International Service Award 2019

2019 Winner of the International Service Award for Maternal Health, Empowerment and Gender Equality

Alan Garlett Waxman, M.D., M.P.H.
University of New Mexico

District VIII nominated Alan G. Waxman MD, MPH for the International Service Award for Maternal Health, Empowerment and Gender Equality in recognition of his life’s work in global cervical cancer prevention. The first half of his career was spent in the Indian Health Service in various capacities, eventually serving as Chief Clinical Consultant for Ob-Gyn. After he retired from the Indian Health Service and joined the Department of Ob-Gyn at the University of New Mexico, Dr. Waxman turned his expertise in cervical cancer screening and cervical dysplasia toward the international community. Dr. Waxman’s career has focused on access to effective cervical cancer screening and treatment in low-resource areas. He founded a series of colposcopy courses that continue on decades later—these programs train both physicians and advanced practice clinicians and has been a multiplier for expanding the reach of cervical cancer prevention. His has taught in 6 of the 7 continents, and role as a teacher has touched countless lives.

2019 Nominees

Owen Montgomery, MD*
Drexel College of Medicine

The District III Advisory Council nominated Dr. Montgomery on the basis that he has been actively involved in international work, particularly in Africa, for the past several years. Dr. Montgomery has “been integral in increasing capacity of attending physicians to enhance the existing training curricula” and tailor it to the practice setting, in turn creating a sustainable model for continued education as new physicians enter the workforce. Dr. Montgomery has also been instrumental in building a strong collegial relationship between District III and the Dominican Republic. He has helped lay the ground work for ACOG sponsored educational programs in the DR as well as our new Resident exchange program which is named after him.

Sara Janne Aarsland, MD
Ginnir Hospital, Ethiopia

The District IV nominee was Dr. Aarsland for her “selfless work in rural Ethiopia… caring for the women of Ginnir and her employment in their government hospital.” Dr. Aarsland works to alleviate disparities in women’s health by working as an Ob-Gyn at a local government hospital in rural Ethiopia. Dr. Aarsland’s work allows her to “care for and support vulnerable women in the midst of crisis.” Her works also helps to improve the standard of care and teach future health care workers in this region of Ethiopia.

Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew, MD, Med, MPPM
Case Western University School of Medicine

District V nominated Dr. Margaret Larkins- Pettigrew because of her dedication to providing “optimal health care for all women, regardless of socioeconomic challenges or geographic location and for her selfless dedication to this cause.” Dr. Larkins-Pettigrew has been active in international medical work throughout her career. Dr. Larkins-Pettigrew is the founder of WONDOOR (Women and Neonates, Diversity, Outreach, Opportunities and Research). The WONDOOR global health education program fosters local and international collaborations resulting in a 30-month Global Health Scholars Certificate, a two-year Global Health Fellowship and sponsors Residents and volunteer faculty in travel to Guyana or other countries for experiences in training, teaching and cultural awareness. She is also a founding member and Vice President of Health Education for Project Africa Global/International Programs for Sustainable Solutions, developing curriculum amongst collaborating medical schools and international programs.

Maureen Christie Ries, MD
University of California, San Diego

District IX nominated Dr. Ries for the International Service Award due to her demonstrated “ability to collaborate and to partner with various international healthcare leaders to support improving reproductive health are maternal care in very underserved areas of the world.” Dr. Ries has a long history of international health work. As an undergraduate Dr. Ries provided services in Tanzania and Peru; in medical school she worked for both Flying Samaritans and Healing Hands Across Borders; and as a resident she worked in Malawi and China. Beginning in 2014, Dr. Ries served as the Deputy Chief Medical Office of Seed Global Health which strives to strengthen health education and delivery in places facing a dire shortage of health professionals by working with partner countries to meet their long-term health care human resource needs.

Susan P. Raine, M.D., J.D., LL.M., M.Ed.*
Baylor College of Medicine

District XI nominated Dr. Raine for the International Service Award because she “has served not only the women of Texas, but also the women of the world with her efforts.” In 2013 the Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) started its Global Women’s Health Program. During this time, as the Vice Chair of Global Health for the BCM, Dr. Raine was involved in every aspect of program development for the Malawi maternal care program. Perhaps her most rewarding accomplishment was the creation of the first postgraduate training pro-gram in obstetrics and gynecology in Malawi. Dr. Raine’s expertise in faculty development, curriculum development, didactic teaching, and non-didactic teaching through skills training and journal club facilitator have been instrumental in the program’s success. This program recently graduated its first class of four OB/Gyn trainees.

*Members of the Global Operations Advisory Group are exempt from winning