Internal Medicine Honor Roll: October 2026
Below are those named to this month’s Internal Medicine Honor Roll—an employee recognition program where team members (clinicians, researchers, educators, trainees, staff, etc.) can recognize other team members who are doing great things.
We are pleased to recognize their contributions!
Mallory Ruden, Administrative Services Coordinator
Cardiovascular Medicine
Nominated by Chloe Miller
Mallory did a fantastic job as Interim Fellowship Coordinator during our transition. She jumped in wherever needed, kept things running smoothly, and was always a reliable resource for the fellows. Her positive attitude, flexibility, and dedication made a big difference, and we were grateful for her support until the new coordinator joined the team.
Lauren Bracken, Physician Associate
Immunology
Anonymous nomination
Lauren is a great team player, and we admire how motivated she is to learn more about unfamiliar topics in order to help both her patients and those around her!
Internal Medicine Teaching Team Attendings and Senior Residents
Nominated by Stuart Pitman
The staff physicians and senior residents have welcomed our pharmacy students onto their teams for decades, and they deserve credit and recognition for this. These experiences are vital to the students at the College of Pharmacy, and they have helped launch numerous future careers in clinical pharmacy practice. Thank you, attendings and senior residents!
Adam Blaine, Fellow
Cardiovascular Diseases
Anonymous nomination
Dr. Blaine immediately stepped in when a patient fell in the hallway, quickly taking charge and coordinating the rapid response. His calm leadership, clinical expertise, and willingness to help without hesitation were greatly appreciated and exemplified outstanding teamwork and patient care.
Amy McDonald, Business Analysis Manager
Internal Medicine
Nominated by Danielle Allen
When we discovered an issue with RVUs for a specific provider, we reached out to Amy for assistance. She quickly identified the issue, provided helpful education to both our team and the provider, and worked with us to ensure the RVUs were appropriately adjusted. We really appreciate her responsiveness, expertise, and willingness to help us work through the issue.
Trisha Slehria, Chief Resident
Internal Medicine
Anonymous nomination
Dr. Slehria is extremely intentional with everyone she speaks with—whether a patient, resident, medical student, or member of our administrative teams. Her enthusiasm and care are infectious, and she brings people together. This quality is hard to teach, but it makes the difference between a good clinician and a great clinician.
Cate Koeppen, Research Support Coordinator, Hematology, Oncology, and Blood & Marrow Transplantation
Lori Bassler, Director, Research Administration and Financial Operations, Internal Medicine
Anonymous nomination
I would like to recognize Cate Koeppen and Lori Bassler for their outstanding support in helping me submit a multi-institutional grant on an extremely tight timeline. They went above and beyond, coordinating efforts efficiently and ensuring everything was completed within just two days. Their dedication, responsiveness, and teamwork were instrumental to our success.
Deepak Vangipuram, Clinical Assistant Professor
Endocrinology and Metabolism
Nominated by Jennifer Schneider
Dr. Deepak Vangipuram truly went above and beyond for my [family member] and our family. When he couldn’t reach [my family member] to discuss test results and next steps, he called me instead, on a Saturday, shortly before the Hawkeyes game! That was completely unexpected and so appreciated. Taking time out of his weekend to make sure we were informed showed a level of care, compassion, and dedication that really stood out to me. I am very grateful for his thoughtfulness and exceptional follow-through.
Bharat Kumar, Clinical Associate Professor
Immunology
Nominated by Ben Davis
Bharat consistently demonstrates a mindset of continuous improvement, always looking for ways to make the fellowship program more efficient and to make life easier and more convenient for both fellows and the administrative team. His efforts to automate several processes are a great example of his initiative and commitment to improving the program. He also makes a point of recognizing the accomplishments of fellows and faculty. Each week, he keeps track of the great things happening within the program/division and highlights those in his weekly email updates. This thoughtful recognition helps foster a positive and supportive culture within the fellowship. During the recent turnover on the administrative team, Bharat has been especially supportive and accessible. He has made himself available to answer questions and has spent considerable time helping the team understand the many requirements and processes associated with the fellowship program. His willingness to share his knowledge and provide guidance has been invaluable during this transition. It is clear that Bharat has the fellowship program and the success of its fellows and team members top of mind at all times.
Ashley Nelson, Human Resources Coordinator
Internal Medicine
Anonymous nomination
Ashley will help with whatever and will complete any tasks on hand perfectly and will get back to you with great guidance on how to do it. She is simply the best HR person I’ve worked with so far. Kudos.
Heather Loucks, Secretary II
Hematology, Oncology, and Blood & Marrow Transplantation
Nominated by Brittany Sonntag
Heather did a wonderful job coordinating the Hematology T32 Mini-Symposium held on October 13, 2026. Thank you for all your effort and hard work on this project, Heather. It is greatly appreciated!