Employee Engagement
Internal Medicine
Internal Medicine Award Ceremony
The Internal Medicine Faculty, APP, and Staff Award Ceremony is a special event dedicated to recognizing the hard work, leadership, and valuable contributions of our department’s outstanding members. Held this past March in the Healthy Kentucky Research Building, this inaugural ceremony honored and celebrated the dedication and achievements of our faculty, advanced practice providers, and staff who consistently go above and beyond in their roles.
Matt Turner, department administrator for internal medicine, emceed the event, and several outstanding faculty and staff were invited to present the awards. We are proud to recognize these remarkable award recipients and look forward to continuing this tradition of appreciation in the years to come.
2026 Award Nominees and Recipients
Faculty Mentorship Award
Christina Leyson and Rama Kavuluru – Award Recipients
Izabela Antic
Sanjay Dhar
Mark Ebbert
Omar El Kawkgi
Joy Engblade
- Simon Fisher
- Deborah Flomenhoft
- Vedant Gupta
- Philip Kern
- Alexandra Macpherson
- Gregory Monohan
- Alice Thornton
- Angela Webb
Award presented by Jagriti Chadha, MD, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hospital Medicine and the Vice Chair for Faculty Development and Advancement
Faculty Mentorship Award
Christina Leyson and Rama Kavuluru – Award Recipients
Izabela Antic
Sanjay Dhar
Mark Ebbert
Omar El Kawkgi
Joy Engblade
- Simon Fisher
- Deborah Flomenhoft
- Vedant Gupta
- Philip Kern
- Alexandra Macpherson
- Gregory Monohan
- Alice Thornton
- Angela Webb
Award presented by Jagriti Chadha, MD, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hospital Medicine and the Vice Chair for Faculty Development and Advancement
Most Collegial Consultant
Naoki Misumida – Award Recipient
- Sayee Alagusundaramoorthy
- Reem Alkilany
- Kenneth Campbell
- Zena Chahine
- Mara Chambers
- Anna Dauer
- Sravanthi Paluri
- Courtney Perry
- Ruben Plentz
- Pavel Shevtsov
- Kshitij Thakur
Award presented by Jagriti Chadha, MD, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hospital Medicine and the Vice Chair for Faculty Development and Advancement
Most Collegial Consultant
Naoki Misumida – Award Recipient
- Sayee Alagusundaramoorthy
- Reem Alkilany
- Kenneth Campbell
- Zena Chahine
- Mara Chambers
- Anna Dauer
- Sravanthi Paluri
- Courtney Perry
- Ruben Plentz
- Pavel Shevtsov
- Kshitij Thakur
Award presented by Jagriti Chadha, MD, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hospital Medicine and the Vice Chair for Faculty Development and Advancement
APP Leadership Award
Kate Alnabelsi – Award Recipient
Brian Armentrout
Melissa Czarapata
Macy Godman
- Anne Hickman
- Kelly Hawthorne
- Amy Meikel
- Amanda Meyer
- Sandra Reagan
- Amy Salyer
- Clarissa (Jill) Sewell
- Amy Stuffelbeam
- Tammy Thomas
Award presented by Ashley Montgomery-Yates, MD, Director of ICU Recovery Clinic and Vice Chair for Strategy and Implementation for Internal Medicine.
APP Leadership Award
Kate Alnabelsi – Award Recipient
Brian Armentrout
Melissa Czarapata
Macy Godman
- Anne Hickman
- Kelly Hawthorne
- Amy Meikel
- Amanda Meyer
- Sandra Reagan
- Amy Salyer
- Clarissa (Jill) Sewell
- Amy Stuffelbeam
- Tammy Thomas
Award presented by Ashley Montgomery-Yates, MD, Director of ICU Recovery Clinic and Vice Chair for Strategy and Implementation for Internal Medicine.
Wellness Champions
Faculty
Izabela Antic – Award Recipient
- Izabela Antic
- Samuel Beavin
- Erin Camac
- Lanla Conteh
- Joy Engblade
- Naoki Misumida
- Peter Sawaya
- Angela Webb
APPs
Whitney Adams – Award Recipient
- Katie Rust
- Amanda Sebastian
- Anna Sketch
Staff
Felicia Villareal – Award Recipient
- Nicola Dragonetti
- Kristin Eliopoulos
- Megan Kidd
- Amber Wright
Awards presented by Angela Webb, MD, Associate Professor, Clinical Faculty for General Medicine and Vice Chair for Wellness for Internal Medicine.
