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Distinguished Service Award

The award was established by the School of Medicine Recognitions Committee on behalf of the Dean to recognize faculty members who have demonstrated outstanding service and citizenship to the Emory community and/or Atlanta and surrounding region.

Faculty member accepts glass award on stage with dean

2025 Award Winners

Carrie Cwiak Gynecology and Obstetrics

Dr. Carrie Cwiak has profoundly shaped complex family planning (CFP) care at Emory and beyond through her work as a clinician, educator, researcher, and servant leader.

Dr. Cwiak built Emory’s CFP division from the ground up, ensuring high-quality, patient-centered services. As division and fellowship director, she has trained 20 fellows who now lead care, research, and advocacy efforts across the globe. Her leadership extended to key regional roles, including Medical Director positions at Grady Health System, Planned Parenthood Southeast, and Feminist Women’s Health Center. In each, she provided care and coordinated teams to expand access to reproductive health services.

Beyond CFP, Dr. Cwiak has served in numerous institutional leadership roles, including Chief of OB/GYN at Emory Midtown, Vice Chair for Quality, and now Chief Quality Officer for Emory Healthcare. Her service is marked by integrity, resilience, and a tireless drive to improve care.

Dr. Cwiak embodies the highest ideals of service and citizenship—leading with heart, advocating with purpose, and building systems that serve all. Her impact is immeasurable, and this recognition is richly deserved.

Carrie Cwiak headshot

Kristin Deeb Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Dr. Kristin Deeb exemplifies service and citizenship through her transformative contributions to genomic diagnostics at Emory. With humility and unwavering dedication, she has advanced cutting-edge technologies to ensure equitable access for all patients, including those historically underserved.

As Medical Director of the Cytogenetics Laboratory and Assistant Director of Molecular Diagnostics, Dr. Deeb led the Southeast’s first implementation of whole-genome methylation array testing, expanding its use to rare malignancies. Her pioneering work in rapid intraoperative methylation diagnostics using nanopore sequencing further demonstrates her commitment to improving patient care through innovation.

Dr. Deeb’s impact is not only technical but deeply collaborative. She launched the 75-gene myeloid mutation panel, a tool now ordered over 5,000 times, significantly advancing hematologic cancer diagnostics. She also sustains weekly CNS consensus conferences, integrating complex data to support brain tumor diagnoses—an effort available at only a few U.S. centers.

Dr. Deeb’s quiet leadership, generosity with colleagues, and principled approach make her a cornerstone of Emory’s academic and clinical mission. She embodies the spirit of service and citizenship—building infrastructure, fostering collaboration, and advancing care for all.

Kristin Deeb headashot

Michael Lindsay Gynecology and Obstetrics

Dr. Michael Lindsay, the Luella Klein Professor in Maternal-Fetal Medicine, has provided compassionate, expert care to pregnant patients at Grady since 1985, shaping maternal health at Emory and beyond.

A pioneer in HIV and pregnancy, Dr. Lindsay founded one of the nation’s first clinics for HIV-positive pregnant women, introducing routine voluntary HIV testing—a practice that became the national standard. His leadership and research during the HIV epidemic positioned Emory and Grady as leaders in maternal care.

In response to Georgia’s alarming maternal mortality rates, Dr. Lindsay co-chaired the Georgia Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) from its inception until 2024. His work laid the foundation for the Georgia Perinatal Quality Collaborative and the implementation of life-saving initiatives like the AIM Obstetrical Hemorrhage and Severe Hypertension bundles, which have reduced severe maternal morbidity at Grady.

Dr. Lindsay’s service extends across institutional and statewide leadership. He served as Chief of Service for Emory Gynecology and Obstetrics (2008–2024), contributed to numerous committees, and provided consistent clinical care through weekly clinics and labor and delivery coverage.

