Three physicians are honored in Norman awards ceremony
NORMAN — Three Norman physicians were honored for their achievements during an awards ceremony at Norman Regional. They are Drs. Amy Bacchus, Saria Refi and Russ Womble.
Bacchus was chosen by Norman Regional employees as the year’s outstanding physician. All employees were given the opportunity to vote for one physician they felt best personified three traits: compassionate care of patients, building of collegial relationships and the pursuit of professional excellence.
Bacchus has worked at Norman Regional since 2009, and is an intensivist, bringing expert care to patients who require critical care and pulmonology services. Her educational background includes completing medical school at the University of Texas, Internal Medicine residency at Medical Branch at Galveston, and Pulmonary and Critical Care fellowship at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She came to Norman from a pulmonology practice in Tulsa.
Staff commented about her care of her patients and how well she communicates with patients, their families and nursing staff. Refai was given the physician peer award. Physicians voted for a fellow physician they felt best personified three traits: compassionate care of patients, building of collegial relationships and the pursuit of professional excellence.
Refai is a neurologist and also serves as medical director of Norman Regional’s Neurodiagnostic Services. His educational background includes completing medical school at Damascus University in Syria, Family Medicine residency at William Beaumont Hospital in Michigan, and Neurology residency, then Neuromuscular — Clinical Neurophysiology fellowship at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
Every year, one physician is given the Hal Belknap Heart of Gold award, which honors a physician for his or her service to the community. Dr. Belknap was on the medical staff at Norman Regional from 1967 until he died in 2008. He made contributions both locally and globally, ranging from supporting a Boy Scout troop at Norman Regional to founding a health clinic in Africa.
The Hal Belknap Heart of Gold award was awarded to Womble for his volunteer work with the Good Shepherd Clinic in Oklahoma City, providing care for people without insurance and teaching medical students. Womble also serves as a University of Oklahoma physician assistant preceptor. In his first year as a preceptor, he won the preceptor of the year award.
Womble is a hospitalist with Norman Regional Health System. Womble completed his undergraduate at Austin College in Sherman, Texas, in 2002, where he received the distinguished achievement award his senior year. He attended Texas Tech Medical school and graduated in 2006. Womble then moved to Oklahoma City for his internal medicine residency training at OU Health Sciences Center and completed this training in 2009. Since then, Womble has been working at Norman Regional Health System at the former Moore Medical Center and later at Norman Regional HealthPlex.