Awards and Recognition

Dr. William Kennedy sponsors a Neurology Department award recognizing an outstanding teacher and/or educator each year. The Kennedy Award is intended to recognize teachers who embody the essential elements of outstanding teaching, positive role modeling, dedication to teaching, and educational scholarship. These elements transcend the specific education milieu and format in which transformative teaching and education occur. Teaching in all venues (e.g., clinic ward, lecture hall, laboratory, other) and formats (e.g., pedagogy, creation of curricula, scholarship dissemination, mentoring, and advising) are eligible.

Recipients

Dr. Jessica Goldstein - 2023

Dr. John R. Gates was a neurologist, patient advocate and force of nature who died in 2005 at the age of 54. He founded the Minnesota Epilepsy Group; the whole model of a dedicated, multidisciplinary epilepsy program owes a great deal to him. He had an international reputation in epilepsy. His wife, Rita Meyers, has established and funded an annual award for a University of Minnesota neurology resident who "exhibits the qualities that were the hallmarks of Dr. Gates, as a physician and as a person."

Selection of a graduating resident (by the department chair) will be based on nominations by residents.

Recipients

Dr. Grace Tobin - 2023

Recipients

• Edward Labin, MD - 2023
• Muhammad Affan, MBBS - 2022
• John W. Tulloch, MD - 2013
• Scott R. Bundlie, MD - 2012

The Benjamin Shapiro Memorial Fellowship Award was created to promote excellence in neurology.

Recipients

• Brandon Peters, MD - 2012
• Swaroop Pawar, MD - 2011
• Tacjana Friday, MD - 2010
• Adam Loavenbruck, MD - 2009
• Eric Hernandez, MD, PhD - 2008
• John Damergis, MD - 2007
• Matthew Roller, MD - 2006
• Michael Howell, MD - 2005
• Muzaffar Siddiqui, MD - 2004
• Xiaoming Dong, MD - 2003
• Kamakshi Narayan, MD, PhD - 2002
• Mihaela Alexander, MD - 2001
• Alexander Smirnoff, MD - 2000
• Rupert Exconde, MD - 1999
• Neeraj Kumar, MD - 1998
• Suraj Muley, MD - 1997
• Irene V. Pech - 1996
• Anthony Pakiam - 1995
• Michael T. V. Johnson - 1994
• Edward T. Hui - 1993
• Xian Feng Gu - 1992
• Beom Seok Jeon - 1991
• Anil Kumar Dhuna - 1989
• Camilo Toro, MD - 1988
• Irfan M. Altafullah, MD - 1987
• Paul Shelton, MD - 1986
• Kyoon Huh, MD - 1985
• Stanley A. Skinner, MD - 1984
• Simon Starosta, MD - 1983
• Byung In Lee, MD - 1982
• Bong Jung, MD - 1981
• Se Hwa Park, MD - 1980
• Leon H. Rosenberg, MD - 1979
• Frederick T. Strobl, MD - 1978
• Gerald E. Slater, MD - 1977
• Chi-Wan Lai, MD - 1977
• Ronald A. Cooper, MD - 1976
• William M. Leuchter, MD - 1975

The McKnight Presidential Endowed Chair and the McKnight Presidential Endowed Professorship are among the highest honors for faculty at the University. Recipients are recommended by their college dean and chosen at the discretion of the president based, in part, on their academic and research accomplishments and their contributions to advancing the University among its peers. Awardees are recognized on the University of Minnesota's Scholars Walk.

Recipients

Jerrold L. Vitek, MD, PhD - 2010

The Graduate and Professional award was established in 1999 to recognize contributions to graduate and professional education. Recipients are chosen for excellence in instruction; involvement of students in research, scholarship, and professional development; development of instructional programs; and advising and mentoring of students.

Candidates for the awards are nominated by their colleges.  These awards are made possible through the generous support of the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost.

Recipients of the Graduate and Professional Teaching awards are inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Teachers and carry the designation of Distinguished University Teaching Professor (faculty) throughout their careers at the University of Minnesota. Awardees are recognized on the University of Minnesota's Scholars Walk.

Recipients

Ezgi Tiryaki, MD, Dr.med. - 2015

The Academy for Excellence in Health Science Research serves as the highest recognition of excellence in health science research by a full time faculty member at the University of Minnesota.

Those selected will have demonstrated excellence in research as measured by impact in basic and/or applied health science at the lab, clinic, school, community, and/or population level. Impact may be measured by contributions to one particular problem or a sustained record of excellence in many problems. All members of the Academy will also have demonstrated the highest level of ethics and professionalism during their career.

Since 2003, faculty from the disciplines of medicine, public health, dentistry, pharmacy, and nursing have been inducted into the Academy for Excellence in Health Research.

Inductees

Jerrold L. Vitek, MD, PhD - 2019

Karen Hsiao Ashe, MD, PhD - 2007

In 2021, M Physicians established Clinical Excellence Honors as a way to recognize the excellence of our clinical practitioners as demonstrated through their care for our patients.

It’s founded on the question “Who among your colleagues would you send your loved ones for care, and why?”

2023 Honorees

• Sarah Benish, MD
• Oladi Bentho, MD, MS
• AJ Christnovich, DO
• Scott Cooper, MD, PhD
• Kristine Domingo, DO, MA
• Georgios Manousakis, MD
• Jacob Manske, MD
• Benjamin Miller, MD
• Elizabeth Neil, MD
• Minoo Shams-Moorkani, MD
• Paul Tuite, MD

Members are elected for their achievement in medicine and health (see the National Academy of Medicine website for details and history about this award). They are recognized on the University of Minnesota's Scholars Walk.

Inductees

Karen Hsiao Ashe, MD, PhD - 2009

Each year Minnesota Monthly magazine asks physicians across the Twin Cities: "If you or a loved one needed medical care, which doctor would you recommend?"

Awardees

• Sarah Benish, MD, FAAN: 2022
• Michael Howell, MD, FAAN, FAASM: 2022
• Peter Karachunski, MD: 2016-2019
• Georgios Manousakis, MD, FAAN: 2021
• Joseph Matsumoto, MD: 2019
• Abby Metzler, MD: 2021
• Christopher Streib, MD: 2017-2018, 2021
• David Walk, MD, FAAN: 2016-2022

Mpls.St.Paul magazine asked physicians to nominate one or more doctors (excluding themselves) to whom they would go if they or a loved one were seeking medical care. From there, candidates were grouped into 46 specialties and evaluated on myriad factors, including (but not limited to) peer recognition, professional achievement, and disciplinary history. 

Awardees

• Paul Tuite, MD: 2013-2022
• Thomas Henry, MD: 2013-2022
• David Walk, MD, FAAN: 2013-2020
• John Tulloch, MD: 2016
• John Floberg, MD: 2016
• David Anderson, MD: 2013-2015
• Adnan Qureshi, MD: 2013-2014
• John Day, MD, PhD: 2012

Visit the Mpls St Paul magazine website for more.

In 2014, Mpls.St.Paul magazine began to recognize Top Doctors: Rising Stars—exceptional physicians who have been fully licensed to practice for approximately 10 years or less.

Awardees

• Amanda Moen, MD: 2019-2022
• Abby Metzler, MD
• Elizabeth Neil, MD
• William Schmalstieg, MD: 2019
• Georgios Manousakis, MD: 2015-2017
• Jeffrey A. Allen, MD: 2015-2016

Visit the Mpls St Paul magazine website for more.