A Johns Hopkins Medicine promotional graphic for the "Clinical Awards for Physicians & Care Teams," featuring the Johns Hopkins clinical excellence medal and a blue and gold ribbon design.

We are proud to share that six members of the ACCM community have been recognized as recipients of the Johns Hopkins Medicine 2025 Clinical Awards. Selected from more than 500 nominees across the health system, these honorees exemplify the highest standards of clinical excellence, innovation, collaboration, and compassionate care. This achievement highlights not only the accomplishments of these individuals, but also the collective strength of our community and our shared commitment to advancing patient care, education, and discovery in even the most complex clinical environments. Please join us in congratulating our colleagues on this well-deserved honor.

William Baumgartner, MD, Physician of the Year – Rohan Mathur, MD, MPA

Professional headshot of Dr. Rohan Mathur, wearing a white Johns Hopkins lab coat and a blue patterned tie, smiling in front of clinical equipment.

Dr. Mathur is a highly respected neurocritical care physician known for his humility, warmth, and unwavering commitment to human-centered care. A gifted educator and mentor across multiple disciplines, he brings compassion into one of medicine’s most demanding environments by prioritizing patient values and supporting families with care and attention. Beyond the bedside, he advances innovative systems at Johns Hopkins, integrating precision medicine, data science, and AI to improve care for patients with complex neurological conditions. His leadership, scholarship, and dedication exemplify the highest ideals of academic medicine.

Armstrong Award for Excellence in Quality and Safety – Anna Varughese, MD, MPH

Professional portrait of Dr. Anna Varughese, wearing an orange blazer and a patterned scarf, smiling in front of a colorful wall display of medical milestones.

Dr. Varughese is a distinguished pediatric anesthesia clinician-researcher who seamlessly integrates front-line care with improvement science to advance safety and evidence-based practices in the perioperative setting. A dedicated educator and mentor, she fosters a culture of psychological safety while equipping trainees and colleagues with tools to prioritize patient safety and quality. Her leadership has driven measurable improvements in patient outcomes and supported major institutional achievements, including pediatric surgical verification and systemwide quality initiatives. Widely respected for translating data into meaningful change, she continues to elevate standards of care for children and inspire those around her.

Excellence in Service and Professionalism – Ozan Akca, MD

Professional headshot of Dr. Ozan Akca, wearing a white lab coat over green scrubs with a stethoscope around his neck, smiling against a windowed background.

Dr. Akça is an exceptional educator and clinician known for fostering a collaborative and intellectually rigorous learning environment. He treats residents as both learners and colleagues, encouraging thoughtful, evidence-based discussion, independent decision-making, and mutual respect. Through hands-on teaching and guidance in complex clinical care, he supports the development of confident, skilled physicians. His commitment to cross-disciplinary collaboration has strengthened teamwork and elevated the standard of care across the institution.

Excellence in Service and Professionalism – Shirley Duarte, MD

Professional headshot of Dr. Shirley Duarte, wearing a white Johns Hopkins Medicine lab coat and stethoscope, smiling in a clinical setting.

Dr. Duarte is a highly valued clinician in obstetric anesthesia, recognized for her thoughtful, evidence-based guidance in managing medically complex, high-risk cases. A dedicated educator, she supports anesthesiology residents through both hands-on and didactic teaching while also contributing to institutional advancement through key committee service. Her inclusive, patient-centered approach and consistent availability to patients and families help ease anxiety and enhance the care experience. Dr. Duarte’s professionalism, collaboration, and commitment to excellence set a standard for high-quality care across multidisciplinary teams.

Best Consulting Physician – Brijen Joshi, MD

Close-up professional headshot of Dr. Brijen Joshi, wearing glasses and a dark suit, looking directly at the camera.

Dr. Joshi is a dedicated clinician who consistently goes above and beyond to ensure timely, high-quality care for patients. At Johns Hopkins Bayview, he has played a critical role in preventing delays for orthopaedic trauma patients by proactively reviewing essential studies and supporting preoperative decision-making, directly improving patient outcomes. Known for his clear communication and empathy, he effectively partners with families and multidisciplinary teams in complex situations. His intellect, initiative, and compassion exemplify excellence in consulting medicine.

Innovations in Clinical Care – Tony Sochet, MD, MSc and the S’Mores team

A large group of diverse clinical and research staff, known as the S’Mores team, gather around a wooden conference table covered in snacks. Two large monitors in the background show a remote colleague joining via video call.

Dr. Sochet, a pediatric critical care physician-scientist, has advanced the academic mission of Johns Hopkins All Children’s through his innovative mentorship program, S’MORES (Sochet’s Mentees of Research, Education and Scholarship). This transdisciplinary initiative provides structured, hands-on training and support to a diverse group of trainees and early-career investigators, fostering curiosity and making research both accessible and impactful. Under his leadership, the program has produced funded projects, peer-reviewed publications, and contributions to evidence-based practice and clinical guidelines. Sochet’s commitment to mentorship is cultivating a lasting culture of innovation, collaboration, and enthusiasm for academic medicine.

CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN!

Group portrait taken on a stage with a blue curtain backdrop, showing a Johns Hopkins Medicine clinical leader in a white lab coat smiling while holding a "Clinical Excellence" medal award plaque. They are standing center-stage flanked by four other Johns Hopkins institutional and clinical leaders, including Dean/CEO Theodore DeWeese and President Kevin Sowers, who are present to recognize the achievement.

Group portrait taken on a stage with a blue curtain backdrop, showing a Johns Hopkins Medicine clinical leader in a white lab coat smiling while holding a "Clinical Excellence" medal award plaque. They are standing center-stage flanked by four other Johns Hopkins institutional and clinical leaders, including Dean/CEO Theodore DeWeese and President Kevin Sowers, who are present to recognize the achievement.

Group portrait taken on a stage with a blue curtain backdrop, showing a Johns Hopkins Medicine clinical leader in a white lab coat smiling while holding a "Clinical Excellence" medal award plaque. They are standing center-stage flanked by four other Johns Hopkins institutional and clinical leaders, including Dean/CEO Theodore DeWeese and President Kevin Sowers, who are present to recognize the achievement.

Group portrait taken on a stage with a blue curtain backdrop, showing a Johns Hopkins Medicine clinical leader in a white lab coat smiling while holding a "Clinical Excellence" medal award plaque. They are standing center-stage flanked by four other Johns Hopkins institutional and clinical leaders, including Dean/CEO Theodore DeWeese and President Kevin Sowers, who are present to recognize the achievement.