Awards - UVA Medical Alumni Association

Recognizing Excellence

Nominations for the UVA Medical Alumni Association’s 2025 Awards will be accepted May 1 – July 31 through our online nomination form. Anyone can submit a nomination for a candidate who meets the award criteria, and self-nominations are also accepted.

Award Criteria

Award Selection and Presentation

Nominations are reviewed and recipients are chosen by a volunteer committee with diverse areas of expertise. The UVA Medical Alumni Association will announce the award winners in September 2025, and award presentations will be made during 2026 Medical School Reunion Weekend in April.

Read answers to our most frequently asked questions about the nomination process

Awards from the UVA Medical Alumni Association have honored distinguished alumni, housestaff, and faculty associated with the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

Walter Reed Distinguished Achievement Award
Distinguished Achievement Award in Biomedical Sciences
MD Early Achievement Award
Early Achievement Award in Biomedical Sciences
Humanitarian Award
Outstanding Medical Alumnus Award

The Walter Reed Distinguished Achievement Award recognizes professional accomplishments, outstanding innovation, and exemplary leadership in the field of medicine.

Previous winners:

2024	Matthew A. Howard, III, MD ’85
2023	Michael Nelson, MD ‘89, PhD ‘93
2022	James E. (Jef) Ferguson, MD, MBA
2021	Lee M. Ellis, MD ’83
2020	Leonard S. Schleifer, MD ’77, PhD ’80
2019	William A. Petri, Jr., PhD ’80, MD ’82
2018	Richard G. Azizkhan, MD, Res ’83 and Joachim Tenuta, MD ’87 (co-recipients)
2017	Robert S. Brown, Sr., MD ’67 and Sherita Hill Golden, MD ’94 (co-recipients)
2016	Charles W. Cummings, MD ’61 and Peter. H. Wiernik, MD ’65 (co-recipients)
2015	Ralph G. Dacey, Jr., MD ’74
2014	John W. Sperling, MD ’94
2013	Charles W. Gross, MD ’61
2012	Kenneth E. Greer, MD ’67, Res ’74
2011	Martha A. Carpenter, MD ’59
2010	Delos M. (Toby) Cosgrove, MD ’66
2009	Ferid Murad, MD, PhD
2008	Daniel N. Mohler, MD ’53
2007	Vivian W. Pinn, MD ’67
2006	George A. Beller, MD ’66
2005	E. Darracott Vaughan, Jr., MD ’65, Res ’71
2004	Sharon L. Hostler, MD, Res ’67, Fel ’70
2003	Benjamin C. Sturgill, MD ’60, Res ’64
2002	Charles E. Horton, MD ’47
2001	Peyton E. Weary, MD ’55, Res ’61
2000	Charles M. Caravati, Jr., MD ’63, Res ’69
1999	Munsey S. Wheby, MD ’55, Fel ’59
1998	John A. Owen, Jr., MD ’48, Res ’51
1997	William H. Muller, Jr., MD
1996	Robert M. Carey, MD, Res ’65

The Distinguished Achievement Award in Biomedical Sciences recognizes exceptional research and professional accomplishments, outstanding discovery and innovation, and exemplary leadership in the basic sciences by a PhD alumnus/a, or a former postdoctoral fellow of the University of Virginia School of Medicine. The award was established in 2020 by the UVA Medical Alumni Association and Medical School Foundation.

Previous winners:

2024	William Wimley, PhD ’90
2023	Catherine Christian-Hinman, PhD ’08
2022	Stephen Waggoner, PhD ’07
2021	Carrie Cowardin, PhD ’16
2020	Charles H. Evans, Jr., MD ’66, PhD ’69, Res ’71

The MD Early Achievement Award recognizes alumni who have brought honor and distinction to the UVA School of Medicine by demonstrating outstanding leadership in—and making significant contributions to—the field of medicine early in their careers through teaching, research, clinical care, public or professional service, or civic duties. Established in 2018, the first award was presented in November 2018.

