Vero Beach, Florida – Sobia Khawaja, MD, a board-certified pediatric physician with Treasure Coast Community Health, earned the 2020 Florida State University (FSU) College of Medicine Guardian of the Mission Community Faculty Award.

Sandy Stevens, MBA, FSU Student Support Coordinator, presented Khawaja with the award in recognition of outstanding service in furthering FSU College of Medicine’s mission to educate and develop exemplary physicians who practice patient-centered health care, discover and advance knowledge, and are responsible to community needs, especially through service to elder, rural, minority, and underserved populations.

Khawaja humbly accepted the award, saying, “I have always enjoyed academic medicine and love training the next generation of physicians. The goal is for students to go out and serve underserved and rural communities.”

For 11 years, Khawaja has improved health care for children and families in Indian River County and cultivated future physicians. Her positive impact in eliminating health care disparities in her community while instilling these values in her medical students is immeasurable.

The FSU College of Medicine mission statement closely resembles that of TCCH’s mission to provide integrated and comprehensive medical, dental, mental health, and substance abuse services to all people. Additional services that remove barriers to care include prescription assistance, translation services, social service referrals for food and housing, Medicaid eligibility and enrollment, and assistance understanding the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace.