Ali and Chin Honored by ACP

Two members from the Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership were recently recognized by the American College of Physicians (ACP) for their outstanding excellence.

Dr. Jean Chin, associate professor of medicine, received the Walter J. Moore, Jr. Leadership Award. The award is presented to leaders whose contributions embody the core principles of the ACP to enhance the quality and effectiveness of health care, public policy and/or medical education.

Hamzah Ali, a fourth-year student at the Medical Partnership, received the Outstanding Medical Student in Volunteerism and Advocacy Award. This award is given to outstanding medical students for dedication to the service of others.

“I am honored to be a recipient of the 2021 ACP Georgia Outstanding Student in Volunteerism and Advocacy Award,” said Ali. “I strongly believe that serving the community is my responsibility as a leader in medicine. Advocating for the underserved and innovating projects to address their needs are important points to focus on during medical education. I am glad to be making tangible change at the grassroots level. I plan to continue serving my community wherever I go next in life.”

It was an even bigger shock for Chin. Chin has served on the ACP’s award committee for a decade and stepped in as interim chair when the previous chair, Dr. Walter Moore (the leadership award’s namesake), passed away. Chin had no idea she had been secretly nominated. The committee met without her to review her nomination.

“Honestly, I was stunned,” said Chin. “That committee could give some lessons to the CIA on how to carry out a covert operation.”

Ali caught the eye of the ACP from his impressive commitment to the Athens community— he served as Volunteer Chair for the Class of 2022 for two years and coordinated multiple volunteer events: Boy Scouts Medical Merit Badge, Oglethorpe Elementary Fall Festival, Healthy Halloween with the Boys and Girls Club, Trunk or Treat, UGA Campus Kitchen, Northeast Georgia Food Bank, Teddy Bear Clinic, Christmas Toy Drive, and Blood Drives with the Red Cross, he was a co-founder and student volunteer of the Athens Free Mobile Clinic at the Medical Partnership, and he was a co-founder and student volunteer of the ICNA Relief Shifa Clinic Athens.

This award is the latest in a long line of achievements for Chin. Her awards and recognitions include: American College Health Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award (2021), American College of Physicians Georgia Chapter Community Based Teaching Award (2018), UGA Faculty Service Award (2018), Vice President’s Award, Distinguished Leadership in Student Affairs (2017), Edward Hitchcock Award for Outstanding Contributions in College Health (2016), Charles F. Bohmann Award for Dedication and Contributions to College Health (2015), and Governor’s Commendation for Excellence in Customer Service (2010).

Ali and Chin were honored along with the other winners during the ACP’s virtual awards ceremony on October 16.