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Dean Golden and award winner Jasmine Zapata

Alumni Awards

The Wisconsin Medical Alumni Association (WMAA) presents annual alumni awards in seven categories to remarkable individuals. Learn about the 2024 Alumni Award recipients.

Contact Andrea Larson for more information about awards.

Nominate a Colleague

The Wisconsin Medical Alumni Association (WMAA) invites alumni to nominate their fellow alumni and, in some cases, faculty and staff of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health or UW Health, to be considered for WMAA awards. Previous winners will not be considered.

Award nomination form

Award Categories

Medical Alumni Citation – Distinguished Alumni Award
This award honors medical school alumni who have achieved distinction in medicine. Achievement is recognized through excellence in the practice of medicine, in academic activities and in research accomplishment.

Resident/Fellow Citation – Distinguished Resident Award
This award honors an individual who has completed a residency or fellowship at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics and has achieved distinction in medicine. Achievement is recognized through excellence in the practice of medicine, in academic activities and in research accomplishment.

Early Career Achievement Award
This award  honors UW School of Medicine and Public Health MD alumni who have attained exemplary success early in their career. They will have made outstanding contributions through clinical service, research, education and/or administrative leadership. Alumni may receive the award no later than 20 years following their graduation year from UW SMPH.

Emeriti Faculty Award
This award recognizes outstanding service to the UW School of Medicine and Public Health. It is awarded to emeriti faculty in the Basic and Clinical Sciences who have exhibited exceptional commitment to the school over a period of years.

Ralph Hawley Distinguished Community Service Award
This award is conferred on a UW School of Medicine and Public Health graduate who has made outstanding contributions to their local community through medical practice, teaching, research or humanitarian activities.

Medical Alumni Service Award
This is an award for a UW School of Medicine and Public Health MD graduate who has made an exceptional commitment to the Wisconsin Medical Alumni Association over a period of years.

Honorary Life Membership
This award honors an individual who has been particularly supportive of and helpful to students and alumni. This award is given to non-alumni, typically a staff member in the School of Medicine or the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association.

2024 Alumni Award Recipients

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Medical Alumni Citation – Distinguished Alumni Award: Christine A. Wanke, MD

Christine WankeChristine A. Wanke, MD ’80
Professor Emerita
Tufts University School of Medicine
Departments of Public Health and Community Medicine
Division of Geographic Medicine and Infectious Diseases

“Dr. Wanke is an internationally recognized expert in HIV, HIV related nutritional and metabolic complications, and the many risks associated with HIV infection. She is also an expert in diarrheal disease and malnutrition in children in the resource-limited world. She has numerous NIH and other research grants, has published over 200 manuscripts, book chapters, and books, and has won numerous research awards. Perhaps most importantly, she has mentored over 60 research trainees who have gone on to independent research careers, making her an outstanding UW Medical Citation Awardee.”

— Patrick E. McBride, MD ’80, MPH
Departments of Medicine (Cardiovascular Medicine) and Family Medicine
Former Associate Dean of Students and Associate Dean of Faculty
UW School of Medicine and Public Health

Resident/Fellow Citation - Distinguished Resident Award: Allan D. Kirk, MD, PhD

Allan KirkAllan D. Kirk, MD, PhD, PG ’97
David C. Sabiston, Jr. Distinguished Professor and Chair
Department of Surgery
Vice Dean, Section of Surgical Disciplines
Duke University School of Medicine
Surgeon-in-Chief, Duke University Health System

“Dr. Kirk is a highly respected, pioneering kidney and pancreas transplant surgeon, and an internationally recognized researcher in the basic and applied areas of immunosuppressive medication management, transplant tolerance, co-stimulation pathway blockade, immune monitoring, and immunology of injury.”

— Rebecca M. Minter, MD
A.R. Curreri Professor
Chair, Department of Surgery
UW School of Medicine and Public Health

Early Career Achievement Award: Laura H. Jacques, MD

Laura JacquesLaura H. Jacques, MD ’07
Associate Professor
Director of Medical Student Education
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
UW School of Medicine and Public Health

“Dr. Jacques is one of the most dedicated educators I have ever met. When she sees a need, she identifies potential solutions and with tireless enthusiasm advocates, coaches and inspires others.”

— Ellen Hartenbach, MD, FACOG
Chair and Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Ben Miller Peckham, MD, PhD, Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology
UW School of Medicine and Public Health

Basic Sciences Emeriti Faculty Award: Mari Palta, PhD

Mari PaltaMari Palta, PhD
Professor Emerita
Department of Population Health Sciences and
Biostatistics and Medical Informatics
UW School of Medicine and Public Health

“Dr. Palta is a brilliant researcher, a generous and talented mentor and teacher, and an extraordinary colleague whose contributions to the fields of biostatistics and epidemiology will extend well into the future.”

— Maureen Durkin, PhD, DrPH
Evan and Marion Helfaer Professor of Public Health
Chair, Department of Population Health Sciences
UW School of Medicine and Public Health

Clinical Sciences Emeriti Faculty Award: Dennis J. Baumgardner, MD

Dennis BaumgardnerDennis J. Baumgardner, MD
Professor Emeritus
Department of Family and Community Medicine
UW School of Medicine and Public Health

“Dennis has held almost every position available to an academic family physician and has served with integrity, ingenuity, and passion. He incorporates the most impressive combination of professionalism, humility, scientific curiosity, dedication, and humanism.”

— Jonathan L. Temte, MD ’87, PhD ’93 (PG ’93)
Professor of Family Medicine and Community Health
Associate Dean for Public Health and Community Engagement
UW School of Medicine and Public Health

Ralph Hawley Distinguished Community Service Award: David T. Bernhardt, MD

David BernhardtDavid T. Bernhardt, MD ’89 (PG ’92, ’94)
Professor, Fellowship Director
Departments of Pediatrics and Orthopedics
UW School of Medicine and Public Health
Team Physician
University of Wisconsin Athletic Department

“Dr. Bernhardt has a long history of commitment to community service. His role as a member of the Dane County Sports Medicine Council led to his involvement in providing free physicals and immunizations to students with limited financial resources. He is a dedicated and compassionate physician who provides excellent clinical care for his patients and his families.”

— Ellen R. Wald, MD
Professor of Pediatrics
Member, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases
UW School of Medicine and Public Health

Medical Alumni Service Award: Tito L. Izard, MD

Tito IzardTito L. Izard, MD ’96, PG ’99
Family Practice Physician
President/CEO
Milwaukee Health Services, Inc

“If ever there was a graduate who embodied the Wisconsin Idea, it is Dr. Tito Izard. He uses his gifts as an advocate and leader and skills as a physician to serve his community and patients. Likewise, he has made exceptional contributions to his alma mater.”

— Sarah B. Rothschild
WMAA Executive Director
UW School of Medicine and Public Health

Honorary Life Membership: Sara A. Dillivan-Graves

Sara DillivanSara A. Dillivan-Graves
Director of Development
UW School of Medicine and Public Health
Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association

“Sara is a gifted listener and advocate—the optimal combination for a fundraiser. Over the past six years, she has become one of the greatest advocates for our students, raising over $8 million dollars in scholarship support and working directly with alumni and donors to create more than 40 new endowed scholarship funds.”

— Sarah B. Rothschild
WMAA Executive Director
UW School of Medicine and Public Health

All Alumni Award Recipients