Wellness Champions
Faculty
Izabela Antic – Award Recipient
- Izabela Antic
- Samuel Beavin
- Erin Camac
- Lanla Conteh
- Joy Engblade
- Naoki Misumida
- Peter Sawaya
- Angela Webb
APPs
Whitney Adams – Award Recipient
- Katie Rust
- Amanda Sebastian
- Anna Sketch
Staff
Felicia Villareal – Award Recipient
- Nicola Dragonetti
- Kristin Eliopoulos
- Megan Kidd
- Amber Wright
Awards presented by Angela Webb, MD, Associate Professor, Clinical Faculty for General Medicine and Vice Chair for Wellness for Internal Medicine.
Trusted Healer
Faculty
Lucas Shelton – Ambulatory Award Recipient
Leesah Al Qawasmi – Inpatient Award Recipient
- Sonu Abraham
- Deborah Flomenhoft
- Maya Ignaszewski
- Bahaaeldeen Ismail
- Chaitanya Iragavarapu
- Gabrielle Kahler
- Malik Khan
- Andrew Kolodziej
- Christina Leyson
- Jessica Moss
- Pavel Shevtsov
- Nimish Thakral
- Dale Toney
- Jonathan Webb
- Juan Aycinena
- Michael Cherry
- Vedant Gupta
- Peter Haigh
- Ashish Maskey
- Joseph Sweigart
APPs
Lynsey Henderson – Ambulatory Award Recipient
Pearl Peterson - Inpatient Award Recipient
John Biery
Ashley Cook
Melissa Czarapata
Nathan Garrett
Macy Godman
- Peggy Hardesty
- Lynsey Henderson
- Nedda Hughes
- Alexandra Keough
- Erica Marnatti
- Heather Oaks
- Katelyn Perkins
- Carson Swartz
- Anna Sketch
- Andrea Yonel
- Alexandra Isler
- Kayla Neace
- Amy Salyer
- Amber Silberman
- Jennifer Sponaugle
- Dawn Ashley Thomas
- Megan Tudor
Awards presented by Ashley Montgomery-Yates, MD, Director of ICU Recovery Clinic and Vice Chair for Strategy and Implementation for Internal Medicine.
Trusted Healer
Faculty
Lucas Shelton – Ambulatory Award Recipient
Leesah Al Qawasmi – Inpatient Award Recipient
- Sonu Abraham
- Deborah Flomenhoft
- Maya Ignaszewski
- Bahaaeldeen Ismail
- Chaitanya Iragavarapu
- Gabrielle Kahler
- Malik Khan
- Andrew Kolodziej
- Christina Leyson
- Jessica Moss
- Pavel Shevtsov
- Nimish Thakral
- Dale Toney
- Jonathan Webb
- Juan Aycinena
- Michael Cherry
- Vedant Gupta
- Peter Haigh
- Ashish Maskey
- Joseph Sweigart
APPs
Lynsey Henderson – Ambulatory Award Recipient
Pearl Peterson - Inpatient Award Recipient
John Biery
Ashley Cook
Melissa Czarapata
Nathan Garrett
Macy Godman
- Peggy Hardesty
- Lynsey Henderson
- Nedda Hughes
- Alexandra Keough
- Erica Marnatti
- Heather Oaks
- Katelyn Perkins
- Carson Swartz
- Anna Sketch
- Andrea Yonel
- Alexandra Isler
- Kayla Neace
- Amy Salyer
- Amber Silberman
- Jennifer Sponaugle
- Dawn Ashley Thomas
- Megan Tudor
Awards presented by Ashley Montgomery-Yates, MD, Director of ICU Recovery Clinic and Vice Chair for Strategy and Implementation for Internal Medicine.
Research Support
Jennifer Isaacs – Award Recipient
- Natalie Hawes
- Utku Gulbulak
Award presented by Simon Fisher, MD, PhD, Chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, and Vice Chair for Research and Innovation
Research Support
Jennifer Isaacs – Award Recipient
- Natalie Hawes
- Utku Gulbulak
Award presented by Simon Fisher, MD, PhD, Chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, and Vice Chair for Research and Innovation
Division Administrative Support
Brandi Waskul – Award Recipient
- Lauren Burgess
- Chris Eliopoulos
- Patricia Gallagher
- Windy Kidd
- Karen Michul
- Alexander Nair
- Ashlee Rodenhauser
- Felicia Shade
- Kayln Sites
- Emily Thomas
- Lauren West
- Amber Williams
Award presented by Matt Turner, Clinical Administrator for the Internal Medicine department.
