Mohan N. Iyer, MD
"Over the past 17 years, 143 students have gained valuable clinical experience through his program and under his mentorship; a majority of these students have gone on to attend medical/osteopathic (MD/DO) schools, as well as physician assistant and anesthesia assistant programs, while others have pursued impactful careers in nursing, public health, and hospital."
Nominated by Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber, MD
Lee A. Jennings, MD, MSHS
"I met Dr. Jennings during my first year of medical school when I interviewed to join her research team. As a first-generation medical student, a single Black mother, and a nontraditional student, I felt fear. While searching for others who could relate to my struggles, I found better: a physician leader who inspires me to advocate for patients, grow professionally, set ambitious goals and take ownership of my successes.
Dr. Jennings gave me a chance to join her team as a novice, which has been a great learning experience and an opportunity to build interprofessional relationships. This spring, my heart rejoiced as I sat in a room full of women who are leaders in the geriatrics field at the American Geriatrics Society's annual meeting. I am still feeling the fear of this undertaking, but the call to care for older adults, to create opportunities for women, and to be a geriatric champion, just like Dr. Jennings, is undoubtedly greater."
Nominated by Dusenge Shaida Kamali
Karen Kinsell, MD
"Dr. Kinsell chose to work as the only physician in Clay County, GA. She knew she would not be making a lot of money and her patients would be mostly poor and uninsured, but that only has driven her more. Though far from the medical school, she has been an active participant in case presentations, posters and abstracts. The students have learned so much from her!"
Nominated by Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber, MD
Jessica Kraker, MD, FAAN
"Dr. Jessica Kraker was a long-standing program director and is now the associate program director at the Tulane Neurology residency program. She is a deeply respected and compassionate mentor for neurology residents. She is known not only for her clinical acumen but also for her steadfast commitment to supporting diversity and inclusion within the residency program. She creates a welcoming and empowering environment where residents from all backgrounds feel seen, value, and encouraged to thrive.
Dr. Kraker actively advocates for equitable opportunities in education and leadership, and her mentorship reflects a thoughtful awareness of the unique challenges that underrepresented trainees may face. Her guidance has been instrumental in shaping a more inclusive and supportive culture within Tulane Neurology."
Nominated by Nimmi Wickramasuriya
Nisha Loganantharaj, MD
"Dr. Loganantharaj is an incredible female physician leader inside and outside of the hospital. She has instilled a sense of curiosity in each fellow physician she trains in the gastroenterology specialty. She is an inflammatory bowel disease specialist that is academic minded and strives to practice evidence based medicine. Each fellow she trains, she leaves a lasting impact to become a better version of yourself personally and professionally. This ultimately makes us better physicians and individuals to care for our patients. She is deserving of this award and then some for her daily contributions to advancing medicine and training the next generation of physicians in gastroenterology."
Nominated by Katherine Westbrook
Maria E. Maldonado, MD
"Dr. Maria Maldonado is an excellent candidate for the Inspiration Award. As director of wellness at Form Health, our national group practice, she has had a transformative impact on me, on patients and on colleagues. She provides impactful mentorship, meaningful support and ongoing inspiration as a physician leader. These are examples of the many creative and innovative initiatives she developed to promote clinician health and wellness:
- 'Vegas Support/Coaching Hours,' using her skills as a certified health and wellness coach to provide access to confidential well-being-focused coaching for all clinicians. This program fosters a culture where clinicians feel heard and empowered.
- A clinician mentorship program, where she provides training and development for mentors so that it is both a service and a learning and growth opportunity for them.
- Training on 'Difficult Conversations,' a series that highlights her ability to inspire trust and guide others to take care of themselves while they take care of patients.
- Dr. Maldonado established employee resource groups in our practice. She co-chairs the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Group, working to ensure that all patients and the clinical team feel respected and celebrated for who they are. She is mentoring junior clinicians to chair a health and wellness ERG, expanding her reach through mentoring others to do impactful work.
- To ensure that these varied wellness interventions are established in an evidence-based and data-driven way, she has created an organizational-wide wellness survey to track burnout, professional satisfaction, and psychological safety and to guide a wellness initiatives roadmap.
Our practice is proud of very high patient satisfaction scores and outstanding clinician retention, and we believe Dr. Maldonado's dedication and passion to promote wellness for both patients and clinicians is reflected in those numbers. She is a truly commendable candidate for this Inspiration award. "
Nominated by Florencia Halperin
Sandhya Malhotra, MD
"I am nominating my colleague, Dr. Sandhya Malhotra, a compassionate physician educator, mentor and advocate for health equity. She has spent three decades guiding students and residents to develop future women leaders in medicine. Dr. Malhotra also contributes meaningfully to medical leadership and policy. Her dedication inspires everyone around her."
Nominated by Vilma Joseph
Fnu Manas, MD
"Dr. Manas, MBBS, is a board-certified internal medicine physician and certified lipid specialist with extensive clinical experience across the U.S., Canada and India. She completed her endocrinology fellowship at Henry Ford Health in Detroit in June 2025.
A former chief resident at Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital, Dr. Manas has received recognition for her quality improvement work and has authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications spanning endocrine disorders, and internal medicine. She is actively involved in peer review for several leading medical journals and conferences, and she has mentored numerous residents in clinical research."
Nominated by Harshita Marasandra Ramesh
Adrienne Mann, MD
"It is my absolute pleasure to offer my highest and unequivocal recommendation for Dr. Adrienne Mann. She is an exceptional physician, coach and leader whose intelligence, integrity and commitment to advancing physician wellness and medical education set her apart as one of the most outstanding professionals I have had the privilege of working with.
Dr. Mann is a rare combination of clinical excellence, deep emotional intelligence and visionary thinking. She approaches challenges with both analytical rigor and profound empathy, and she consistently elevates the teams and institutions she is part of. Her involvement in any project brings clarity, calm and purpose.
As a physician coach, Dr. Mann has had a national impact and is extremely dedicated and passionate about to the well-being of both learner and faculty physicians. Her support, guidance, education and coaching saved my clinical career and has notably improved my wellness, work-life balance and clinical/academic metrics of success.
Any institution or program fortunate enough to work with Dr. Mann will benefit not only from her remarkable skill and insight but also from her deep humanity and unwavering professionalism. I recommend her without hesitation and with the utmost enthusiasm."
Nominated by Kimberly Kopecky
Basia Michalski-McNeely, MD, FAAD
"Dr. Michalski-McNeely has been an impactful mentor in my training. Under her guidance in research and clinic, I gained valuable skills and a genuine passion for dermatology. Her generosity, advocacy and dedication make her truly deserving of the AMA-WPS Inspiration Award."
Nominated by Anya Kumar
Florence Momplaisir, MD, MSHP
"Dr. Momplasier has uplifted me since the SPIDR program at UPenn through IDWeek, away rotations and beyond. She pours into every student she mentors, often unaware of the deep impact she makes. Her guidance has shaped not just my path, but the journeys of countless others."
Nominated by Maria Rojas
