On May 16, Supna Kudchadkar, MD, 2024 AOA Alpha Chapter Visiting Professor, delivered both the keynote address and a grand rounds presentation to the graduating class of 2024. Kudchadkar, who serves as the Vice Chair of Pediatric Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, associate professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, associate professor of Pediatrics, and an associate professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, shared wise words of guidance and recounted experiences in her own career.
At the 69th Annual Banquet and Induction Ceremony, she delivered a keynote to the group of students who were selected to the honor society from a pool representing the top 25 percent of their graduating class based on their academic performance, extracurricular activities, research endeavors, and commitment to the community.
Among her words of advice, she described experiences she had rediscovering her authentic voice as she grew into the leader and physician she is today. She explained that during her journey, she was not willing to accept the narrative that others had for her, but instead followed her own path. She challenged the graduates to do the same and not fit the mold that someone else has for them.
During the event, Kudchadkar also gave the graduates the following words of advice, as they move into the next phase of their medical careers including:
- She encouraged them to have the humility to explore other’s ideas – it does not have to be your idea!
- She encouraged them to understand that the most important words in medicine are “I do not know…but let’s find out.”
- She told them to be kind to everyone. And implored upon them that everyone is part of the patient journey.
- She told them “You do you. Do what brings YOU joy.” If you want to say no, please do and make the best decision that YOU can.
- She told them to learn how to take constructive criticism.
- She reminded them that as learners and clinicians, they are never alone.
- She told them to remember that we keep a CV of our successes because a CV of our failures would be too long. Recognize the challenges we’ve tackled.
- She told them that “medicine needs YOU.”
- She encouraged the students to revel in the moment and celebrate their successes.
Earlier in the day, Kudchadkar presented the 16th Annual Medicine Grand Rounds lecture co-sponsored with the Department of Internal Medicine. In her address, Kudchadkar discussed “Forging the path to ‘Illness Doesn’t Mean Stillness:’ Lessons in Persistence, Humility, and Leadership.”
In her remarks, Kudchadkar discussed pediatric and neonatal ICU sedation, sleep, delirium, rehab, family engagement, and what she called the “history of ICU liberation in adults and the applications for children.”
Among the building blocks of healthy human beings and children, she said, movement and play were essential.
“Play is a critically important part of healthy development, both physically and also neurologically,” Kadchadkar explained. “Children interact with the world through play, and that’s why their brains develop over time.”
Physical, cognitive, emotional, and social health, she added, are all impacted by the pediatric intensive care experience from not just patients but also for family, including their siblings. It can have a significant developmental impact and impact trajectory of recovery.
Kudchadkar also presented a special Leaders in Medicine Graduation Week Teleconference hosted by AΩA Class of 2024 student-elected leaders: Madeline Pence, MSIV, and Lauretta Mosteller, MSIV, titled Mentorship during residency and beyond: how to be a mentor, and finding the right mentors in your career.
2024 AOA Alpha Chapter Chief Resident Inductees
Mustafa B Hammudi, MD, Internal Medicine, Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Bohan Liu MD, Diagnostic Radiology, GW Hospital
John Y. Organick-Lee, MD, Emergency Medicine, GW Hospital
Joshua Yoon, MD, General Surgery, GW Hospital
2024 AOA Alpha Chapter Resident Inductees
Kevin Chung, MD, Internal Medicine
Jordan R. Feltes, MD, Emergency Medicine
Arman Hussain, MD, Emergency Medicine
Rachel Sillcox, MD, General Surgery
2024 AOA Alpha Chapter Alumnus
Mark B. Woodland, MD ’85, RESD ’87, Clinical Professor Obstetrics and Gynecology, Associate Dean Policy and Advocacy, Drexel University College of Medicine
2024 AOA Alpha Chapter Voluntary Clinical Faculty Award
Charles Samenow, MD, Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, GW SMHS
AOA Class of 2024
Hussain Alkhars, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Research Fellowship
Tyler John Bahoravitch, The George Washington University, Orthopaedic Surgery
Rishika Reddy Bheem, Northwestern McGaw/Lurie Childrens, Pediatrics
Taylor L. Brewer, Childrens National Hospital, Pediatrics/LAUnCH Community Health
Spencer Joseph Carbone, Massachusetts General Hospital- Brigham,Emergency Medicine
Lydia M. Deaton, ChristianaCare, Obstetrics-Gynecology
Christian Mark Farag, Icahn School of Medicine Mount Sinai Hospital, Internal Medicine
Andrew Joseph Guggenheim, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Psychiatry
Natalie Anne House, UPMC Medical Education, Internal Medicine/Women’s Health
Allison Ming-Xin Hu, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, Internal Medicine
Kathleen Nicole Johnson, University Hospitals-Jackson, Plastic Surgery
Elena Johnston, Milken Institute School of Public Health at GW, MD/MPH Program
Aneka Khilnani, New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center Radiology
Yumin Kim, The George Washington University, Psychiatry
Prianka Kumar, Milken Institute School of Public Health at GW, MD/MPH Program
Isabella Leika Lipkin, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University/Cooper University Hospital, Plastic Surgery
Chenyu Liu, University of Rochester/Strong Memorial, Plastic Surgery
Katherine Rose Maehl, Maine Medical Center, Pediatrics
Hari Narayan Magge, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Otolaryngology
Jaya Manjunath, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Research Fellowship
Erika Theresa McCormick, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, Dermatology
George Patrick Morcos, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Internal Medicine
Lauretta Jeanne Mosteller, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Otolaryngology
Khashayar Mozaffari, University Texas Southwestern Medical School, Neurological Surgery
Taylor Nicole Nuse, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Emergency Medicine
Laurence Okeke, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Research Fellowship
Madeline Jo Pence, University Texas, Dell Medical School Obstetrics-Gynecology
Jordan Neoma Pizzarro, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Pittsburgh Pediatrics-Anesthesiology
Samyuktha Ravikumar, Baylor College of Medicine, Vascular Surgery
Eric Daniel Sanfilippo, Medical University of South Carolina, Transitional/Dermatology
Emma Kristine Sterling, University Colorado School of Medicine, Obstetrics-Gynecology
Emily Renee Terrebonne, University of Michigan Hospitals, Internal Medicine
Alexandra Elaine Tunkel, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Otolaryngology
Emma Joyce Wellington, University Texas Southwestern Medical School, Psychiatry-Neurology
Emma Abigail Whiting, University of Illinois College of Medicine, General Surgery
Mary Elizabeth Heekin Wilby, Medical University of South Carolina Radiology
Sophia Hui-yu Wu, New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, Anesthesiology
Sally Kate Zimmermann, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Internal Medicine
