Overview

Overview

Alumni awards

Each year, the Alumni Association Board of Directors honors alumni, and future alumni at two special award presentations to acknowledge their achievements. All award recipients are recognized at either our Fall or Spring Alumni Association Receptions and receive a plaque in their honor. The award categories include Distinguished Alumnus, Distinguished Emeritus, Special Achievement, Service, Early Career, Graduate Level-One, Dr. Satoru & Grace Nakamoto, Alfred & Norma Stoller GME, Alfred & Norma Stoller Medical School.

The process for selection

The Nominating Committee, chaired by the President-Elect of the Alumni Association Board of Directors will decide on the awards each year contingent upon the nomination of qualified individuals. Should qualified candidates not be nominated, the Committee reserves the right to abstain from granting awards or make appropriate considerations. The Committee convenes biannually to review the list of eligible candidates and conduct voting.

Who can nominate

Nominations will be accepted from Cleveland Clinic alumni, staff, residents/fellows, and employees.

How to nominate

If you would like to nominate an individual for any of the awards, please click here to fill out our  Alumni Award Nomination Form. Be prepared to provide a brief biographical sketch of the candidate including their professional experience, educational training, contact information, a brief explanation of why you are nominating this person, and a photo if available. Nominees can be recognized posthumously.  Current members of the Alumni Association Board of Directors are not eligible. Recipients of past awards can be honored multiple times, but they cannot receive the same award more than once.  

Distinguished Alumnus

Distinguished Alumnus

The Distinguished Alumnus Award was established in 1977 to recognize alumni for exceptional enduring achievements and leadership, which have brought pride and recognition to Cleveland Clinic. Nominees have demonstrated remarkable achievement in their professions balanced with dedicated contributions of time, energy and resources to the community. 

Award

  • Awardee will receive a framed certificate.
  • Awardee will be highlighted in an upcoming issue of the Alumni Connection magazine.
  • Awardee will be recognized at the annual Fall Alumni Association Awards Reception.

Criteria

Nominees must be graduates from a recognized Cleveland Clinic training program with a minimum of one (1) year of formal training and have distinguished themselves in the following areas: Clinical Practice, Education, Research, Community Leadership and/or Service. Nominees can be recognized posthumously. Current members of the Alumni Association Board of Directors are not eligible. 

Nomination

Is there someone you would like to nominate for this award?

Distinguished Alumnus Award Recipients

Year Recipient Training
1977 E. Perry McCullagh, MD S'27
1982 Elmer S.A. King, MD S'33
1985 George Crile Jr, MD S'37
1987 William L. Proudfit, MD IM'43
1992 Harriet P. Dustan, MD RES'49
1994 Donald F. Dohn, MD NS'58
1995 Thomas F. Meaney, MD DR'57
1996 Edwin G. Beven, MD S’62, VS’63
1997 Phillip M. Hall, MD Gl-1'66, IM’68, H/N’69, RES’70
1998 John D. Clough, MD GL-1'66, IM’67, IM’71
1999 Jess R. Young, MD IM’59
2000 Presentation delayed to 2001
2001 John A. Bergfeld, MD
Wilma F. Bergfeld, MD
Gl-1'65, S’67, ORS’70 
Gl-1'65, DERM’68
2002 George C. Hoffman, MD CLPTH’59
2003 Norman R. Hertzer, MD  GL-1’68, S’72, VS’75
2004 Albert V.G. Bruschke, MD CARD’72
2005 Victor W. Fazio, MD S’73, CRS’74
2006 Carlos M. Ferrario, MD RES’69
2007 Tirone E. David, MD S’75
2008 William C. Sheldon, MD CVM’62
2009 Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr, MD GL-1’62, S’66
2010 Kenneth E. DeHaven, MD  GL-1’66, S’67, ORS’72
2011 Bruce W.  Lytle, MD Staff ’78
2012 Floyd D. Loop, MD TS’70
2013 Leonard H. Calabrese, DO IM’78, RH’80
2014 Michael T. Modic, MD DR’78, NR’79
2015 Earl K. Shirey, MD IM’56
2016 John J. Eversman, MD IM’64, END’65
2017 Gene H. Barnett, MD, MBA GS’81, NS’86
2018 Conrad Simpfendorfer, Sr., MD CARD'78
2019  Thomas J. Masaryk, MD NR’89
2020  Satoru Nakamoto, MD CARD’57
2021 George Tesar, MD IM'80
2022 Belinda Yen Lieberman, PhD RES/I’78
2023 Arthur D. Steffee, MD  S’62/ORS’67
2024 Carol Burke, MD GE'93
Distinguished Emeritus

