Montage Health honors Kathy Swanson, MD, and five other doctors for outstanding service to patients and community
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MONTEREY, CA — Kathy Swanson, MD, was honored by her medical staff peers with the 2024 Physician Recognition Award for her lifetime achievement in outstanding clinical care and service to the hospital, medical staff, and community at Montage Health’s annual medical staff meeting in November.
“Dr. Swanson has been loved by both her patients and her peers,” says one doctor who nominated her. “She has dedicated her career to providing thoughtful and effective care for all her patients. She has been a great mentor to me, and I am thankful to have worked with her.”
Swanson, a gastroenterology doctor, has been dedicated to serving patients at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula for more than 23 years and currently serves as the hospital’s medical director of gastroenterology. She also served on the hospital’s Medical Executive Committee from 2017–2018.
“She is an outstanding clinician, going above and beyond in caring for patients,” another colleague says. “She complements her thorough clinical skills with endless patience, kindness, empathy, and a great sense of humor. She has always been a community builder, opening her home to newcomers and hosting medical staff events. She could be crowned Miss Congeniality, as she is beloved by her patients and colleagues alike.”
Swanson joined Community Hospital’s medical staff in 2001. She went to University of Chicago Medical School, completed her residency at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, and served her fellowship at Stanford University School of Medicine.
Five other doctors were also honored, along with comments from their colleagues:
Excellence and Innovation in Medicine Award
Martha Blum, MD, PhD, for her contributions to medicine and her leadership in championing the health and well-being of Montage Health’s medical staff and the community.
“Dr. Blum is everywhere, all at once, and she is everything — a great clinician, leader, optimist, mentor, and parent. It is hard to believe that there is only one of her considering how much she does.”
Golden Stethoscope Award
Marko Rakic, MD, for exemplifying outstanding clinical care and service to the hospital, medical staff, and community.
“Dr. Rakic is an outstanding clinician and leader. He leads with curiosity and is tireless in his efforts to help patients. He will not stop until he gets to the bottom of even the most challenging diagnostic or therapeutic problems.”
Community Service Award
Magaly Sazani, MD, for her exceptional contributions in the form of volunteer services to the local community.
“Dr. Sazani has been volunteering her time with Montage Health’s Minorities in Medicine program since the beginning. For years she has taken the time to allow students from the program to shadow her with grace and exceptional preceptoring. In the 2023 cohort, we had over 2,000 shadowing hours, in large part because Dr. Sazani makes her entire schedule available to students and rarely ever has a shift where she is not teaching, mentoring, or exposing students to a possible career in medicine.”
Rookie of the Year Award
Two physicians received this award for their outstanding clinical care and service to the hospital, medical staff, and community.
Ahmad Edris, MD
“In his short time here, Dr. Edris has completely revamped the structural heart program and opened a new service line of transcatheter edge-to-edge repair. This is a tremendous benefit to the patients in our community.”
Roshini Yapa, MD
“Dr. Yapa has consistently exhibited outstanding clinical expertise and a deep commitment to patient well-being. Their contributions have not only elevated the standard of care but also fostered a collaborative and supportive environment within the medical team.”
