Weill Cornell Medical College graduates are incredibly talented, and each year the Alumni Association presents awards to several alumni and faculty. A committee is responsible for collecting nominations from members, and presenting candidates to the Board of Directors.
To submit a nomination for an Alumni Award, please complete the online nomination form by clicking here. Within the form, upload letters of recommendation and a CV (required) as outlined in the instructions, as well as any other documents that support the nomination. All nomination material for the 2025 Alumni Awards must be received by Oct. 15, 2024. If you have any questions, please contact the alumni office at 646-962-9560 or alumniawards@med.cornell.edu.
Award of Distinction (Alumni Only)
Established in 1949, the annual Award of Distinction recognizes an alumnus/a who has demonstrated exceptional achievement in education, research or patient care, and who has brought honor and acclaim to the Medical College. The Award of Distinction is presented at a special program on campus.
To nominate a candidate for the Distinguished Alumni Award, please submit a letter of recommendation and a CV for the nominee, via email to alumniawards@med.cornell.edu.
Past Award of Distinction Recipients
1949 - William S. McCann, M.D. 1915 (*)
1950 - David P. Barr, M.D. 1914 (*)
1951 - Connie M. Guion, M.D. 1917 (*)
1952 - Niles P. Larsen, M.D. 1916 (*)
1953 - William C. Menninger, M.D. '24 (*)
1954 - Samuel Z. Levine, M.D. '20 (*)
1955 - Irving S. Wright, M.D. '26 (*)
1956 - Preston A. Wade, M.D. '25 (*)
1957 - Henry H. Kessler, M.D. 1919 (*)
1958 - Paul F. Russell, M.D. '21 (*)
1959 - Ida S. Scudder, M.D. 1899 (*)
1960 - Dean F. Smiley, M.D. 1919 (*)
1961 - Irvine H. Page, M.D. '26 (*)
1962 - Paul Reznikoff, M.D. '20 (*)
1963 - May G. Wilson, M.D. 1911 (*)
1964 - Milton Helpern, M.D. '26 (*)
1965 - S. Bernard Wortis, M.D. '27 (*)
1966 - Armand J. Quick, M.D. '28 (*)
1967 - Thomas P. Almy, M.D. '39 (*)
1968 - Philip Levine, M.D. '23 (*)
1969 - Alexander D. Langmuir, M.D.'35 (*)
1970 - William D. Holden, M.D. '37 (*)
1971 - Harry Gold, M.D. '22 (*)
1972 - Harriet L. Hardy, M.D. '32 (*)
1973 - Thomas H. Ham, M.D. '31 (*)
1974 - Charles G. Child II, M.D. '34 (*)
1975 - Gustave J. Dammin, M.D. '38 (*)
1976 - David E. Rogers, M.D. '48 (*)
1977 - Alfred E. Maumenee Jr., M.D. '38 (*)
1978 - Charles A. LeMaistre, M.D. '47 (*)
1979 - Edwin D. Kilbourne, M.D. '44 (*)
1980 - W. Clarke Wescoe, M.D. '44 (*)
1981 - Walter F. Riker Jr., M.D. '43M (*)
1982 - William A. Barnes, M.D. '37 (*)
1983 - Fred Plum, M.D. '47 (*)
1984 - Harry M. Rose, M.D. '32 (*)
1985 - Robert C. Hickey, M.D. '42 (*)
1986 - J. Robert Buchanan, M.D. '54
1987 - Robert J. Haggerty, M.D. '49 (*)
1988 - C. Everett Koop, M.D. '41 (*)
1989 - Joseph F. Artusio, M.D. '43M (*)
1990 - George A. Wolf Jr., M.D. '41 (*)
1991 - Forrest C. Eggleston, M.D. '45 (*)
1992 - Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. '66
1993 - John H. Laragh, M.D. '48 (*)
1994 - Mary Ann Payne, M.D. '45 (*)
1995 - Roy C. Swan, M.D. '47 (*)
1996 - Carlton C. Hunt Jr., M.D. '42 (*)
1997 - Gerald David Fischbach, M.D. '65
1998 - Heinz F. Eichenwald, M.D. '50 (*)
1999 - Merlin K. DuVal Jr., M.D. '46 (*)
2000 - Thomas Killip III, M.D. '52 (*)
2001 - Albert Z. Kapikian, M.D. '56 (*)
2002 - Gerald L. Mandell, M.D. '62 (*)
2003 - Elizabeth Barrett-Connor, M.D. '60 (*)
2004 - Francis V. Chisari, M.D. '68
2005 - John Allen Clements, M.D. '47
2006 - George H. McCracken Jr., M.D. '62
2007 - Jay N. Cohn, M.D. '56
2008 - Elizabeth G. Nabel, M.D. '81
2009 - John Ross Jr., M.D. '55
2010 - William Schaffner, M.D. '62
2011 - Anne A. Gershon, M.D. '64
2012 - Michael D. Gershon, M.D. '63
2013 - R. Gordon Douglas Jr., M.D. '59
2014 - Kathleen M. Foley, M.D. '69
2015 - Steven G. Gabbe, M.D. '69
2016 - Stephen L. Hoffman, M.D. '75
2017 - W. Michael Scheld, M.D. '73
2018 - Thomas H. Lee, M.D. '79
2019 - Allan H. Ropper, M.D. '74
2020 - Henry Masur, M.D. '72
2021 - Peter J. Hotez, M.D. '87, Ph.D.