Distinguished Emeritus

The Distinguished Emeritus Award, established in 2022, recognizes exemplary leadership, scholarly work, service, research and/or teaching at Cleveland Clinic. This prestigious honor acknowledges individuals who have consistently exhibited outstanding dedication to advancing the mission of the Cleveland Clinic throughout their careers. The Distinguished Emeritus Award celebrates the exemplary attributes and accomplishments of those who have demonstrated exceptional leadership.

Award

  • Awardee will receive a framed certificate.
  • Awardee will be highlighted in an upcoming issue of the Alumni Connection magazine.
  • Awardee will be recognized at the annual Fall Alumni Association Awards Reception.

Nomination

Is there someone you would like to nominate for this award?

Criteria

Nominees must have Cleveland Clinic Emeritus Status but need not be graduates of a Cleveland Clinic training program. Nominees can be recognized posthumously. Current members of the Alumni Association Board of Directors are not eligible.

The Nominating Committee is chaired by the Immediate Past-President of the Alumni Association Board of Directors and includes the Chief of Staff.  

Distinguished Emeritus Award Recipients

Year Recipient Training
2022 James B. Young, MD Staff '95
2023 Lilian Gonsalves, MD, FAPM, FACP
P ’81
2024 Gregory P. Borkowski, MD IM’74, DR’79
Special Achievement

Special Achievement

The Special Achievement Award, established in 1985, is to recognize physicians or scientists for exceptional, enduring achievements and leadership which have brought pride and recognition to Cleveland Clinic.

Award

  • Awardee will receive a framed certificate.
  • Awardee will be highlighted in an upcoming issue of the Alumni Connection magazine.
  • Awardee will be recognized at the annual Fall Alumni Association Awards Reception.

Criteria

Nominees should have demonstrated exceptional achievement in their professions or otherwise demonstrated exceptional achievement consistent with the Cleveland Clinic mission to provide better care of the sick, further investigation of their problems and more education of those who serve. Nominees must be duly qualified physicians or scientists but need not be graduates of Cleveland Clinic training programs, who have made remarkable accomplishments or special achievements in at least one of the following areas: Clinical Practice, Education, Research, Community Leadership and/or Service. Nominees can be recognized posthumously. Current members of the Alumni Association Board of Directors are not eligible.

Nomination

Is there someone you would like to nominate for this award?

Special Achievement Award Recipients

Year Recipient(s) Training
1985 F. Mason Sones, Jr, MD Staff’50
1987 Rene G. Favaloro, MD TS'65
1992 Bernadine P. Healy, MD Staff’85
1994 Ray W. Gifford, Jr, MD H/N’93
1997 Robert E. Hermann, MD Staff’62
1999 Floyd D. Loop, MD
Ralph A. Straffon, MD
TS’70
Staff’59
2002 Donald G. Vidt, MD H/N’98
2006 William E. Braun, MD Staff’68
2013 James B. Young, MD Staff’95
2014 William S. Kiser, MD Staff’64
2015 Juan C. Parodi, MD VS’76
2016 Gregory P. Borkowski, MD
Atul C. Mehta, MD
IM’74, DR’79
PULMCC’83
2017 Kathleen Franco, MD Staff ’92
2018 Toby Cosgrove, MD Staff ’75
2019 Joseph Hahn, MD, MBA Staff’76
2020 Tony Thomas, MD
David Taylor, MD
Staff’82
Staff’01
2021 Mindy Estes, MD NPTH'84
2022 Richard G. Farmer, MD, MS Staff’62
2023 David Bronson, MD  Staff’92
2024 Jeffrey Ponsky, MD Staff’97
Service

Service

The Service Award, established in 1999, to recognize alumni who have generously dedicated themselves to the growth and advancement of Cleveland Clinic and/or Alumni Association. Nominees must have demonstrated exceptional commitment and service to Cleveland Clinic for several years.

