MCV Physicians Distinguished Clinician Award
Compassionate. Brilliant. Dedicated. His character is so multifaceted that a single perspective cannot do him justice, but his devotion to patient care is overarching. “Dr. Sica is a brilliant physician who has the ability to work up and care for the most severely ill patients,” explains Harold Young, M.D., Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery. “He is compassionate and has a vast clinical background. Dr. Sica also brings the very best in medicine to any patient that he cares for.”
Recognized as one of the top nephrologists in the area by Richmond Magazine, Dr. Sica directs the Hypertension Clinic at VCUHS and works closely with free-standing clinics and health care providers in the greater Richmond area to provide both education and quality health care in the area of hypertension.
Dr. Sica also has been involved in countless service and leadership roles in nephrology, clinical pharmacology, and hypertension organizations, currently is on the Board of Directors of the American Society of Hypertension, and is a sought-after speaker at national and international meetings.
He is the recipient of numerous awards for his clinical skills including the Distinguished Clinical Care award from the VCU Department of Medicine, the inaugural Master Clinician Award from the International Society of Hypertension in Blacks, and the inaugural Marvin Moser Award from the American Society of Hypertension, an award given to a clinician who has provided outstanding service in the hypertension community in patient care, scholarly activity, and research. Recipient of several Best Teaching Attending Awards, he also is dedicated to educating the next generation of scientists. “He always finds the time to selflessly mentor housestaff,” wrote one colleague, “and is especially giving of his time and experience to junior faculty, encouraging their growth both as clinicians and scientists.”
“Dr. Sica is formed in the mold of the old school ‘triple threat’ of academics: an extremely well accomplished and recognized scientist, clinician, and educator,” another colleague explained. “He is a dedicated scientist and clinician who is always giving back to his community. He is a true role model and an excellent ambassador both locally and nationally for our university.”
Colleagues praise “his very quiet, but consistent philanthropic support of our community. He established the Ram Slam Scholarship Program in 1998 to recognize Richmond City Public High school students for both community service and academic excellence, personally providing over $100,000 in scholarship dollars in the past 11 years. “A rabid sports fan, he has shared his support and love of the VCU basketball team with the youth of the area, purchasing up to 2000 tickets per year over the last 10 years to allow kids to attend these games,” added his nominating team. “He has even managed to combine his two loves (hypertension and sports), providing free health and blood pressure screenings before games.”
Most recently, Dr. Sica and his wife endowed the Sica Family Single Mother Scholarship, which already has allowed several young women to successfully complete school at VCU. Of his involvement, Dr. Sica has said: “It is my belief that we need to invest in our youth, which is the greatest resource we have in this country. There are many deserving young adults who cannot make it to school because of the fi nances of attending and these scholarships are one way of getting them started.”
“Without a doubt, we are fortunate to have Dr. Domenic Sica as a part of our university and community,” commended Lisa K. Brath, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine Pulmonary-Critical Care Division. “He is certainly one of our ultimate role models, and by all accounts, well deserving of the title of Distinguished Clinician of the Year.”