the award nomination process, that Dr. Morales "catalyzes career development for junior SGIM members" and helps to build the social capital – the supportive relationships – of the SGIM organization. In addition to the numerous teaching awards that Dr. Morales has received at Weill Cornell Medicine, she is a winner of the SGIM Clinical Educator of the Year Award (Mid-Atlantic Region).
In addition to her contributions as a premier educator, Dr. Morales remains a champion in addressing health care disparities for vulnerable populations through her own patient practice and many community advocacy endeavors. An Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, and Associate Program Director for the Residency Program in Internal Medicine at Weill Cornell, she serves as the Director of the Center for Multicultural and Minority Health at Weill Cornell Internal Medicine Associates. She is a member of the Boards of Directors of Public Health Solutions, the United Hospital Fund, the Latino Commission on AIDS, and the Women's Housing and Economic Development Corporation.
The Weill Department of Medicine congratulates Dr. Morales on receiving the 2015 Elnora M. Rhodes SGIM Service Award!