Award

  • Awardee will receive a framed certificate.
  • Awardee will be highlighted in an upcoming issue of the Alumni Connection magazine.
  • Awardee will be recognized at the annual Fall Alumni Association Awards Reception.

Criteria

Nominees should have completed at least one satisfactory year of a recognized post-graduate medical education program under the auspices of the Graduate Medical Education Department of Cleveland Clinic or be a current or former member of the Professional Staff for a minimum of three years. Participation in the Alumni Association will be considered but is not required. Nominees can be recognized posthumously. Current members of the Alumni Association Board of Directors are not eligible.

Nomination

Is there someone you would like to nominate for this award?

Service Award Recipients

Year Recipient Training
1999 Albert V.G. Bruschke, MD
Isabella K. Sharpe, MD
William M. Michener, MD
CARD’72
GL-1’74, IM’76, PULMCC’78
Staff’61
2004 Sandra S. Stranscak Alumni Association Executive Director (1985–2010)
2006 Daniel J. Wilson, MD IM’76, RES’79, H/N’79
2013 Mehdi Razavi, MD CARD’67
2014 Edwin G. Beven, MD
Robert E. Hermann, MD
S’62, VS’63
Staff’62
2015 Zeyd Y. Ebrahim, MD
Lilian V. Gonsalves-Ebrahim, MD
AN’81
 P’81
2016 Robert E. Hobbs, MD CARD’79
2017 Lee M. Adler, DO
James W. Lewis, MD
IM’75
IM’70, H/N’71, RES’74
2018 Philip Bailin, MD, MBA D'74
2019  Pauline Kwok, MD TRS’95, DR’00, ABI’01
2020 Presentation delayed to 2021
2021 Susan Rehm, MD IM'81, ID'83
2021 Richard Drake, PhD Staff'03
2022 Patrick Tchou, MD Staff’94
2023 Gary H. Dworkin, MD  TCS’92
2023 Khaldoun Tarakji, MD, MPH IM’04, CARD’09, EP’11
2024 John Clough, MD GL-1'66, IM’67, IM’71
Early Career

Early Career

The Early Career Alumnus Award, established in 2022, recognizes alumni for remarkable achievements and leadership which have brought pride and recognition to Cleveland Clinic. Nominees should have demonstrated exceptional accomplishments in their professions balanced with dedicated contributions of time, energy and resources to the community. 

Award

  • Awardee will receive a framed certificate.
  • Awardee will be highlighted in an upcoming issue of the Alumni Connection magazine.
  • Awardee will be recognized at the annual Fall Alumni Association Awards Reception.

Criteria 

Nominees must be within 10 years of completing a recognized training program and have distinguished themselves in the following areas: Clinical Practice, Education, Research, Community Leadership and/or Service. Nominees can be recognized posthumously. Current members of the Alumni Association Board of Directors are not eligible.

Nomination

Is there someone you would like to nominate for this award?

Early Career Alumnus Award Recipients

Year Recipient Training
2022
Renee Salas, MD
CCLCM'09
2023 Monique Hassan, MD, MBA, FACS S/ALB’18
2024 Bradley Gill, MD, MS CCLCM'12, S'13, U'18
Graduate Level-One (GL-1)

Graduate Level-One (GL-1)

Established in 1987, the Graduate Level-One Award is to recognize an outstanding first-year resident, identified by her/his peers, for personal and professional qualities beyond the ordinary.

This award introduces first year residents to Cleveland Clinic Alumni Association and demonstrates the commitment alumni feel toward future generations of Clinic-trained physicians and scientists worldwide.

Award

  • Awardee will receive a cash award of $1,000.
  • Awardee will receive a framed certificate.
  • Awardee will be highlighted in an upcoming issue of the Alumni Connection magazine.
  • Awardee will be recognized at the annual Alumni Association Spring Reception.

Eligibility

Individuals eligible for this award must be clinical residents in their first year of training (PGY1). The recipients of this award are selected from nominations based on the following criteria:

  • Clinical Excellence/Knowledge.
  • Interpersonal Communication Skills.
  • Character.
  • Unique Accomplishments.

Criteria

  • Statement describing why the applicant or nominee should be considered for the award. Provide examples pertaining to their eligibility.

