The Golden Apple Award
Many schools, universities, and residency programs give out a “Golden Apple” award annually. In fact, the House Officer’s Association at ARMC has also given out a similar award in the past. Previous recipients are Drs. Katz, Kwong, Melendez, and Robinson.
The Golden Apple Award is to be given to one attending physician each year in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. For the ob/gyn residents at ARMC and RCRMC, it is an award of appreciation which is given to an attending physician who has modeled life-long learning habits, superior surgical skills, and an inspiring compassion toward our patients.
2007-2008 Golden Apple Award
Dr. Maxwell Ohikuare, M.D.
Dr. Ohikuare first became an attending at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in 2004. Shortly thereafter, he continued his attending status at Riverside County Regional Medical Center where he quickly became Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Assistant Residency Program Director. Dr. Ohikuare has maintained an open door policy, always accommodating concerns from the students, residents, and attendings. He consistently has a smile on his face and no matter how busy his day might be, he is always willing to stop whatever he is doing and spend some time going over a pelvic exam with a junior resident, reviewing a complicated surgical case with a senior resident, or covering the basics of a post-operative exam with the medical students. Most importantly, Dr. Ohikuare always lends an ear to listen and always tries his best to address any concerns. He is such a great mentor and for these attributes we recognize Dr. Ohikuare as our Golden Apple Award recipient. Congratulations Dr. O from all of us residents!
2006-2007 Golden Apple Award
Dr. Paul Sinkhorn, M.D. and Dr. Carl Luem, M.D.
Dr. Sinkhorn is currently Vice-Chairman of the Department of Women’s Health, Director of Operative Laparoscopic Services, and Director of Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery. He attended medical school at the University of Illinois from 1974-1978. Upon graduating from medical school, he completed a residency in OB/GYN at the University of Arkansas Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Dr. Sinkhorn was chosen for this year’s Golden Apple Award for his enthusiastic teaching skills in GYN surgery. His calm demeanor and his excellent technical skills contribute to the success of our learning all aspects of GYN surgeries. While in the OR, Dr. Sinkhorn’s patience and understanding of our surgical short-comings provide us with the necessary confidence to build our skills to complete various surgeries. He is always ready and willing to give extra assistance and is never quick to take over a case. His attention to detail from prepping the patient to final sutures placed ensures that we obtain the greatest learning from each case that we participate in, with him. He demonstrates many technical components that allow us to perfect and sharpen our surgical skills. To sum it up, I would like to quote a fellow resident’s comment about Dr. Sinkhorn. “He is the best damn instructor in GYN surgery.”
Dr. Luem completed medical school at the University of Missouri-School of Medicine from 1964-1968. Once his internship was completed, Dr. Luem served in the U.S. Army Medical Corp as a General Medical Officer After which, he completed an OB/GYN residency at Louis County Hospital in Clayton, Missouri. We chose to honor Dr. Luem for his phenomenal obstetrical skills. He is an amazing obstetrician who teaches invaluable basic skills ranging from uncomplicated vaginal deliveries to complicated ones such as: breech extractions and twin gestations. Many times after a difficult delivery or a complicated GYN surgery, Dr. Luem will take the time to discuss the case in great detail and will even take the time to diagram various aspects of the case. He has taken the time to personally teach each resident the necessary and simple surgery skills including: holding instruments correctly, tying knots, and other various manual skills. Dr. Luem is an excellent surgeon and teaches those skills extremly well. He’s fearless and calm under all situations, no matter how stressful or dangerous they may be. He is truly a pleasure to work with and a definite role model. I can some day only hope to possess his skills, efficiency, and calm, fearless demeanor.
2005-2006 Golden Apple Award
Juan Arce, M.D.
Dr. Arce attended medical school at the University of El Salvador from 1959 to 1967. He completed a residency in OBGYN at the Maternity Hospital in El Salvador. In 1971, he traveled to Uruguay, where he completed a year Fellowship in Perinatal Medicine. During his fellowship, he trained with Dr. Caldiro who we know today as the discoverer of the Montevideo unit, which he named after Uruguay’s capital city. From 1971-1973, Dr. Arce trained at USC Medical Center under Dr. Ed Hon, the inventor of fetal heart monitoring. In 1974, Dr. Arce was invited to become a faculty member at Martin Luther King Hospital, where he later became chief of Obstetrics. Dr. Arce went into private practice as chair of perinatal services in a large multispecialty office from 1989 to 2004. And in 2004, he retired to El Salvador to become a key lime grower and manage his family’s rum distillery. When I asked Dr. Arce how he came out of retirement to teach us here at Arrowhead, he replied, “Because I got bored. I would go to see the lime trees every two weeks, but they will not be bearing fruit for another two years!” Then he said simply, “No . . . I am an obstretrician.”
2004-2005 GOLDEN APPLE AWARD
Otis Gaddis, M.D.
By giving Dr. Gaddis this award, we recognized him for his outstanding surgical teaching skills, his support of the residents, his compassion toward our patients, and his commitment to the art of our practice. We appreciate all that he has taught us inside the operating room and outside of the operating room. We appreciate his work which is always done in a spirit of progressive cooperation.