Ten health care leaders recently received awards from the AMA Foundation for their dedication to the profession and for serving their patients and communities with the highest standards of care. The awardees were honored at an awards ceremony on June 8, and 10 health-focused nonprofit organizations will receive monetary grants in their honor.
The annual ceremony is part of the foundation’s Excellence in Medicine Awards. The program acknowledges the outstanding efforts of physicians and medical professionals committed to ensuring that every individual, regardless of background or circumstance, has access to quality, optimal health care.
The AMA Foundation congratulates the awardees and thanks them for their service.
Courage in Women’s Health Advocacy Award
Anita Ravi, MD, MPH, MSHP, FAAFP
Dr. Anita Ravi is a board-certified family medicine physician and nationally recognized expert in the health of gender-based violence (GBV) survivors. She is the CEO and co-founder of PurpLE Health Foundation, a pioneering nonprofit organization focused on improving the long-term health of GBV survivors, including women and girls impacted by human trafficking, domestic violence and sexual assault. Dr. Ravi’s influence in the health care field of GBV is felt not only through clinical care but also in areas of public health and policy, with multiple peer-reviewed research publications and services on national committees. She is a consultant for the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center. Dr. Ravi’s outstanding achievements have garnered widespread recognition, including honors like the 40 Under 40 Leader in Minority Health Award from the National Minority Quality Forum and selection for the prestigious Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center Residency Program.
In honor of Dr. Ravi, a grant was awarded to the PurpLE Health Foundation.
Debasish Mridha Spirit of Medicine Award
Juan Robles, MD
Dr. Juan Robles is an Albert Einstein College of Medicine graduate who completed his family medicine training at Montefiore’s Residency Program in Social Medicine in the Bronx. His interests include caring for marginalized populations, medical education and health care workforce development. Dr. Robles co-founded the Bronx Community Health Leaders, a pre-health pathway program for socioeconomically disadvantaged and underrepresented students in health care professions. He is an associate professor in the Department of Family and Social Medicine at Einstein, where he educates medical students, residents and fellows. Dr. Robles has received notable medical education and leadership distinctions, including the National Hispanic Medical Association Physician Hispanic Health Leadership Award and Mentor of the Year for the Latino Medical Student Association.
In honor of Dr. Robles, a grant was awarded to the Niño De La Caridad Foundation.
Lieutenant Commander Marie Jeoboam, MD, MS, FAAFP
Lt. Cmdr. Marie Jeoboam, MD, a Haitian native who migrated to Miami at age eight, embodies resilience and dedication in her journey to becoming a renowned physician and leader. She earned her medical degree from Florida State University College of Medicine, followed by residency at Eastern Virginia Medical School, where she served as chief resident, shaping her into the compassionate primary care physician she is today. As a commissioned corps officer with the U.S. Public Health Service, Dr. Jeoboam serves as medical director for the Occupational Health Clinic at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. With over a decade of experience and board certification in family medicine, she is celebrated for her patient-centered approach, particularly in managing complex conditions. She is actively engaged in professional bodies such as the American Academy of Family Physicians and has garnered recognition for her contributions.
In honor of Dr. Jeoboam, a grant was awarded to Intown Cares.
Dr. Edmond and Rima Cabbabe Dedication to the Profession Award
Mill Etienne, MD, MPH, FAAN, FANA, FAES
Dr. Mill Etienne is passionate about mentoring the next generation of health care professionals and showing them how to provide care for an increasingly diverse patient population. He is an associate professor of neurology and medicine at New York Medical College (NYMC), where he also serves as vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion and associate dean for student affairs. Dr. Etienne is director of neurology at Westchester Medical Center Good Samaritan Hospital, past president of the New York State Neurological Society and board-certified in neurology, epilepsy, clinical neurophysiology, brain injury medicine and public health. Dr. Etienne received his bachelor’s degree from Yale University, MD from NYMC and MPH from Columbia University, where he completed his neurology residency and fellowship training. Dr. Etienne received the 2024 American Academy of Neurology DEI Changemaker Award.
In honor of Dr. Etienne, a grant was awarded to Bon Secours Charity.
Brandi Ring, MD, MBA
Dr. Brandi Ring is an obstetrician/gynecologist originally from Colorado. Dr. Ring developed a deep passion for serving the underserved and developing health policy during training and has become a national advocate for patients and physicians. Dr. Ring is the associate medical director for The Center for Children and Women Southwest in Houston, Texas. It is one of the state’s largest federally qualified health centers, focusing on simplified access to comprehensive care. Dr. Ring’s specialty interests include perinatal mental health, disaster preparation, LGBTQ care and preventative health. She also works for Baylor College of Medicine and is on the Texas Medical Association Council on Medical Education. She is the AMA Young Physicians Section speaker, the Aurora-Adams County Medical Society president, a Colorado Medical Society board member and the medical student liaison. Dr. Ring was the first OB/GYN to be appointed and co-chair of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Advisory Panel on Healthcare Delivery and Disparities Research.
In honor of Dr. Ring, a grant was awarded to March of Dimes.
