The Women Physician Leadership Council (WPLC) recently hosted its 2024 Trailblazer Awards Reception, an evening dedicated to celebrating exceptional female physicians who are transforming healthcare delivery in our community. The event brought together healthcare leaders and professionals to honor six remarkable physicians who bring HonorHealth’s ICARE values to life every day.  
 

What makes a trailblazer?  
It’s more than just excellent medical care. Trailblazers are the physicians who see challenges as opportunities, who bring fresh perspectives to patient care and who lift up others along the way. They embody what HonorHealth stands for: innovation, collaboration, accountability, respect and empathy. Todd LaPorte helped celebrate these values as he presented the awards, while Kim Post’s keynote speech reinforced the importance of supporting and elevating women in healthcare leadership roles.  
 

Meet the 2024 trailblazers 

Let’s get to know the amazing physicians who earned this year’s honors:             

Deepa Shah, MD, has revolutionized women’s healthcare access through her Women Giving Care Program at HonorHealth. Her initiative, featuring an all-female team for colonoscopy procedures, has successfully increased colorectal cancer screening rates among women. As the 2024 HonorHealth Citizenship and Community Service Award recipient, Dr. Shah continues to champion colon cancer awareness and women’s health education. 

Gina Shirah, MD, FACS, chief of surgery at HonorHealth John C. Lincoln, combines surgical excellence with advocacy for workplace wellness. Her leadership in establishing a dedicated lactation suite demonstrates her commitment to supporting working mothers in healthcare. Her peers have recognized her dedication through multiple awards for surgical education and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.  

JulieAnn Heathcott, MD, has been practicing at HonorHealth since 2005. This year, she expanded her impact globally by joining Pipeline Worldwide in northern Uganda, where she trains midwives and nurses in critical maternal care practices, exemplifying the far-reaching influence of our physician community.   

Seema Jain, MD, associate program director for the Internal Medicine Residency Program, leads initiatives in diversity, equity and inclusion. Her innovative work includes developing DEI programming and establishing vital community partnerships, including rotations at Spectrum Health and St. Vincent De Paul Free Clinic.  

Tabitha Moe, MD, FACC, one of Arizona’s few board-certified adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) specialists, has made significant contributions to cardiac care and research. Her involvement in the TOPS program has helped screen over 45,000 student athletes, while her expertise in managing high-risk pregnancies in ACHD patients has expanded critical care options within the HonorHealth network.  

Arooj Kayani, MD, excels in pulmonary and critical care, maintaining exceptional standards in robotic bronchoscopy with diagnostic yields surpassing national averages. Her leadership as physician co-chair of the Osborn Code Committee has enhanced cardiac arrest protocols, while her innovative approach to lung cancer detection has improved early diagnosis rates.  

More than just awards 

This celebration wasn’t just about handing out honors – it was about recognizing the ripple effect these physicians create throughout HonorHealth and beyond. Their work inspires colleagues, improves patient care and shows what’s possible when determination meets opportunity.  

Looking ahead, these trailblazers exemplify how innovation in healthcare isn’t solely about new technology or treatments – it’s about individuals who envision better ways to care for the community and boldly lead the way. 

Want to learn more about the WPLC? Visit the HonorHealth Women Physicians Leadership Council page.