Dr. Dortche Named 2023 GL-1 Award Honoree

Kristina Dortche, MD, has received the 2023 Graduate Level-One Award, which recognizes an outstanding first-year resident selected by peers for demonstrating extraordinary personal and professional qualities. The award introduces first-year clinical residents (PGY1) to the Cleveland Clinic Alumni Association and exemplifies alumni commitment to future generations of Cleveland Clinic-trained physicians and scientists worldwide.

Dr. Dortche expressed gratitude for her training at Cleveland Clinic. “I am blessed beyond measure to train at an institution where I have incredible physicians serving as role models for excellence in patient care,” she said. “I am driven to continue serving patients to the best of my abilities!”

A Urology trainee, Dr. Dortche met the award criteria of displaying clinical excellence/knowledge, interpersonal communication skills, character and unique accomplishments. She will be awarded $1,000, receive a framed certificate and be recognized at the Spring Alumni Association Board of Directors Reception.

Dr. Dortche was nominated by several staff members at Cleveland Clinic’s Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute. “I would like to nominate Kristina Dortche for the GL-1 Resident Award in recognition of her outstanding patient care, communication and teamwork through the past several months,” Steven Campbell, MD, PhD (U’95), Professor of Surgery and Residency Program Director said. “Kristina has rotated with us in both Urology and Renal Transplantation, and the feedback that we are seeing as Program Directors has been uniformly positive and enthusiastic. Kristina is always going the extra steps for outstanding care, and several of our patients have commented about Kristina in a very positive manner. She is always accountable and engaged, and on a great learning curve to be a great physician and surgeon. She has built strong relationships with her resident colleagues though her strong work ethic and willingness to help the team and the patients in any way possible. We strongly support Kristina for consideration for the GL-1 Resident Award.”

Sarah Vij, MD (Staff’11), Director, Men’s Infertility Service, and Anna Zampini, MD (S’14, U’19), agreed. “Kristina is, simply put, exceptional. Her work ethic is top-notch. She is kind, with very good bedside manner. She has good attention to detail and is a great team player,” Dr. Vij said.

Noted Dr. Zampini, “Kristina is committed to learning and committed to advancing her ability to care for patients. She has taken above-average initiative in managing patients and is impressive in her professionalism.”

Robert Abouassaly, MD (S’03, U’08), praised Dr. Dortche for functioning “above and beyond her level,” and said she is “reliable, pleasant to work with, absorbs information quickly, and overall is a superstar resident.” He said that he considers Dr. Dortche to be in the top 5 % of interns I have ever worked with.”

Nima Almassi, MD (S’13, U’18), also nominated Dr. Dortche, describing her as “a phenomenal presence on our service. She has an extremely strong work ethic and comes to clinic and OR prepared. She is thorough in her history and physical exam, has a strong fund of knowledge and develops assessments and plans that are well-considered and well beyond her level of training. What sets her apart is her positive attitude and clear desire to better herself while taking excellent care of patients. I have had numerous patients pull me aside to commend me on Dr. Dortche’s care of them, her calming demeanor and excellent ability to develop rapport. The most striking example was a patient presenting for a follow-up 6 months surgery, whose most positive experience in his postoperative care was the care and attention to detail she provided. She is a phenomenal resident physician and is beyond deserving of this award.”