Previous winners:

2024	Richard Ma, MD ’05, Res ’11
2023	Kristen T. Leeman, MD ’06
2022	Jennifer Kawwass, MD ’07
2021	Kyle B. Enfield, MD, Res ’06, Fel ’10
2020	James A. Platts-Mills, MD ’09, Fel ’15
2019	Xinning (Tiger) Li, MD ’05
2018	Scott Beach, MD ’06, Res ’10 (Medical)
2018	Joel Baumgart, PhD ’08 (Scientific)

*Note: This award was previously known as the Early Achievement Award. There are now separate early achievement awards for MD and PhD alumni.

The Early Achievement Award in Biomedical Sciences recognizes alumni who have brought honor and distinction to the UVA School of Medicine by demonstrating outstanding leadership in—and making significant contributions to—the field of medicine early in their careers through research, discovery and innovation. This new award recognized its first winner in 2022.

Previous winners:

2024	John Lukens, PhD ‘08
2023	Kristian M. Hargadon, PhD ‘07
2022	Nima Mosammaparast, MD ’06, PhD ’05

The Humanitarian Award honors alumni who have provided extraordinary service to society or humanity. The award recognizes individuals who have dedicated themselves to the compassionate care of the underserved and underprivileged. This new award recognized its first winner in 2022.

Previous winners:

2024	Richard C. Brown, MD ’63
2023	Joseph F, Smiddy, MD ’67
2022	Richard MacKay, MD ’73

The Outstanding Medical Alumnus Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the noble profession of medicine and exceptional service and dedication to the University of Virginia Medical Alumni Association and Medical School Foundation. This recipient is selected each year by the staff of the UVA Medical Alumni Association and Medical School Foundation.

Previous winners:

2024	Anastasia Williams, MD ’98
2023	Nora Kern, MD ’08
2022	Patrick J. McManus, MD ’85
2021	Joel Bruce, MD ’87
2020	Wendy Davis, MD ’81
2019	Frederick L. Greene, MD ’70
2018	Bonnie F. Offit, MD ’87
2017	E. Thomas Newbill, MD ’79
2016	Elizabeth A. Carr, MD ’88
2015	Charles H. Henderson, III, MD ’65
2014	Christopher D. Casscells, MD ’81
2013	Dearing Johns, MD ’77
2012	Mary F. Witt, MD ’78
2011	Randolph J. Canterbury, II, MD, Res ’84
2010	George A. Hurt, MD ’64
2009	Charles W. Gross, MD ’61
2008	Byrd S. Leavell, Jr., MD ’77
2007	William P. Kanto, Jr., MD ’66
2006	Sam D. Graham, Jr., MD ’75
2005	Harvey Smallwood, MD ’49
2003	B.R. Ashby, MD ’65
2001	Bernard A. Heckman, MD ’62
2000	Robert L.A. Keeley, MD ’44
1999	White McK. Wallenborn, MD ’55
1998	Kenneth E. Greer, MD ’67, Res ’74
1997	J. Edwin Wood III, MD ’49
1996	Sam D. Graham, Sr., MD ’46
1995	Frederick H. Lovejoy, Jr., MD ’63
1994	DuPont Guerry III, MD ’38
1993	Charles W. Miller, MD ’69
1992	Herbert A. Claiborne, Jr., MD ’47
1991	Charles H. Upton, MD ’44
1990	Armistead Page Booker, MD ’43
1989	Weir M. Tucker, MD ’42
1988	Mack I. Shanholtz, MD ’34
1987	Carson L. Fifer, MD ’28
1986	James Earle Wheeler, MD ’26
1985	Edwin L. Kendig, MD ’36
1984	Edgar N. Weaver, Sr., MD ’43
1983	Glenn B. Updike, Jr., MD ’50
1982	Calvin T. Burton, MD ’28
1981	Daniel D. Talley III, MD ’44
1980	Hill Carter, MD ’30
1979	Carlton J. Casey, MD ’39
1978	James C. Respess, MD ’50
1977	Mac Roy Gasque, MD ’44

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Nominations and Award Criteria

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Award History

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