Professional Development Awards

Excellence in Clinical Endocrinology Leadership

September 08, 2025

Physician leadership is the future of healthcare. The Excellence in Clinical Endocrinology Leadership (ExCEL) program offers comprehensive leadership training and mentorship to early career physicians in medicine and science.

Whether you are just beginning as an endocrine fellow or navigating the next steps in your career beyond fellowship, the ExCEL program will help you build leadership skills, explore opportunities for advancement, and expand your network of peers and colleagues.

 

Why Apply?

  • Strengthen your confidence and leadership skills in clinical care
  • Gain tools for navigating the business side of healthcare
  • Build relationships with mentors, peers, and Society leaders
  • Position yourself for leadership opportunities in your profession and community

ExCEL Program Components

ExCEL is a year-long leadership development experience with four components. The program includes:

The ExCEL Workshop is the foundation of the program. This two-day workshop is designed for early career clinicians. It offers practical leadership training with sessions such as financial management, contract negotiation, and effective communication. The workshop prepares physicians to navigate the transition into clinical practice and build the skills needed to grow as leaders in endocrinology.

Workshop Highlights

  • Clinical Career Pathways in Endocrinology
  • The Business of Healthcare from Billing to Practice Management
  • Identifying Your Natural Leadership and Communication Styles

ExCEL awardees receive a travel stipend and complimentary registration to attend ENDO, the Endocrine Society’s Annual Meeting and Expo. This ensures participants can continue their professional development, present their work, and expand their professional networks. 

ExCEL participants have the opportunity to apply for a one-year internship appointment on an Endocrine Society governance committee. Interns gain firsthand leadership experience and help shape the Society’s programs.

The ExCEL community includes faculty leaders, alumni, and peers who are invested in supporting each other’s success. Through this network, participants gain access to accomplished clinicians who provide career advice, feedback, and connections that continue long after the workshop ends.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • Endocrine Society early career or in-training member. Join Now!
  • Currently enrolled in an accredited US endocrinology fellowship program
  • Early career professional (5 years or less) with a demonstrated interest in clinical practice or clinical care settings who aspire to leadership roles that make a difference in their profession and communities
  • Available to attend the full ExCEL workshop in Washington, DC, from April 8–10, 2026

Please note: Preference is given to US citizens and US permanent residents. Visa holders studying in the US may also apply.

Apply to ExCEL

We are now accepting applications for the 2026 ExCEL Program.

  • Deadline: Monday, November 3, 2025
  • Apply Online: Opens Monday, September 8, 2025 

The ExCEL program encourages individuals in training and early in their career to apply. Consistent with applicable law, an individual candidate’s race, ethnicity, or sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, or transgender status) may not be considered a factor for purposes of program eligibility or in selecting participants or faculty members.

For questions about the ExCEL program, contact us at [email protected].

ExCEL Recipients

Recipient Institution
Jadailine Bermúdez-Santos, MD                      University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus
Chineze Ebo, MD Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Raihan El-Naas, MD New York-Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medicine Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Hospital for Special Surgery 
Natalia Fretes Oviedo, MD Cleveland Clinic Foundation
 Matthew Gonzalez, MD   Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Faidat Adeola Ishola  Stanford University 
Raul Lopez Fañas, MD  Montefiore Medical Center-Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism 
Maria Alejandra Luna Cuadros, MD                  Boston University, Boston Medical Center 
Hery Alexander Mejia, MD  Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami 
Kauthrah Ntabadde  National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases(NIDDK) 
Marcelo Ramirez, MD University of Chicago 
Lorena Rasquin Leon, MD  Montefiore Medical Center 
Julienne Sánchez Pérez, MD  University of Illinois at Chicago 
Horacio Javier Velasquez, MD                       Baylor College of Medicine - Texas Children's Hospital 

Recipient

Institution

Renato Savian, MD

University Of Miami

Khulood Bukhari, MBBS

National Institute on Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases

Maria Sanchez Valenzuela, MD

University Of Virginia

David Toro Tobon

Mayo Clinic

Monica Fabiola Nogueira Cordeiro, MD      

Montefiore Hospital & Medical Center

Azucena Herrera Chancay, MD

UT Southwestern Medical Center

Gabriel Castano, MD

Texas Children's Hospital

Dieula John, MD, MBA

UCF/HCA Florida Healthcare Endocrinology Fellowship Program Greater Orlando

 Esther Bell, MD

 Nationwide Children's Hospital

Recipient  Institution 
Arya May, DO  University of Alabama-Birmingham
Nwamaka Gloria Akabogu, MD  University of Missouri-Columbia
Ana Menendez, MD  University of Connecticut 
Anota Akofu, MD  University of Missouri-Columbia
Joseph Monye, MD  University of Maryland
Carolina Hurtado, MD   University of California, Los Angeles
Adriana Rodriguez, MD  UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
Lisette Patricia Rodriguez, MD  University of Virginia
Ana Del Carmen Rivadeneira Rodriguez, MD   University of Pennsylvania

Recipient  Institution 
 Giselle Blair  DiabesityMD
 Sidra Fnu  UT Southwestern Medical Center
 Woderyelesh Kassa  Virginia Health System
 Sara Khan  Johns Hopkins University Endocrine Fellowship Program
  Eduardo Lopez Martinez  University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill - Serials Dept.
 Faustina Lozada Orquera  Geisinger Health System
 Milay Luis Lam  Meritus Medical Center
 Noura Nachawi  Cleveland Clinic Foundation
 Nejat Naser  George Washington University Hospital

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