Ralph Hawley Distinguished Service Award

The University of Wisconsin Medical Alumni Association Ralph Hawley Distinguished Service Award honors an alumnus who has made outstanding contributions to the local community through medical practice, teaching, research or other humanitarian activities.

2012 Ralph Hawley Distinguished Service Award Recipient

William J. Klish, MD '67

Dr. Klish has been a nationally recognized expert on childhood obesity for more than two decades, but his efforts have relevance to every local community. He is professor emeritus of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, where he completed his residency and fellowship in pediatrics following graduation from the UW School of Medicine and Public Health.

For 20 years he was chief of nutrition, hepatology and gastroenterology at Baylor and Texas Children's Hospital (TCH). He stepped down to devote more time to obesity and to develop the Obesity Center at TCH. Before joining Baylor, he was on the faculty at the University of Rochester School of Medicine.

Dr. Klish has served on many national committees, including the NIH's National Digestive Diseases advisory board and the American Academy of Pediatrics' Committee of Nutrition, which he chaired. He has led many committees and task forces in Texas. He has received multiple awards for lifetime achievement in pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition.

These days he serves as a consultant on many national issues related to the topic. Since retirement, he lectures pro bono at UW-Eau Claire, where he earned his bachelor of science, and has been asked by the provost to help expand their pre-med program. He is active in many local organizations.