Nomination

Is there someone you would like to nominate for this award?

Graduate Level-One Award Recipients

Year Recipient Training
1987 Carlos M. Isada, MD IM
1988 Donald P. Brady, MD N
1989 Robert E. Foster, MD TRS
1990 Ghassan Safadi, MD PD
1991 Richard W. Grady, MD U
1992 Lori Kmiec Posk, MD IM
1993 Viktor E. Krebs, MD ORS
1994 Christi Ferraro Matteoni, MD IM
1995 Russell P. Saneto, DO, PhD PD
1996 Victoria L. Fribley-Carrington, MD P
1997 Lynette P. Davenport, MD IM
1998 Christine Noga Booth, MD ACLPTH
1999 Jennifer Ann Wojtowicz, DO IM
2000 Rita Shi-Ming Lee, MD IMPC
2001 Harmohinder S. Athwal, MD P
2002 Todd F. Ritzman, MD ORS
2003 Francisco J. Marrero, MD IM
2003 Matthew D. Kroh, MD S
2004 Darren A. Guy, DO PD
2004 Inder Singh, MD, MS IM
2005 Arti Jayant Choure, MD IM
2006 Juan P. Cata, MD AN
2007 Kevin M. El-Hayek, MD S
2008 Ibrahim Hanouneh, MD IM
2009 Michael L. Kelly, MD NS
2010 Kiranpreet Kaur Khurana, MD S
2011 Keith R. Bachmann, MD ORS
2012 Daniel Joyce, MD S
2013 Rayji Sean Tsutsui, MD IM
2014 Jessica N. Barry, MD PD
2015 Dipika Menon, MD PD
2016 Ian Puffenberger, MD ACLPTH
2017 Robert Naples, DO S
2018 Benjamin Whiting, MD NS
2019 Charlie Lin, MD IM
2020 Kavya Kommaraju, MD  IM 
2021 Jamesha Ford, DO FM
2022 Abby Gross, MD GS
2023 Kristina Dortche, MD U
2024 Erika Schmidt, MD S
Dr. Satoru & Grace Nakamoto

Dr. Satoru & Grace Nakamoto

Established in 2022 by Dr. Christopher and Donna Lew, the Dr. Satoru and Grace Nakamoto Award for the Development of Leadership in Medical Humanities and Arts is a minimum $5,000 grant given annually to an individual whose peers and teachers identify them attributes that embody true leadership qualities. 

Dr. Satoru Nakamoto was a trailblazer at Cleveland Clinic. In 1957 he finished his training in cardiovascular disease and by 1976 he was appointed the head of the newly formed Department of Hemodialysis where he became a pioneer in dialysis and renal transplantation.   Additionally, Dr. Nakamoto played a large role in teaching nephrology fellows the technical aspects of dialysis as well as how to care for transplant and chronic dialysis patients. He was the consummate physician, researcher, educator, but above all else he made patient care his priority. To honor his memory his family has decided to establish the Dr. Satoru and Grace Nakamoto Award for the Development of Leadership in Medical Humanities and Arts. 

The annual awardee is someone who has demonstrated a commitment to learning, superior communication abilities and a mastery of medical skills. The recipient also embodies the courage, integrity and compassion that represent the highest ideals of clinical medicine. The award is to be used to assist the awardee in development of a project to enhance their leadership and/or humanitarian activities in the field of medical humanities.

Prior to 2022, this award was formerly known as the Dr. William and Roxanna Michener Award.

Award

  • Awardee will receive a minimum cash award of $5,000.
  • Awardee will receive a framed certificate.
  • Awardee will be highlighted in an upcoming issue of the Alumni Connection magazine.
  • Awardee will be recognized at the annual Alumni Association Spring Reception.

Eligibility

Applicants must be of Graduate Level 2 (PGY-2) or above, with a minimum of one (1) additional training year in a medical or surgical residency or fellowship program at Cleveland Clinic. Applicants may choose to expand upon the projects of past recipients; prior recipients who enter an additional training program are not eligible. 

Criteria

  • Statement of Intention for Award must include applicant’s vision for their project and include an itemized budget.
  • Recipient must present the results of their project to the Alumni Board of Directors.
  • Recipient must be willing to share the results of their award experience with the alumni and staff body at large and/or in targeted press releases to promote the award, their work, and Cleveland Clinic.