Division Administrative Support
Brandi Waskul – Award Recipient
- Lauren Burgess
- Chris Eliopoulos
- Patricia Gallagher
- Windy Kidd
- Karen Michul
- Alexander Nair
- Ashlee Rodenhauser
- Felicia Shade
- Kayln Sites
- Emily Thomas
- Lauren West
- Amber Williams
Award presented by Matt Turner, Clinical Administrator for the Internal Medicine department.
Chair's Excellence
Faculty
Adam Gray – Award Recipient
- Lowell Anthony
- Eric Bensadoun
- Deidra Beshear
- Kenneth Campbell
- Ritu Chakravarti
- Lanla Conteh
- Joy Engblade
- Deborah Flomenhoft
- Steve Leung
- Justin Miller
- Gregory Monohan
- Madhumathi Rao
- Ethan Ritter
- Patricia Santos
- Vincent Sorrell
- Kshitij Thakur
- Dale Toney
- Jonathan Webb
APPs
Corinne Hook – Award Recipient
Robyn Denton
Alicia Mullins
Anna Sketch
Tiffany Stivers
Staff
Amber Williams – Award Recipient
Jon Tarr – Award Recipient
- Jessica Caldwell
- Kathleen Carpenter
- Nicola Dragonetti
- Bailey Harden
- Megan Kidd
- Windy Kidd
- Karen Michul
- Michelle Monticello
- Cassie Rogers
- Jon Tarr
- Felicia Villareal
- Amber Williams
Awards presented by Darwin Conwell, MD, MSc, FACG Chair for the Internal Medicine department.
Chair's Excellence
Faculty
Adam Gray – Award Recipient
- Lowell Anthony
- Eric Bensadoun
- Deidra Beshear
- Kenneth Campbell
- Ritu Chakravarti
- Lanla Conteh
- Joy Engblade
- Deborah Flomenhoft
- Steve Leung
- Justin Miller
- Gregory Monohan
- Madhumathi Rao
- Ethan Ritter
- Patricia Santos
- Vincent Sorrell
- Kshitij Thakur
- Dale Toney
- Jonathan Webb
APPs
Corinne Hook – Award Recipient
Robyn Denton
Alicia Mullins
Anna Sketch
Tiffany Stivers
Staff
Amber Williams – Award Recipient
Jon Tarr – Award Recipient
- Jessica Caldwell
- Kathleen Carpenter
- Nicola Dragonetti
- Bailey Harden
- Megan Kidd
- Windy Kidd
- Karen Michul
- Michelle Monticello
- Cassie Rogers
- Jon Tarr
- Felicia Villareal
- Amber Williams
Awards presented by Darwin Conwell, MD, MSc, FACG Chair for the Internal Medicine department.
Miles for Medicine
Our Miles for Medicine event is a new 5K run/walk designed to support the UK Salvation Army Clinic and its vital mission. Last year’s inaugural event took place at Coldstream Park, where participants came together to enjoy “food, fun, and fellowship for a great cause.”
In 2024, over 300 participants joined both in person and virtually, uniting the department and community in raising funds to support the Salvation Army Clinic. These funds help provide essential medical care to uninsured and underinsured individuals. At the same time, the Salvation Army Clinic offers valuable opportunities for our medical students to engage in meaningful service and learning.
The department of internal medicine is committed to fostering both education and community outreach. Miles for Medicine reflects this dedication by strengthening the connection between healthcare, education, and the people we serve.
Participants were rewarded with commemorative T-shirts, free race photos, and most importantly, the satisfaction of knowing they contributed to a cause that makes a real difference in the lives of those in need.
We are grateful for the incredible support and enthusiasm shown by everyone involved and look forward to making Miles for Medicine an inspiring tradition for years to come. We can’t wait to do it again next year!
New Year Celebration
The department of internal medicine's New Year Celebration is an evening dedicated to honoring the passion and hard work of our faculty, staff, and advanced practice providers. This event serves as our way of expressing gratitude for the valuable contributions each team member makes throughout the year.
At this year’s third annual celebration, we encouraged everyone to “Elevate Excellence in 2026.” The event featured live music, dinner, dancing, and provided an opportunity to reconnect with colleagues.
Additionally, we were honored to welcome keynote speaker Jennifer Cramer, professor of Linguistics and Director of Appalachian Studies at the University of Kentucky.
The celebration brought together colleagues across the department to reconnect, reflect on the past year, and look forward with renewed purpose. We are grateful to everyone who joined us and contributed to making the evening a success. We can’t wait for what the next year holds!
