Pictured: Dr. Lorenzo-Rivero
Shauna Lorenzo-Rivero, MD, a Chattanooga physician, and Tobacco Free Chattanooga were among the recipients of the Tennessee Medical Association’s annual awards for 2014, presented last weekend in Franklin during the TMA’s 179th Annual Meeting.
Dr. Lorenzo-Rivero was honored with a 2014 Distinguished Service Award, presented annually since 1963 by the TMA Board of Trustees to exemplary members of the association for their notable achievements during the past year. Dr. Lorenzo-Rivero was nominated by the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society for her role in forming The Greater Chattanooga Colon Cancer Foundation, and for her related advocacy work to reduce colorectal cancer deaths through greater colon cancer awareness and access to regular screenings.
Dr.
Lorenzo-Rivero is a colorectal surgeon and assistant professor at University Surgical Associates & University of Tennessee, College of Medicine in Chattanooga. In addition to her work with the Foundation, Dr. Lorezno-Rivero is a volunteer physician with the Hamilton County Project Access. She has served on the Cancer Committee at Parkridge Medical Center, established the Pelvic Floor Center at Parkridge Hospital, co-founded the Continence Clinic at Memorial Hospital, established the UTC Lady Surgeon’s Club and makes regular public appearances to raise colon cancer awareness. She is an active member of the American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons, the Association of Women Surgeons, the American Medical Association, Tennessee Medical Association, the Chattanooga Ostomy Association, the Chattanooga Regional Oncology Association, and the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society.
Tobacco Free Chattanooga was honored with a TMA 2014 Community Service Award, given annually to persons or organizations outside the medical profession who contribute significantly to the advancement of public health in their respective communities. Tobacco Free Chattanooga offers cessation resources for smokers and advocacy through education, media and legislative resources, provides a public forum for concerns and leads action to change local and state tobacco policies. Last year, Tobacco Free Chattanooga convinced Friends of the Festival, a nonprofit organization that manages and produces the Riverbend Festival and other premier events in the Chattanooga area, to create designated smoking areas for attendees. This prevented more than 100,000 festival goers from having to inhale secondhand smoke on festival grounds.