2017 WCMCAA Award of Distinction Recipient: W. Michael Scheld, MD '73

June 1, 2017

Three people standing, one of whom is holding a plaque — (L-R) Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean Augustine M.K. Choi, MD, Award of Distinction recipient W. Michael Scheld, MD ’73, and Alumni Association President Stuart B. Mushlin, MD ’73

Established in 1949, the annual Weill Cornell Medical College Alumni Association (WCMCAA) Award of Distinction recognizes an alumnus/a who has demonstrated exceptional achievement in academic medicine, in the areas of education, research, or patient care, and who has brought honor and acclaim to the Medical College.

This year's recipient, Michael Scheld, MD, Class of 1973, perfectly embodies the spirit, character, and qualities of this prestigious award. Dr. Scheld is currently the Bayer-Gerald Mandell Professor of Infectious Diseases, professor of medicine, and clinical professor of neurosurgery at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. He received his Bachelor of Science degree with honors from Cornell University followed by his medical degree from Weill Cornell Medical College, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He completed his internship, residency and fellowship in infectious diseases at the University of Virginia Health System.

Dr. Scheld is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the Connie M. Guion Scholarship and the Good Physician Award at Weill Cornell Medical College. At the University of Virginia, on three occasions, he received the Attending of the Year Award which is chosen by the medical housestaff; the Dean’s Award for excellence in teaching in 1993 and 2000; the Department of Internal Medicine Award for excellence in teaching in 2000 and 2004; Distinguished Scientist Award in 2012; and the David A. Harrison Distinguished Educator Award in 2015. Additionally, Dr. Scheld is the recipient of a Clinical Investigator Award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; the Young Clinical Investigator Award from the American Federation for Clinical Research, Southern Section in 1986; and the Virginia State Council for Higher Education’s Outstanding Faculty Award in 1989.

Dr. Scheld was a member of the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy Program Committee from 1986 to 1997, including service as vice chair and chair. He served as a member of the American Board of Internal Medicine’s Subspecialty Board on Infectious Diseases from 1997 to 2004 and chair of the Subspecialty Board on Infectious Diseases from 2000 to 2004. Additionally, he served as vice president, president-elect, president and immediate past-president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and he is a founding member of the Academic Alliance for AIDS Care and Prevention in Africa.

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