Jamsheed Vakharia, MD, has been named the recipient of the 2008 Charles C.J. Carpenter, MD, Outstanding Physician of the Year Award at The Miriam Hospital. Recognized by his peers for his diligence, compassion and commitment to his patients, Vakharia was presented the award at the hospital’s staff association meeting on June 15.

“Dr. Vakharia truly exemplifies the spirit of this award. An incredibly hard worker, he consistently delivers the highest quality care while also demonstrating the compassion, kindness and concern that makes him appreciated and respected by both his patients as well as the clinical teams that he works with each day,” says Kathleen C. Hittner, MD, president and CEO of The Miriam Hospital.

A board-certified general surgeon, Vakharia has been practicing at The Miriam Hospital since 1998 and is affiliated with University Surgical Associates. He lends his expertise to a range of surgical procedures aimed at treating stomach, colon and pancreatic cancers as well as gallbladder and hernia issues. Peers who nominated Vakharia for the award call him one of the hospital’s “hardest working physicians” and someone who “stresses the important role that teamwork plays in the operating room and in the post-op care of patients.”

Vakharia completed his internship at The Miriam Hospital and his surgical residency with The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. He currently serves as a member of the Medical Executive Committee at The Miriam Hospital and is a member of the Rhode Island Medical Society and American Medical Association. He is also a fellow with the national and Rhode Island chapters of the American College of Surgeons and is an assistant professor of surgery at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

A native of Pakistan, Vakharia received his undergraduate degree from Adamjee Government Science College and his medical degree from Aga Khan University Medical College. He resides in Providence with his wife, Lisa, and his daughter, Meghana.

The Charles C.J. Carpenter, MD, Physician of the Year Award recognizes a physician, nominated by his/her peers, for outstanding contributions to medicine, leadership, professionalism and patient care–qualities exemplified by Carpenter, director of the Lifespan/Tufts/Brown Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) and a professor of medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, has achieved widespread recognition for his work in treating diseases in developing countries and for training a generation of researchers in the field of international health.