ECU/Vidant surgical resident earns national honor
Dr. Ruchi Amin
Dr. Ruchi Amin, a chief resident for the ECU-Vidant Medical Center surgical residency program, was recently awarded the 2019 Jameson L. Chassin, MD, FACS, Award for Professionalism in General Surgery.
The American College of Surgeons Foundation, the Chassin family and contributors to the Chassin Memorial Fund present the award annually to a chief resident in general surgery who “embodies the values of compassion, technical skill, and devotion to science and learning.”
Candidates for the award must be in good standing at their accredited surgery residency program and demonstrate exceptional professionalism; they are assessed on awards, administrative activities, scholarships and community involvement.
“To be selected for this award from such an exceptional group of nominees is not only an honor, but also quite humbling,” Amin said. “My hope is that through this award I am also able to help recognize the surgeons, support staff, my colleagues and most importantly the patients and their families that have inspired me along the way.”
Amin completed a dual BS-MD program at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Chemical Biology before completing her medical education at Rutgers Medical School in Newark, New Jersey.
Amin said her decision to pursue pediatric surgery started when she began general surgery residency training at ECU and found herself “immediately drawn to the breadth of pathology” while rotating on the pediatric surgery service.
“When I was interviewing for residency programs, I knew I wanted to be at an academic tertiary care center where I would be exposed to a broad variety of surgical diseases,” she added.
Only one resident from each general surgery residency program may be nominated by a program director or department chair. The nominees are evaluated through an independent review panel of the Committee on Resident Education.
“Dr. Amin stands out for her ability to navigate the highs and lows of a surgical career with competence, confidence, and composure, making her a great fit for the Chassin award for professionalism,” said Dr. Danielle Walsh, director of the ECU/Vidant pediatric surgery residency program, who was recently awarded the inaugural Outstanding Mentor Award from the American College of Surgeons’ Resident and Associate Society.
In addition to Dr. Amin, the following ECU surgery residents recently received national recognition:
- Scarlett Hao – ACS Resident Member Scholarship award to attend the Designing and Running a Prospective Surgical Clinical Trial Didactic Course
- Sophia Abdulhai – Operation Giving Back Resident Scholarship to attend the Global Health Competencies for Surgeons: Cognitive and System Skills Course
- Anastasois Mitsakos and Jake Edwards were accepted to the Residents as Teachers and Leaders Program
-by Janiya Winchester, University Communications