Despite all our practice lately, saying goodbye is never easy. The Division of Hematology, Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplantation hosted an event that took out some of that sting on Friday night. At the Coralville Marriott, division members and their family gathered to express their gratitude, congratulations, and best wishes to four outstanding graduating fellows.
It was also an opportunity to say farewell to some faculty members who are following their careers down paths that lead away from Iowa and to welcome some whose paths have led them to our institution. Division Director Dr. Steven Lentz also took the opportunity to express his appreciation to exemplary members of the administrative team who keep us all on track, Pat Hession and Erin Thompson. Dr. Lentz also announced the winner of this year’s PA/ARNP Excellence Award, Scott Leaverton, and the winner of the Faculty Teaching Award, as selected by the Hematology-Oncology Fellows, Dr. Umar Farooq. Time of Service Awards were also presented to Dr. Dan Berg, Debra Ely, Ruth Heck, and Michele Freesmeier.
The evening also featured presentations from Dr. Berg, Director of the Fellowship Program, and rising third-year fellow, Dr. Ravi Patel. Dr. Berg presented each of the graduates with a small token of the division’s appreciation and a few words about how each fellow’s efforts and dedication have benefited the team. Dr. Patel did the same for the fellows and the faculty, with a light-heartedness and humor that can only come from years of association and familiarity.
We are fortunate that two of our graduting fellows—Dr. Varun Monga and Dr. Sneha Phadke—will stay on with us as faculty in the division. Their experience and newfound wisdom will prove invaluable to the team as well as to the next classes of fellows. And we wish Dr. Zhaohui Jin and Dr. Rachna Raman great success at the next institutions fortunate enough to call them members.