Excellence in LGBTQ+ Health Award – Physician
Asa Radix, MD, PhD
Dr. Asa Radix is the senior director of research and education at the Callen-Lorde Community Health Center and a clinical professor of medicine at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine. As a board-certified internist and infectious disease specialist, Dr. Radix has significantly contributed to LGBTQ+ health. Their research focuses on HIV and STI prevention, transgender health and health care disparities, with a particular emphasis on developing culturally competent care models. Dr. Radix also advocates for social justice and health equity, striving to address the systemic issues that contribute to health disparities. They have contributed to national and international guidelines in transgender health and served as co-chair of the World Professional Association of Transgender Health Standards of Care version 8. Dr. Radix has served on the New York State AIDS Institute’s Medical Clinical Care Committee, the American Sexual Health Association and the Department of Health and Human Services Panel on Antiretroviral Guidelines for Adults and Adolescents.
In honor of Dr. Radix, a grant was awarded to the Callen-Lorde Community Health Center.
Excellence in LGBTQ+ Health Award – Resident/Fellow
Anita Venkatesan, MD, MPH
Dr. Anita Venkatesan earned her bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from the University of California, Irvine and her medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada. During medical school, she saw a need for a public health approach to medicine and pursued a master’s in public health with a specialization in epidemiology from New York University. She completed a family medicine residency at the Institute of Family Health, Mid-Hudson, New York, where she served as the resident education leader in her final year. During residency, she was heavily involved in developing the LGBTQ+ specialty track and setting up gender-affirming care services at all clinic sites. Dr. Venkatesan is completing her PGY-4 year as the LGBTQ+ Medicine Fellow at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Her passion lies in creating inclusive spaces to provide full-spectrum care for her patients, emphasizing patient education. She wants to continue developing an LGBTQ+ health curriculum for residency programs to expand care access and create affirming spaces for patients.
In honor of Dr. Venkatesan, a grant was awarded to the Long Island Crisis Center.
Excellence in LGBTQ+ Health Award – Student
Tess Jewell
Tess Jewell is an aspiring pediatric endocrinologist and a student in the MD-MPH program at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. She is a 2024 GLMA Health Professional in Training (HPiT) Fellow, and this is also her second year as a GLMA HPiT Curriculum Reform Committee member and co-chair. She worked on the AMA Medical Student Section Standing Committee on LGBTQ+ Affairs from 2022-2023 and is passionate about advancing LGBTQ+-inclusive education for all health professional trainees. As a physician, researcher, educator and advocate, Jewell aims to promote affirming and inclusive health care for all youth identifying with the LGBTQ+ community. She also works on research projects related to care for pediatric patients with variations in sex characteristics and patients who identify as transgender or gender diverse.
In honor of Tess Jewel, a grant was awarded to the Pediatric and Adolescent Transgender Health Clinic at the University of Wisconsin Health American Family Children’s Hospital.
International Award in Medicine
Shilpen Patel, MD, FACRO, FASTRO
Dr. Shipen Patel is a radiation oncologist, an associate professor at the University of Washington Department of Global Health and an affiliate appointment in the Division of Public Health at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. He continues to see patients in the Bay Area and has just completed his Medical Justice Advocacy Fellowship at the Satcher Health Leadership Institute and the AMA. Dr. Patel continues his research in the industry with various companies. He has actively participated in nonprofit organizations, including the AMA, ASTRO, Radiating Hope, RAD-AID and ACRO. He serves on the board of directors for Horizons Foundation and the Phi Chi Medical Foundation.
In honor of Dr. Patel, a grant was awarded to Radiating Hope.
Pride in the Profession Award
Cesar Padilla, MD
Dr. Cesar Padilla is a first-generation Mexican American from Northern California. His parents emigrated from the Mexican state of Jalisco and settled in the East Bay in the 1970s while working in local factories. He spent every summer of his childhood in Mexico, where he found his passion and inspiration for becoming a doctor. Dr. Padilla received training from Harvard Medical School in critical care medicine and obstetric anesthesiology, with additional training in critical care echocardiography. His research interests include critical care in obstetrics and addressing inequities in maternal/obstetric care. He co-founded National Latino Physician Day and is a clinical associate professor at Stanford University.
In honor of Dr. Padilla, a grant was awarded to MiMentor by Alliance in Membership.
About the Excellence in Medicine Awards
Through the Excellence in Medicine Awards, the AMA Foundation recognizes physicians and medical advocates who exemplify the highest values of volunteerism, community engagement, leadership and dedication to the care of underserved populations. Recipients are honored at an awards ceremony during the AMA Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates in Chicago and select a health-focused nonprofit organization for a grant honorarium.
To support the AMA Foundation awards and other programs, visit amafoundation.org/programs/.
About the AMA Foundation
As the philanthropic arm of the American Medical Association (AMA), the AMA Foundation has a rich legacy of supporting medical students and education, championing physician leadership and nurturing community health collaborations.
The foundation is committed to sustaining its support in these crucial areas and advancing efforts to convene physicians, industry specialists and community partners to create a significant and meaningful impact on health care.
