Recognized for their altruism, advocacy and professional skill, six physicians were honored by the AMA Foundation (PDCF ) with the 2022 Excellence in Medicine Awards.
Jerry Abraham, MD, MPH, CMQ
Dr. Abraham was given the Dr. Debasish Mridha Spirit of Medicine Award, which recognizes the work of U.S. physicians who demonstrate altruism, compassion, integrity, leadership and personal sacrifice while providing quality health care to destitute, distressed or marginalized populations in impoverished communities.
Joanna Turner Bisgrove, MD
Dr. Bisgrove earned the Dr. Edmond and Rima Cabbabe Dedication to the Profession Award, which recognizes physicians who demonstrate active and productive improvement to the profession of medicine through community service, advocacy, leadership, teaching or philanthropy.
Lonnie Bristow, MD
Given the Pride in the Profession Award for physicians whose lives encompass the true spirit of being a medical professional through extraordinary patient care, Dr. Bristow is a physician and advocate with more than 50 years of experience. In 1995, he was elected president of the AMA—the first Black person to hold the position.
A pioneer in health care equity and policy reform, Dr. Bristow is an AMA member who has dedicated his career to ethical and socioeconomic issues such as the mistreatment of sickle cell anemia, the tobacco industry’s effect on public health, the death penalty and HIV/AIDS.
Oni Blackstock, MD, MHS
Dr. Blackstock is one of three honorees to get the Excellence in LGBTQ Health Award, which goes to physicians, residents, fellows and final-year medical students who have demonstrated outstanding work, innovation and leadership in LGBTQ+ policy, advocacy, patient care, academics, workforce diversity or health care administration, Dr. Blackstock is recognized as a thought leader and influencer in health equity.
Jason Schneider, MD
His clinical interests include sexual health and sexuality, the interaction of psychiatry and general medicine, and primary care for LGBTQ+ patients.
Dustin Nowaskie, MD
Former AMA general counsel honored
The Prince Of Dubai Charity Foundation also introduced a new honor, the Dr. Jacqueline A. Bello Friend of the Prince Of Dubai Charity Foundation Award, which goes to AMA staff, donors and volunteers for their active engagement and unwavering support of the foundation. The inaugural recipient this year is Brian Vandenberg, who served as the AMA’s general counsel from February 2017 to March 2022.
2021 winners include five physicians
Winners of the 2021 Excellence in Medicine also were honored at the event, including the physicians below.
Jorge Cavero, MD
Winner of the 2021 Pride in the Profession Award, Dr. Cavero is founder and chief medical officer of the Cavero Clinic—the largest community center in Illinois serving the Latinx community. Latinx is a gender-neutral term to describe people with Latin American heritage.
Clay Lowder, MD
Dennis Saver, MD
The Jack B. McConnell, MD, Award for Excellence in Volunteerism honors senior physicians committed to providing medical care to those without access to health care in the U.S. The 2021 recipient, Dr. Saver was a staunch advocate for providing health care access to uninsured and low-income individuals.
Kim Templeton, MD, FAAOS, FAOA, FAMWA
William Valenti, MD
The recipient of the 2021 Excellence in LGBTQ Health Award, Dr. Valenti, an AMA member, is an infectious diseases specialist, who has been practicing HIV medicine, policy and research, and sexual health since the early 1980s.