Training and Awards
Home > About Dr. Puja > Training and Awards
Editorships, Editorial Boards, and Reviewing Activities
- Foregut, Ad Hoc Reviewer, 2022-Present
- Innovations: Technology and Techniques in CT and Vasc Surg, Ad Hoc Reviewer, 2021-Present
- Bioengineered, Ad Hoc Reviewer, 2021-Present
- Trials, Ad Hoc Reviewer, 2021-Present
- Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Ad Hoc Reviewer, 2019-Present
- Plos One, Ad Hoc Reviewer, 2019-Present
- STSA Hawley Seiler Award Committee, November 2018
- Journal of American College of Surgeons, 2017-Present
- BMC Cancer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, 2017-Present
- Journal of Thoracic Disease, Ad Hoc Reviewer, 2017-Present
- Diseases of the Esophagus, Ad Hoc Reviewer, 2016-Present
- Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Ad Hoc Reviewer, 2016-Present
- Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Ad Hoc Reviewer, 2015-Present
- Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Ad Hoc Reviewer, 2014-2017
Teaching Recognition/Awards
(include both nominations and awards)
- SSAT Grand Round Professorship Award, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, April 2023
- AAMC Mid-Career Faculty Leadership Development Award, Georgetown Chapter, 2022
- Top Doctor/ Top Thoracic Surgeon in Washington DC, 2022
- Northern Virginia Magazine’s 2022 Top Doctor, 2022
- Top Doctor in Washington DC, 2020
- Top Doctor in Washington DC, International Association of HealthCare Professionals, 2019
- Leading Physician of the World and Top Doctor in Washington DC, International Association of HealthCare Professionals, 2018
- America’s Top Surgeons, 2018
- Houston Methodist Faculty Award of Excellence, 2016
- Fondren-Brown OR Nursing Staff Award, 2016
- Mentored Clinical Research Training Program Award, 2015
- Leading Physician of the World and Top Surgeon in Houston, International Association of HealthCare Professionals, 2014
HONORS AND AWARDS
Award, Institution/Organization, Year
- STS Leadership Institute Award: Building Leaders for Today & Tomorrow, 2021-2022
- Poster of distinction: Khaitan PGa, Holliday Ta, Carroll A, Hofstetter W, Corsini E, Zhou N, Desale S, Margolis M, Lazar JF, Henderson HR, Malouf S, Hamm M, Watson TJ. Can clinical complete response predict pathologic complete response following neoadjuvant chemoradiation for esophageal cancer? Digestive Disease Week. May 2021. aDual senior authorship.
- The 10th Annual George M. Kober Student Research Day, Georgetown University Medical School, Reviewer, Moderator, and Faculty Facilitator, April 2021
- Carolyn E. Reed Traveling Fellowship Award, TSFRE, February 2020
- Coin Award, Recognition for Patient Care at MWHC, January 2019
- Surgical Resident Research Program (SRRP) Award for Research with Resident, Medstar Georgetown Surgical Research Outcomes Center, October 2018
- AATS Foundation Award Nominee at Asian Society for Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, 2018
- AATS Leadership Academy Award, 2018
- World Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons, Best Thoracic Oral Presentation Award, 2017
- Trauma Case Presentation Competitor, Georgia Society of ACS, 2010
- Scholar-in-Training Award, American Assoc of Cancer Research, 2009
- Best Basic Science Poster Award, Society of Surgical Oncology, 2009
- GI Cancers Symposium Merit Award, American Society of Clinical Oncology, 2009
- NANETS Travel Award, Neuroendocrine Tumor Society, 2008
- GI Cancers Symposium Merit Award, American Society of Clinical Oncology, 2008
- PGY-1, PGY-2 academic lecture series leader, Emory University Hospital, 2005-2006
- Resident Panel PGY-2 representative, Emory University Hospital, 2005
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP
- 2023, Society of University Surgeons, Member
- 2022, ABTS-SESATS XIV Question writer
- 2022-2023, Vice-Chair, SSAT Esophageal Program Subcommittee
- 2022-2024, Vice-Chair, SSAT Research Committee
- 2022-2024, ESTS Robotic Surgery Working Group Committee
