We look forward to a special evening of celebration at our 2024 Alumni and Dean’s Distinguished Service Awards Ceremony and Reception, which will be held the evening of Oct. 17, 2024, at the School of Medicine Columbia’s VA campus in the Building 3 courtyard. More information on the event will be announced soon.

Below are details on the award categories and recipients:

The Alumni Awards are annual honors established by the SOMC Alumni Association to recognize our most dedicated alumni and friends who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in their respective fields or made significant contributions to the school.

Congratulations to our 2024 Alumni Award recipients:

Distinguished Young Alumni Award
MAJ Donald R. Fredericks Jr., MD (’15)

Distinguished Master’s Alumni Award
Sheena Campbell Morris, DNAP, MNA, CRNA (’09)

Distinguished Genetic Counseling Alumni Award
Robin S. Fletcher, MS, CGC (’91)

Distinguished Doctorate Alumni Award
Krishna Yekkala, PhD, BVSc, DACVP, DABT (’07)

Distinguished Physician Alumni Award
J. William (Bill) Phillips, MD, FACC, FSCAI (’95) 

Distinguished Humanitarian Alumni Award
Rohit Talwani, MD (’95), posthumously

Alumni Association Honorary Life Membership Award
Robert D. Hubbird, MD

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The Dean’s Distinguished Service Awards are annual honors established by the Office of the Dean to recognize individuals who demonstrate excellence in service, leadership, advocacy and professional accomplishment.

Congratulations to our 2024 Dean’s Distinguished Service Award recipients:

Career Achievement Award (co-awardees)
Meera Narasimhan, MD, Chair - Department of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Ruth Riley, Assistant Dean for Executive Affairs, Director of Library Services (retired)

Community Service Award
Elise Becker, MD candidate, Class of 2025

Dean’s Leadership Award
Brian Keisler, MD (’01), Assistant Dean for Clinical Curriculum and Assessment

Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Award
Annabelle Lunt, MD Candidate, Class of 2025

Sustained School of Medicine Service Award
Norma Frizzell Catledge, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience

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The Award for the Advancement of Women in Science and Medicine recognizes individual and organizational contributions to advancing women leaders in the health sciences. 

WiSaM Award
Judith Burgis, MD (’89), Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology