Each year UC San Diego honors outstanding physicians for their commitment to health care and serving the community. This year UC San Diego Medical Center selected Barbara Parker, MD, medical director of oncology services at the Moores UCSD Cancer Center, as the 2009 Physician of the Year. Mike Preziosi, MD, department of medicine, was honored as the 2009 House Officer of the Year. The physicians were chosen by the Medical Staff Executive Committee that is comprised of UC San Diego Medical Center physicians.

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Barbara Parker, MD, 2009 Physician of the Year
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Parker specializes in breast medical oncology and has been named one of San Diego’s top doctors in medical oncology for 2006, 2007 and 2008. She is known for her compassionate and comprehensive care for which she was awarded the Leonard Tow Humanism Award. She led a collaborative effort to organize faculty and staff into teams for improving service, innovation, quality, outreach, education and philanthropy. She teaches and lectures at the UC San Diego School of Medicine as well as mentors junior faculty. She presents research findings at major cancer meetings and is the medical director of the WHEL Diet Study in Breast Cancer in which long-term breast cancer outcomes are studied in relationship to lifestyle factors.
In addition, Parker is also very active in the community promoting health education and serving as a speaker at community events such as the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Walk.
“Dr. Parker is a role model for the utmost in professional/ personal standards when interacting with patients and their families. She was selected for a training video to demonstrate that caring connection,” said Dennis Carson, MD, Moores UCSD Cancer Center Director.
As chief medical resident, Preziosi is highly experienced in the diagnosis and management of difficult clinical cases, particularly those involving multiple organ systems. In 2008, he gave a presentation entitled “How to Become A Better Diagnostician” that challenged the commonly-used approaches and tenets.
Preziosi has devoted his expertise to the care of the underserved. Locally he has been a leader at the Logan Heights Clinic and on a global level he has worked in the Vinetz Laboratory in Peru. More recently he’s led efforts in establishing global medicine as an elective for internal medicine residents training in Mozambique.
“Dr. Preziosi is unflappable and upbeat, always considering the silver lining of mandates and changes,” said Kenneth Kaushansky, MD, chair, department of medicine. “He is uniformly supportive of residents and staff, and is able to present situations as “win-win.”
“Doctor Parker and Doctor Preziosi were selected by their fellow physicians because they exemplify our commitment to clinical excellence and providing an exceptional patient experience,” said Richard Liekweg, Chief Executive Officer, UC San Diego Medical Center.
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Media Contact: Leslie Webb, 619-543-6163, l2webb@ucsd.edu