Nine faculty from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health were among the award-winning UW faculty honored by Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin at Olin House on October 30. These faculty have all received high honors from professional societies or the United States government.
Gold Medal Award, Radiological Society of North America
Dr. Elizabeth Burnside, professor of radiology and a senior associate dean for team science and interdisciplinary research, accepted the prestigious Gold Medal award from the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in December, 2024. Burnside is the first radiologist from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, and the 22nd woman, to receive this honor since the award’s inception in 1919. A widely recognized specialist in breast cancer, Burnside is engaged at the cutting edge of patient-centered research to improve screening mammography.
The Gold Medal is the highest accolade bestowed by RSNA, awarded to individuals who have rendered unusual service to the science of radiology.
Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science
Weibo Cai, professor of radiology, has been elected as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world’s largest general scientific society. For nearly two decades, Cai’s research in molecular imaging and nanobiotechnology has advanced the treatment of cancer and other diseases through biomedical application of radiolabeled nanomaterials. AAAS selects fellows for their achievements across disciplines, from research, teaching and technology, to administration in academia, industry and government, to excellence in communicating and interpreting science to the public.
Dr. Cai’s commitment to mentorship also earned him the 2025 American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering Professional Impact Award for Mentoring.
Gustav O. Lienhard Award, National Academy of Medicine
Dr. Michael Fiore, a professor of medicine and co-founder of the University of Wisconsin Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention and now a lead scientist there, accepted the Lienhard Award for Advancement of Health Care at the National Academy of Medicine meeting in October 2024. Dr. Fiore initiated a programmatic series of scientific, clinical, and policy efforts to integrate evidence-based tobacco dependence treatment into health care. He was recognized for his leadership in advancing science, translating research into medical practice, and improving public health by helping people address their tobacco use.
The Gustav O. Lienhard Award honors individuals for exceptional contributions to improving U.S. health care services.
Legacy Keynote Lecture Award, Society for Leukocyte Biology
Dr. Anna Huttenlocher, a professor of medical microbiology and immunology and pediatrics, has received the 2026 Legacy Keynote Lecture Award from the Society for Leukocyte Biology. Dr. Huttenlocher is a pioneer in the study of cell migration, a critical process underlying inflammation, immune response, and cancer metastasis. Her lab’s work focuses on unraveling the molecular mechanisms that guide how leukocytes move toward sites of injury or infection — an essential component of immune function.
The SLB Legacy Keynote Lecture Award recognizes excellence in leukocyte biology research and celebrates individuals whose work has made a lasting impact in the field.
Member, American Society for Clinical Investigation
Dr. Daniel Jackson, professor of pediatrics, was inducted into the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI). Jackson’s research focuses on finding new methods of prevention and treatment of childhood asthma. He is the Principal Investigator of the Childhood Asthma in Urban Settings Research Network Leadership Center, conducting novel studies of immune-based treatments for high-risk urban children.
Founded in 1908, the ASCI is one of the nation’s oldest medical honor societies. It focuses on the special role of physician-scientists in research, clinical care, and medical education.
Member, American Academy of Physicians
Dr. Amy Kind, professor of medicine, director of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health’s Center for Health Disparities Research (CHDR) and associate dean for social health sciences and programs was elected to the American Academy of Physicians (AAP). Kind was recognized for her research on mechanistic health disparities and Alzheimer’s disease, including her trailblazing study of the social exposome — the sum of social and environmental exposures people experience during their lifetimes — and the development of the Area Deprivation Index and Neighborhood Atlas®.
Established in 1885, AAP is an honorary medical society of America’s leading physician scientists who exemplify the pinnacle of pioneering and enduring contributions to improve health.
U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Fulbright Scholar
Dr. Jessica Schmidt, associate professor of emergency medicine, was selected as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar for the 2024–2025 academic year by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Schmidt, who serves as director of global health for the Department of Emergency Medicine, partnered with physicians at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital and the Mbale Clinical Research Institute to advance research in Rwanda on pediatric health and emergency medical care. She assessed pediatric patients with respiratory issues, specifically focusing on suspected pneumonia cases, and led a team of global educators to conduct point-of-care ultrasound training in Uganda. This is her second Fulbright award.
The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program is the United States’ flagship program of international educational and cultural exchange, promoting international cooperation and cultural exchange through academic research and collaboration.
Physician of the Year, Association of American Indian Physicians
Dr. Bret Benally Thompson, associate professor of medicine, has been named the Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP) Physician of the Year. Benally Thompson is an enrolled tribal member of the White Earth Ojibwe and also serves as the director of Indigenous Health and Cultural Guidance at the Native American Center for Health Professions. He is the Principal Investigator of the Indians Into Medicine grant and founded the first course focused on American Indian health at UW. Benally Thompson has changed countless lives through exceptional patient care, tireless mentoring of students, and efforts to improve health in Native communities.
The AAIP Physician of the Year Award recognizes clinical skills, compassionate patient care, and commitment to advancing health care for American Indian/Alaska Native populations.
U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Fulbright Scholar
Dr. Ryan Westergaard, professor of medicine, was selected as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar for the 2024–2025 academic year by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Westergaard is Principal Investigator for the multidisciplinary Syndemics Research Group at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, which looks for ways to improve health for people and communities affected by substance use disorders, infectious diseases and related social problems. As a Fulbright Scholar, Westergaard applied his expertise in the role of technical advisor to Rwanda’s Ministry of Health.
The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program is the United States’ flagship program of international educational and cultural exchange. Fulbright Scholars contribute to finding solutions to challenges facing our communities and our world.