Michael Lindsay headshot

Evan Orenstein Pediatrics

Dr. Evan Orenstein is a pediatric hospitalist and Director for Research and Innovation Technology at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where he has transformed pediatric care through clinical informatics. As Chief Medical Informatics Officer and VP for Data and Analytics, he built a physician informatics program and founded the Children’s Health Informatics Core, enabling researchers to access pediatric EHR data for the first time. His leadership has measurably improved care delivery across Emory and Children’s.

Dr. Orenstein’s pioneering work in clinical decision support (CDS) has boosted provider efficiency and patient outcomes. His initiatives have reduced harmful medication orders, improved trauma identification, and increased vaccination rates, surpassing national benchmarks.

He also leads innovation in predictive analytics and AI, establishing the Children’s AI program and co-leading the first pediatric trial of ambient AI scribe tools. His work bridges technology, policy, and clinical care to build a learning health system.

Beyond informatics, Dr. Orenstein is a generous mentor and collaborator. He co-founded the Pediatric CDS Collaborative, now spanning 15 major health systems. His dedication to advancing pediatric care and national informatics standards exemplifies true service and citizenship.

Evan Orenstein headshot

Tommy Thomas Neurology

Dr. Tommy Thomas exemplifies tireless dedication to Emory and the broader community.

At Grady Memorial Hospital, Dr. Thomas has transformed neurocritical care, expanding the Neuroscience ICU from 5 to 25 beds, developing critical care protocols, and leading disaster preparedness, including the COVID-19 Practice Management Guide adopted across Emory and Grady. His leadership on institutional committees has directly improved patient care and operations.

Nationally, Dr. Thomas advances equity in healthcare as Chair of the Inclusion in Neurocritical Care Committee of the Neurocritical Care Society and founder of the HEARD Center, which supports global research on disparities in critical care. His service on the Board of Trustees of the Neurocritical Care Foundation and the Ethics, Law, and Humanities Committee of the American Academy of Neurology reflects his ethical leadership and national impact.

His commitment to community is equally strong, with board service in organizations addressing food insecurity, education, and the arts. From ICU innovation to community advocacy, Dr. Thomas bridges medicine, informatics, and equity with humility and vision.

Tommy Thomas headshot

Previous Awardees

2024

2023


2022

2021 

2020 

2019

2018 

2017



Nomination Process

One or more awards will be given in each of the following categories:

  • Junior Faculty Member (Instructor or Assistant Professor)
  • Senior Faculty Member (Associate Professor or Professor)

Deadline

Nominations will be accepted through July 10, 2025.  

Eligibility

All faculty with a primary appointment in the EUSOM. The faculty member’s rank at the time of nomination will determine the category in which they are eligible. Those who have received this award in the past 3 years are not eligible. View previous award winners online.

Nominations

Faculty must be nominated by a faculty or a staff member of Emory University, Emory Healthcare, or an Emory affiliate. The nomination should consist of a concise narrative (500 words or less) describing the outstanding service or citizenship contributions. Up to two additional letters of support (500 words or less) from internal or external individuals or organizations may also be submitted. Nominations should emphasize specific aspects of service or citizenship. Outstanding examples of service and citizenship can include, but are not limited to:

  • Providing important administrative or leadership service to the Emory community despite heavy clinical, research or teaching demands
  • Engaging in service to the community via public education programs or campaigns, volunteerism, or non-profit organizations
  • Demonstrating exemplary service to colleagues, patients, learners, the public, and/or underserved populations
  • Developing new or innovative programs (e.g., clinical, quality improvement, research core, advocacy) as recognized by the University or School of Medicine
  • Participating in and leading University, School of Medicine, or hospital/clinic-wide committees

Submission

Use the online Award Nomination Form and include the following:

  • Nominating letter (500 words or less)
  • Optional materials: Up to two letters of support (500 words or less) from internal or external individuals or organizations

Decision

Will be made by the School of Medicine Recognitions Committee and approved by the Dean.

Award 

Recipients of the Emory School of Medicine Distinguished Service Award will be announced and honored during the annual Celebration of Faculty Eminence.

Questions should be directed to SOM Faculty Academic Affairs and Professional Development at somfde@emory.edu.