Recognize a Colleague!

Use this form to recognize the contributions of your colleagues that are advancing the culture of physician wellness at UC San Diego Health. Your entry will be shared on this page and will contribute to UC San Diego Health's extraordinary culture of physician wellness.

Did you know that gratitude improves wellness?

Nationally-acclaimed research from UC Davis Health confirms that gratitude measurably improves the deliverer's wellness. Read the research here.  

“The practice of gratitude can have dramatic and lasting effects in a person’s life,” said Robert A. Emmons, professor of psychology at UC Davis and a leading scientific expert on the science of gratitude. “It can lower blood pressure, improve immune function and facilitate more efficient sleep. Gratitude reduces lifetime risk for depression, anxiety and substance abuse disorders, and is a key resiliency factor in the prevention of suicide,” he said.

Recognitions

Farshad Raissi MD MPH, David Torres Barba MD PhD, Jorge Silva Enciso, MD

"Farshad, David and Jorge have provided tremendous clinical support in caring for some complex sports cardiology cases. Their expertise and communication have been outstanding."

- Anonymous, July 2024

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William Freeman, MD and David Granet, MD

"Dr. Freeman and I have a mutual high level athlete with a complicated eye injury. Dr. Granet faciliated the communciation pathway and both of them ensured the patient got the best assessment(s) and helped me guide her return to sport."

- Alan Shahtaji DO, March 2024

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Eddie Smitaman, MD

"Dr. Smitaman went above and beyond to help out with an international professional athlete who was in need of imaging. To be honest, I don't think the status of the patient was the motivating factor; Eddie simply was willing to help out his colleagues as we were struggling to faciliate the timely imaging."

- Alan Shahtaji DO, March 2024

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Melanie Fiorella, MD

"Melanie has always had faith in me as a contributor to family medicine - more even than myself. I appreciate her so much as a mentor, a cheerleader and a path paver. I appreciate her as a leader too, and I hope to work together for many years in different ways."

- Deepa Sannidhi MD, February 2024

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Rusty Kallenberg, MD

"Rusty has really been a great mentor and I feel so lucky to have had him help me through some work related challenges, as well as empowered me to do some unique and creative things at UCSD."

- Deepa Sannidhi MD, February 2024

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Alan Shahtaji, DO

"Wonderful colleague, amazing at support and mindfulness and overall a model physician, colleague, and friend."

- Anonymous, February 2024

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Chad Osborne, MD

"I love how no matter how swamped he is with his own work, he takes the time to offer his opinions, insight, and wisdom when a question is asked that can’t be solved. He has the can do attitude that is rarely seen"

- Anonymous, February 2024

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Cassandra Morn, MD

"Dr Morn is our clinical services chief in Dept of Family Medicine and the Interim Chair of our department has been working tirelessly to maintain collegiality, productivity, and positive wellbeing for all of our faculty. To have a leader that truly supports us is incredible and makes me proud to work at UC San Diego Health"

- Anonymous, February 2024

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Julie Çelebi, MD

"She has been the wellness director for Family Medicine for 4 years. She is wonderfully caring and thoughtful. She contributes to the wellness of our whole department and me personally."

- Ming Tai-Seale MD, February 2024

 "Dr. Çelebi has consistently been an advocate for increasing wellness in our department. Besides maintaining a perennially positive attitude, she is willing to take on systemic issues that negatively affect us."

- Anonymous, February 2024

 "I appreciate that you are keeping the torch going with trying to improve wellness."
- Anonymous, February 2024

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All my colleagues in Family Medicine

"I have always felt supported by my colleagues around me."

- Esmat Hatamy MD, February 2024

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Ken Vitale, MD

"As the department has embarked on the journey of faculty wellness over the past two years, Dr. Vitale has been pivotal in that role. He has embraced the role as wellness director, has developed a bi-monthly newsletter, and is constantly working to make systematic strides for meaningful wellness improvement. It takes a village and he is leading it in Orthopaedic Surgery. We are grateful for his leadership and working to affect change on behalf of those around him."

- Anonymous, November 2023

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Christian Sloan, MD

"Christian helped out in a pinch to assist with venue medical operations for the NWSL Championship at Snapdragon. After an urgent care shift and another commitment, Dr. Sloane came straight to the match."

- Anonymous, November 2023

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Linda Brubaker, MD

"Thank you Linda for all your work bringing together the various groups interested in improving physician wellness.  I have learned so much from this website in terms of available resources and proactive things that can be done.  Much gratitude to you and your team!"

- Anonymous, March 2023

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Terri Cheng, MD

"Terri stepped up as a “battle buddy” for me in the isolation of the pandemic. We used to be just office mates, but this intentional relationship building has been so powerful for our wellness. From cafe dates where we gab and catch up on work, to sharing our joys and struggles over a meal, I am so grateful for her friendship and support."

- Julie Çelebi MD, February 2023