- 2022-2024, ESTS Awake Surgery Working Group Committee
- 2022-2024, ESTS Thymic Working Group Committee
- 2024-2025, Co-chair, STSA Postgraduate Committee
- 2022-2024, STSA Postgraduate Committee
- 2022-2024, AAS Leadership Committee
- 2022, DDW Abstract Selection Committee
- 2021-2022, TSF Saha Scholarship Selection Committee
- 2021-2022, ESTS Abstract Selection Committee
- 2021, WTS Speed Mentorship Committee
- 2021, STS Mentorship Committee Member
- 2020-2021, ESTS Esophageal Session Co-Chair
- 2020-2022, SSAT Research Committee
- 2020-2024, SSAT Esophageal Program Subcommittee
- 2019-Current, The International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery (ISMICS)
- 2018-Current, General Thoracic Surgery Club, Member
- 2017-Current, DMV Thoracic Society, Member
- 2015-Current, Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, Member
- 2015-Current, European Society of Thoracic Surgery, Member
- 2015-Current, American Association for Academic Surgery, Member
- 2015-Current, Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, Member
- 2015-Current, Society of Thoracic Surgery, Member
- 2014-Current, Women in Thoracic Surgery, Member
- 2013-Current, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Member
- 2012-2013, CME Question Committee for Journal of Thoracic, Member
- 2008-2009, Society of Surgical Oncology, Member
- 2007-2009, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Member
- 2007-2009, North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society, Member
- 2007-2009, American Association for Cancer Research, Member
- 2005-Current, American College of Surgeons, Member
- 2000-2015, American Medical Association, Member
SOCIAL MEDIA ADVOCACY/EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
- The wows and woes of simulation, Association for Academic Surgery (AAS) Leadership Blog, Oct 5, 2022. Link: https://www.aasurg.org/blog/the-wows-and-woes-of-simulation/
- What can you do to prevent lung cancer? House call TV Show with Dr. David Doman, 2021. Link: https://www.mmctv.org/what-you-can-do-to-prevent-lung-cancer/
- Identifying early signs of esophageal cancer, WTOP Radio Clip, 2021
- Heartburn, hernias, diverticulum, House call TV Show with Dr. David Doman, 2020. Link: https://www.mmctv.org/heartburn-hernias-diverticulum-oh-my/
- Simulation for technical challenge: Complete portal robotic distal tracheal and left main stem resection and reconstruction on ECMO. Dec 2018. doi:10.25373/ctsnet.7388969. Link: https://www.ctsnet.org/article/simulation-technical-challenge-complete-portal-robotic-distal-tracheal-and-left-main-stem
Memberships
- Vice-Chair – Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT) Research Committee
- Member – European Surgeons in Robotic Thoracic Surgery (ESTS) Robotic Surgery, Awake Surgery, Thymic Working Group Committees
- Co-Chair – Southern Thoracic Surgical Association (STSA) Postgraduate Committee
- Member – Association for Academic Surgery (AAS) Leadership Committee
- Member – The Thoracic Surgery Foundation (TSF) Saha Scholarship Selection Committee
- Member – Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT) Esophageal Program Subcommittee
Licenses & Certifications
● Certified, American Board of Surgery (expired)
● Certified, American Board of Thoracic Surgery
Awards & Recognitions
- SSAT Grand Round Professorship Award
- David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
- AAMC Mid-Career Minority Faculty Leadership Development Award
- Georgetown Chapter
- Top Doctor in 2022 & Top Thoracic Surgeon in Washington DC
- Northern Virginia Magazine
- Top Doctor in Washington DC in 2018, 2019, 2020
- International Association of HealthCare Professionals
- Leading Physician of the World and Top Doctor in Washington DC
- America’s Top Surgeons in 2018
- Fondren-Brown Cardiothoracic OR Nursing Staff Award
- Houston Methodist Faculty Award of Excellence
- Top Surgeon in Houston, TX
- International Association of HealthCare Professionals