Nomination

Is there someone you would like to nominate for this award?

Dr. William and Roxanna Michener Award recipients

Year Recipient Training
2006 Alyssa A. Riley, MD PD
2007 Joseph M. Austerman, DO P, CHP
2008 Mia Zaharna, MD P
2009 Joyce K. Lee, MD N
2010 Molly Michelle Wimbiscus, MD P, CHP
2011 Kevin M. El-Hayek, MD S
2012 James Lui, MD NS
2012 Raghav Govindarajan, MD N
2013/2014 Vipan Nikore, MD, MBA IM
2015 Vikram D. Krishnamurthy, MD ES
2016 Voranaddha Vacharathit, MD S
2017 Vishal Vashistha, MD  IM
2018 Chelsea Garcia, MD IM
2019 Charlotte Horne, MD S
2020 Amit Goyal, MD CARD
2021 Robbie Zimbroff, MD IM

Dr. Satoru and Grace Nakamoto Award recipients

Year Recipient Training
2022 Akshay Sharma, MD NS
2023 Thomas Das, MD CARD
2024 Alice Sonnino, MD IM
Alfred & Norma Stoller GME Award

Alfred & Norma Stoller GME Award

Alfred and Norma Stoller Award for Virtue-Based Leadership in Graduate Medical Education

Established in 2023, the Alfred and Norma Stoller Award for Virtue-Based Leadership in Graduate Medical Education, named for Alfred and Norma Stoller, provides a $2,000 grant to a clinical trainee in graduate medical education at Cleveland Clinic (second program year or above). The purpose of the award is to support the recipient in the development of a project in healthcare that exemplifies and drives one or more of the seven classic virtues - trust, compassion, hope, justice, wisdom, temperance, and courage (1-6). 

History of the award

Alfred (1919 – 2011) and Norma (1923-1991) Stoller were parents of James K. Stoller, MD, MS (Chair, Education Institute; Staff, Respiratory Institute, Cleveland Clinic) and grandparents of Jacob Fox Stoller. Alfred and Norma were deeply committed to educating their family. Alfred Stoller's own plans for graduate school were scuttled by his father's (Jacob Stoller) early passing, forcing him to take over his father's business, a small retail luggage store in the Bronx, New York. Based upon grit, hard work, self-sacrifice, and great frugality, Alfred and Norma Stoller sent both of their sons to private colleges and medical schools, debt-free. This was the crowning achievement of their lives and their spirit of giving of oneself in service of others is the core of this award. The hope is that the awardee, through their work with this grant and career in medicine, will perpetuate these virtue-based values.

Award

  • Awardee will receive a cash award of $2,000.
    • This amount will annually be reviewed and adjusted appropriately by the holder of the Stoller Family Chair in Medical Education, after consultation with the Alumni Association.
  • A signed copy of the book, Better Humans, Better Performance: Driving Leadership, Teamwork, and Culture with Intentionality by Rea, P., Stoller, J.K., & Kolp, A., will also be awarded to the recipient.
  • Awardee will receive a framed certificate.
  • Awardee will be highlighted in an upcoming issue of the Alumni Connection magazine.
  • Awardee will be recognized at the annual Alumni Association Spring Reception.

Eligibility

Recipient exemplifies and drives one or more of the seven classic virtues - trust, compassion, hope, justice, wisdom, temperance, and courage (1-6).

Criteria

  • Written proposal to the Nominating Committee of the Alumni Association that is responsive to the objectives stated above. The resources cited below provide insight into the virtues and their impact as drivers of high performance.
  • A summary of the project and its outcomes to be submitted to the Alumni Association Board of Directors at the completion of the project (12 months from the award) and the report will be shared with representatives of the Stoller family, if available.

Nomination

Is there someone you would like to nominate for this award?

