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Dr. Harold Alper Humanitarian Award

About Dr. Alper

Dr. Harold Alper began practicing in 1947 and was named to the University of Tennessee College of Medicine faculty as Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery in 1976. He was instrumental in founding the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Speech and Hearing Center in the early 1950’s, and he pioneered microscopic surgery and laser surgery in Chattanooga. Dr. Alper’s community service included work as the president of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society, the Chattanooga Jewish Welfare Foundation, and the Jewish Community Center.

About the Award and Ceremony

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center - Chattanooga (UTHSC), in conjunction with Erlanger and an endowment from the family of the late Dr. Harold Alper, has established the yearly ceremony and Grand Rounds Keynote Address. The Dr. Harold Alper Humanitarian Award is presented to a graduating resident or fellow at UTHSC who has consistently demonstrated during residency or fellowship the humanistic qualities for which the late Dr. Harold Alper was known: integrity, compassion, and community service.

Over the next several weeks, we will highlight a nominee from the list below. Please feel free to share your stories on how each nominee exemplifies these qualities.

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2025 Nominees

Eliea Sneij, MD

Eliea Sneij, MD

Cardiology Fellow Read Nomination
Lily Fatula, MD

Lily Fatula, MD

Plastic Surgery Residency Chief Resident Read Nomination
Ty Poston, MD

Ty Poston, MD

Internal Medicine Resident Read Nomination
Meg Sabourin, MD

Meg Sabourin, MD

OBGYN Residency Resident Read Nomination
Mitchell Scull, MD

Mitchell Scull, MD

Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Read Nomination
Britany Thompson, MD

Britany Thompson, MD

Vascular Surgery Fellow Read Nomination
S. Austin Gilchrist, MD

Scott Austin Gilchrist, MD

Surgery Residency Chief Resident Read Nomination 
William Oelsner, MD

William Oelsner, MD

Gastroenterology Fellowship Read Nomination 
Sunny Roy, MD

Sunny Roy, MD

Urology Residency Chief Resident Read Nomination 
De'Angelo Smotherson, MD

De'Angelo Smotherson, MD

Emergency Medicine Residency Read Nomination 
Alexandra Stedke, MD

Alexandra Stedke,DO

Pediatrics Resident Read Nomination