Sara Mazzoni, M.D., MPH, associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, has been awarded the 2019 Brewer-Heslin Endowed Award for Professionalism in Medicine.
A faculty member of the Divisions of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Women’s Reproductive Healthcare since 2016, Mazzoni has been recognized for her routinely high patient experience scores. She was named one of the top 100 UAB Providers for Patient Experience in 2017. She has also served as a role model for medical students and resident physicians, receiving an Excellence in Resident Education Award in 2017 and 2019.
“I am honored to receive the Brewer-Heslin award,” Mazzoni said. “There are so many well-deserving faculty that I am quite humbled to be the recipient this year. I appreciate my colleagues’ support in the OB/GYN department.”
Mazzoni spearheaded establishing a group care model for women with gestational diabetes; the model is also used to care for addicted mothers through the Comprehensive Addiction in Pregnancy Program established by Lorie Harper, M.D. She also successfully advocated for integrating a psychiatric nurse practitioner in the Obstetrics Complications Clinic, resulting in tremendous improvement in care for pregnant women facing complications. She serves as the obstetric lead for the Alabama Perinatal Quality Collaborative, and on the boards of Nurse Family Partnership and Girls Inc.
Former Alabama Gov. Albert P. Brewer established the Brewer-Heslin Endowed Award for Professionalism in Medicine in 2015, which is given annually to a faculty physician who upholds the highest ideals of professionalism in medicine. The award is named for both Brewer and Martin Heslin, M.D., executive vice-chair of the Department of Surgery and chief of Medical Staff for UAB Hospital. Heslin once served as Brewer’s surgeon and was the inaugural recipient of the award.
“Dr. Mazzoni is deeply compassionate and devoted to her patients’ needs, actively involved in improving care for all women in Alabama, and dedicated to improving young women’s lives,” said Brian Casey, M.D., director of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, who nominated her for the award. “In short, she epitomizes the outstanding commitment that the Brewer-Heslin Award was designed to honor.”