Resources

  1. Ghosh S, Stoller JK. Reflections on the value of a virtue-based culture in imaging. J Am Coll Radial 2022 Jan 19; S1546-1440(21)01029-2.
  2. Stoller JK. Leadership essentials for the chest medicine professional: Emotional intelligence. Chest 2021; 159(3):1147-1154.
  3. Stoller JK, Dweik R, Rea P. Creating an organizational culture for the chest medicine professional. Chest 2021; 160(1):268-273.
  4. Rea P, Stoller JK, Kolp A. Exception to the Rule: The Surprising Science of Character-Based Culture, Engagement, and Performance. McGraw-Hill Education. 2018.
  5. Rea P, Stoller JK, Kolp A. Better Humans, Better Performance: Driving Leadership, Teamwork, and Culture with Intentionality. McGraw-Hill Education. 2023.
  6. www.excelwitharete.com.

Alfred and Norma Stoller GME Award recipients

Year Recipient Training
2024 Akshay Sharma, MD NS
Alfred & Norma Stoller Medical School Award

Alfred & Norma Stoller Medical School Award

Alfred and Norma Stoller Award for Virtue-Based Leadership in Medical School

Established in 2023, the Alfred and Norma Stoller Award for Virtue-Based Leadership in Medical School, named for Alfred and Norma Stoller, provides a $500 award to a medical student (any year) at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, in recognition of a well-described accomplishment during medical school that exemplifies and drives one or more of the seven classic virtues - trust, compassion, hope, justice, wisdom, temperance, and courage (1-6).

History of the award

Alfred (1919 – 2011) and Norma (1923-1991) Stoller were parents of James K. Stoller, MD, MS (Chair, Education Institute; Staff, Respiratory Institute, Cleveland Clinic) and grandparents of Jacob Fox Stoller. Alfred and Norma were deeply committed to educating their family. Alfred Stoller's own plans for graduate school were scuttled by his father's (Jacob Stoller) early passing, forcing him to take over his father's business, a small retail luggage store in the Bronx, New York. Based upon grit, hard work, self-sacrifice, and great frugality, Alfred and Norma Stoller sent both of their sons to private colleges and medical schools, debt-free. This was the crowning achievement of their lives and their spirit of giving of oneself in service of others is the core of this award. The hope is that the awardee, through their work with this grant and career in medicine, will perpetuate these virtue-based values.

Award

  • Awardee will receive a cash award of $500.
    • This amount will be reviewed annually and adjusted appropriately by the holder of the Stoller Family Chair in Medical Education, after consultation with the Alumni Association.
  • A signed copy of the book, Better Humans, Better Performance: Driving Leadership, Teamwork, and Culture with Intentionality by Rea, P., Stoller, J.K., & Kolp, A., will also be awarded to the recipient.
  • Awardee will receive a framed certificate.
  • Awardee will be highlighted in an upcoming issue of the Alumni Connectionmagazine.
  • Awardee will be recognized at the annual Alumni Association Spring Reception.

Eligibility

  • Recipient exemplifies and drives one or more of the 7 classic virtues - trust, compassion, hope, justice, wisdom, temperance, and courage (1-6).

Criteria

  • Written proposal to the Nominating Committee of the Cleveland Clinic Alumni Association that is responsive to the objectives stated above. The resources cited below provide insight into the virtues and their impact as drivers of high performance.
  • A summary of the project and its outcomes to be submitted to the Alumni Association at the completion of the project (12 months from the award) and the report will be shared with representatives of the Stoller family, if available.

Nomination

Is there someone you would like to nominate for this award?

Resources

  1. Ghosh S, Stoller JK. Reflections on the value of a virtue-based culture in imaging. J Am Coll Radial 2022 Jan 19; S1546-1440(21)01029-2.
  2. Stoller JK. Leadership essentials for the chest medicine professional: Emotional intelligence. Chest 2021; 159(3):1147-1154.
  3. Stoller JK, Dweik R, Rea P. Creating an organizational culture for the chest medicine professional. Chest 2021; 160(1):268-273.
  4. Rea P, Stoller JK, Kolp A. Exception to the Rule: The Surprising Science of Character-Based Culture, Engagement, and Performance. McGraw-Hill Education. 2018.
  5. Rea P, Stoller JK, Kolp A. Better Humans, Better Performance: Driving Leadership, Teamwork, and Culture with Intentionality. McGraw-Hill Education. 2023.
  6. www.excelwitharete.com.  

Alfred and Norma Stoller CCLCM Award recipients

Year Recipient Training
2024 Gustavo Roversi, MD CCLCM'24