2025 Evans Awards

Congratulations to the 2025 Evans Award recipients: Medical students Sophia Chahine and Jorie Wittig and resident Sarina Sandhu.

Some comments from their nominations: 

Sophia Chahine

“Sophia authentically engages with patients to understand their unique stories, and collaborate with them to improve their healthcare outcomes. Her approach to medicine and patient care stem from the cultural values Sophia learned from her family who instilled in her the importance of hospitality and respect for each person. Like Dr. Evans, Sophia believes in the interconnectedness of all individuals and approaches patients, colleagues and community members alike with warmth and care, fostering a healing and inclusive environment wherever she goes.” 

Jorie Wittig

“Jorie offers deep emotional support, ensuring that every patient feels heard, valued, and cared for beyond their physical needs. She has long volunteered her beautiful singing voice to gift songs to hospice patients, and is the kind of student doctor who drove to Dick's Drive-In to get her dying patient a milkshake.”

“Jorie exemplifies hard work, dedication, and humanity in medicine. She is a ray of sunshine to all and so knowledgeable. Always thoughtful, supportive and nice to everyone around her.” 

Sarina Sandhu

“Sarina is the embodiment of positivity and warmth. She consistently uplifts team morale and selflessly prioritizes the needs of others over her own. Her kindness, compassion, and unwavering positivity shine through in every interaction. Throughout her time as a resident, Sarina has gone above and beyond to support struggling residents and medical students, offering them not only guidance but also an incredible level of empathy and grace. Sarina is the equivalent of a human ray of sunshine that can brighten even the darkest Seattle days.”

“So kind to her core. Her warmth towards others is absolutely contagious.”

“Sarina epitomizes the saying ‘you are never too busy to be kind.” 

The Robert S. Evans Awards are presented each year to the second-year medicine resident(s) and the graduating student(s) in medicine who most clearly reflect the qualities of warmth, understanding, and concern for the needs of others exemplified by and expressed through the life of Dr. Robert Evans, who was chief of medicine at Seattle VA Medical Center for many years.