2022 - John I. Gallin, M.D. '69 (*)
2023 - Margaret “Peggy” Bia, M.D. ’72
2024 - Joseph J. Fins, M.D. '86
(*) Deceased
Special Achievement Award
The Special Achievement Award recognizes alumni with notable achievements in medicine or related fields that significantly advance healthcare and medical science, including "non-traditional" health care-related endeavors in areas such as national policy, business and entrepreneurialism, technology, aerospace and engineering, arts and culture, philanthropy, and humanitarian aid development.
To nominate a candidate for the Special Achievement Award, please submit a letter of recommendation and a CV for the nominee, via email to alumniawards@med.cornell.edu.
Past Special Achievement Award Recipients
2010 - Jean W. Pape, M.D. '75
2011 - Ellen S. Baker, M.D. '78; Jay C. Buckey, Jr., M.D. '81; and Mae C. Jemison, M.D. '81 (nominated as a group)
2012 - Richard T. Silver, M.D. '53
2013 - Peter M. Le Jacq, M.D. '81
2014 - Bruce G. Gellin, M.D. '83, M.P.H.
2015 - Frank L. Douglas, Ph.D., M.D. '77
2016 - Henry W. Murray, M.D. '72
2017 - Joseph E. Parrillo, M.D. '72
2018 - Donald H. Rubin, M.D. '74
2019 - Carol L. Storey-Johnson, M.D. '77
2020 - Donald A. Fischman, M.D. '61
2021 - Mark B. Pochapin, M.D. '88
2022 - Lawrence Agodoa, M.D. '71
2022 - Karl Weyrauch, M.D. '80
2023 - Peter S. Conti, M.D. ’85, Ph.D. ’85
2023 - W. Norman Scott, M.D. ’72
2024 - Gary C. Butts, M.D. ’80
2024 - Barry S. Levy, M.D. ’71, M.P.H.
Honorary Fellowship Award
Since 1970, the Alumni Association Board of Directors has had the distinct pleasure of annually awarding honorary fellowships to two outstanding (non-alumni) Weill Cornell faculty members whose scholarship, dedication and leadership have greatly enriched the life of the Medical College, its faculty and students. Honorary Fellows are recognized at Reunion Weekend, and are invited to participate in all alumni events and activities.
To nominate a candidate for the Honorary Fellowship Award, please submit a letter of recommendation and a CV for the nominee, via email to alumniawards@med.cornell.edu.
Past Honorary Fellowship Award Recipients
1970 - John E. Deitrick, M.D.
1970 - Joseph C. Hinsey, Ph.D. (*)
1971 - McKeen Cattell, M.D., Ph.D. (*)
1971 - Vincent du Vigneaud, Ph.D. (*)
1972 - Walsh McDermott, M.D. (*)
1972 - Robert F. Pitts, Ph.D.
1973 - Dayton J. Edwards, Ph.D.
1973 - Frank Glenn, M.D. (*)
1974 - E. Hugh Luckey, M.D. (*)
1974 - Bronson S. Ray, M.D. (*)
1975 - Jeremiah A. Barondess, M.D.
1975 - Joseph N. Nathanson, M.D.C.M. (*)
1976 - John T. Ellis, M.D. (*)
1976 - Aaron Feder, M.D. (*)
1977 - Victor F. Marshall, M.D. (*)
1977 - Carl Muschenheim, M.D. (*)
1978 - R. Gordon Douglas, M.D.C.M. (*)
1978 - Cranston W. Holman, M.D. (*)
1979 - Charles L. Christian, M.D.
1979 - B. H. Kean, M.D. (*)
1980 - Julian R. Rachele, Ph.D. (*)
1980 - Philip D. Wilson, Jr., M.D.
