Educational Mentor of the Year Award

Maria Garzon, MD Named Apgar Academy

2024 Educational Mentor of the Year

In recognition of transformative engagement in the lives of students, trainees, clinicians, and scholars at Columbia and throughout the nation, Maria Garzon, MD is hereby named the 2024 Virginia Apgar Academy for Medical Educators Mentor of the Year.

Maria Garzon, M.D. is Professor of Dermatology and Pediatrics at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (VP&S) and the Director of the Division of Pediatric Dermatology at NYP Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital. With a significant body of published research, leadership and teaching experience, Dr. Garzon is an internationally recognized leader in pediatric dermatology. She is a leading expert on the care of children and adolescents with vascular anomalies, particularly hemangiomas and vascular malformations. Dr. Garzon is the Founder and Co-Director of the (NYP/CUIMC) Interdisciplinary Vascular Anomalies Group, a founding member and past President of the Hemangioma Investigator Group (HIG) and a founding member of the Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PeDRA).  She is a past President of both the Society for Pediatric Dermatology and the New York Dermatological Society. She was elected to the Academy of Clinical Excellence (ACE) at VP&S and named a Samberg Scholar at NYP Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital. Dr. Garzon has authored numerous seminal, field-inaugurating articles and book chapters on pediatric dermatology and has lectured at many national and international meetings including the American Academy of Dermatology, American Academy of Pediatrics, Pediatric Academic Societies, World Congress of Pediatric Dermatology, NIH,  and International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies. 

Nominators of Dr. Garzon celebrate her “commitment to fostering a positive mentorship environment marked by inclusivity, respect, and collaboration.” Through her mentorship, she has propelled numerous mentees to successful national careers in pediatric dermatology. Dr. Garzon’s approach is “infused with empathy and compassion, intuitively recognizing and addressing the struggles of students and residents, ensuring their well-being and growth.” Her unwavering commitment and passion for education and mentorship has been formally recognized numerous times. Within the Department of Dermatology Dr. Garzon’s colleagues describe her as  “the ‘go-to’ person for career advice for many faculty and residents in our department, regardless of their career interests. Always mindful to align with the individual’s personal and professional goals and never imposes her own goals on others, she is gifted at constructively guiding and supporting each individual’s unique career paths, as well as providing sage advice on maintaining work-life balance. While mindful of potential academic opportunities (within or outside of our institution) that are of interest to our faculty, residents, and fellows.”

We  applaud Dr. Garzon for this distinction and join with all her students and trainees in the deepest thanks.  Dr. Garzon was recognized for this distinction at the annual Apgar Academy Dinner hosted April 24, 2024.

Recipients of the Apgar Educational Mentor of the Year Award

2023 Elaine J. Abrams, MD

2022 Elisabeth B. Guthrie, MD