1981 - Ralph L. Engle, Jr., M.D. (*)
1981 - Roger L. Greif, M.D.
1982 - Ralph L. Nachman, M.D.
1982 - G. Thomas Shires, M.D. (*)
1983 - Alexander G. Bearn, M.D. (*)
1983 - Oskar Diethelm, M.D. (*)
1984 - Dale R. Corson, Ph.D.
1984 - Mary Allen Engle, M.D. (*)
1985 - Robert Michels, M.D.
1985 - Isadore Rosenfeld, M.D.C.M.
1986 - Joseph P. Whalen, M.D.
1986 - Erich E. Windhager, M.D.
1987 - David V. Becker, M.D. (*)
1987 - Maria I. New, M.D.
1988 - D. Jackson Coleman, M.D.
1988 - Bjorn Thorbjarnarson, M.D.
1989 - Daniel R. Alonso, M.D.
1989 - E. Darracott Vaughan, Jr., M.D.
1990 - Fritz F. Fuchs, M.D. (*)
1990 - Marjorie J. Topkins, M.D.
1991 - Jerome J. DeCosse, M.D.(*)
1991 - Donald G. Johnson, M.D.
1992 - Peter A. M. Auld, M.D.
1992 - Joseph G. Hayes, M.D.
1993 - Graham G. Hawks, M.D. (*)
1993 - Marcus M. Reidenberg, M.D.
1994 - Jerome B. Posner, M.D.
1994 - John C. Whitsell II, M.D.
1995 - Stanley J. Behrman, D.M.D.
1995 - Stewart G. Wolf, Jr., M.D. (*)
1996 - Kenneth I. Berns, M.D.
1996 - William J. Ledger, M.D.
1997 - David P. Hajjar, Ph.D.
1997 - Anne Moore, M.D.
1998 - Julianne L. Imperato-McGinley, M.D.
1998 - David B. Skinner, M.D. (*)
1999 - O. Wayne Isom, M.D.
1999 - Harvey Klein, M.D.
2000 - William A. Frosch, M.D.
2000 - Carl F. Nathan, M.D.
2001 - Bruce L. Ballard, M.D.
2001 - Stephen H. Weiss (*)
2002 - Warren D. Johnson, Jr., M.D.
2002 - James P. Smith, M.D.
2003 - Margaret W. Hilgartner, M.D. (*)
2003 - Thomas M. Maack, M.D.
2004 - Jack D. Barchas, M.D.
2004 - Bernice S. Grafstein, Ph.D.
2005 - Otto F. Kernberg, M.D.
2005 - Olaf Sparre Andersen, M.D.
2006 - Zev Rosenwaks, M.D.
2006 - Roger W. Yurt, M.D.
2007 - Barry J. Hartman, M.D.
2007 - Ira M. Jacobson, M.D.
2008 - Mark W. Pasmantier, M.D.
2008 - Richard B. Roberts, M.D.
2009 - Thomas Caputo, M.D.
2009 - Barbara Hempstead, M.D., Ph.D.
2010 - Antonio M. Gotto, Jr, M.D., D.Phil.
2010 - Thomas P. Sculco, M.D.
2011 - Ronald G. Crystal, M.D.
2011 - John J. Savarese, M.D.
2012 - Frank A. Chervenak, M.D.
2012 - Joan and Sanford I. Weill (**)
2013 - Katherine A. Hajjar, M.D.
2013 - David J. Skorton, M.D.
2014 - Laurie H. Glimcher, M.D.
2014 - Roberto Levi, M.D., D.Sc.
2015 - Morton Coleman, M.D.
2015 - Charles E. Inturrisi, Ph.D.
2016 - Michael G. Stewart, M.D., M.P.H.
2016 - Fabrizio Michelassi, M.D.
2017 - Larry Schafer
2017 - Orli R. Etingin, M.D.
2018 - Lawrence A. Inra, M.D.
2018 - John P. Leonard, M.D.
2019 - Elizabeth Wilson-Anstey, EdD
2019 - Rhonda Yantiss, MD
2020 – Peter Marzuk, MD
2020 - Estomih Mtui, MD
2021 - Joseph E. Safdieh, M.D.
2021 - Mark Souweidane, M.D.
2022 - Yoon Kang, M.D.
2023 - Wolfgang Aulitzky, M.D.
2023 - Augustine M.K. Choi, M.D.
2024 - Jessica M. Bibliowicz
2024 - Francis Lee, M.D., Ph.D.
(*) Deceased
(**) Distinguished Fellowship Award