Prizes & Awards
School of Medicine Prizes & Awards
There are a number of awards presented at the School of Medicine's Fall Honors Convocation and Senior Honors Convocation each year. Categories of prizes and awards include academic excellence, community leadership, research and extracurricular activities. Awards include certificates, plaques, books, or cash prizes. Some prizes and awards are sponsored and selected by individual departments, organizations, or classes. The School of Medicine Prizes and Awards Committee selects recipients of awards funded by either external organizations or memorials according to criteria established by these groups.
For information about the Fall Honors and the Senior Honors Convocations, please visit louisville.edu/medicine/studentaffairs/student-services.
Departmental Awards
The Dr. S. Spafford Ackerly Awards
These awards were established in 1963 by Mr. and Mrs. Barry Bingham, Sr., as a trust fund in honor of Dr. S. Spafford Ackerly, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of the Department of Psychiatry, and Chair from 1947 to 1963. The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences presents one award in the fall to a third-year medical student and one in the spring to a fourth-year medical student, who have shown the greatest proficiency in psychiatry.
The Dr. Billy F. Andrews Academic Excellence in Pediatrics Award
This award is presented to a third-year student who best exemplifies qualities of scholarship, aptitude for pediatrics, and potential for an academic career in pediatric medicine.
The Henry Gray Barbour Memorial Award in Medical Pharmacology
This award was established in 1964 in memory of Dr. Barbour, Chair of the Department of Pharmacology from 1923 to 1931. It is given to a second year student selected by the department faculty on the basis of performance during the medical pharmacology course.
The Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Physician/Scientist Award
This award is presented in recognition of a graduating medical student who has pursued research in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology leading to scholarly publications or a degree in biochemistry.
The Thomas B. Calhoon Memorial Physiology Award
This award honors the late Dr. Thomas B. Calhoon, former Chair of the Department of Physiology and Biophysics. The award is presented to a medical student who has shown excellence in academic performance and scholarly achievement in the study of the physiological basis of medical practice.
The Dr. William M. Christopherson Society Award
This award is presented by the Christopherson Society in honor of Dr. William M. Christopherson, Distinguished Professor and former Chair of the Department of Pathology from 1956 to 1974, to a fourth-year student demonstrating unusual ability and performance in pathology.
The Chloe Coleman Prize
The Chloe Coleman Prize is presented to a fourth-year medical student who has shown promise in pediatric and/or adolescent psychiatry.
The Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Excellence in Emergency Medicine Award
This award is sponsored by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine. It is given to a fourth-year medical student who has demonstrated excellence in the specialty of emergency medicine.
The Dr. Stanley A. Gall Award
This award was established in 2001 to honor Dr. Stanley A. Gall, Donald E. Baxter Professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology from 1989-2000. It is presented to a graduating senior student who excels beyond expectations on the High-Risk Obstetrics service. The student must demonstrate compassion, dedication and ability well above the level of training, and must plan to enter this specialty field.
The Dr. Samuel S. Gordon Award
Three alumni of the School of Medicine and their families established this award to honor Dr. Samuel S. Gordon, Class of 1932, for his outstanding devotion to students and patients, academic excellence in his specialty of obstetrics and gynecology, and his ability to stimulate and inspire other physicians to high achievement. The Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women’s Health presents this award to a fourth-year student who has excelled in the study of obstetrics and gynecology and who plans to enter that field.
The Mary A. Hilton Award for Excellence in Biochemistry
This award is presented annually to the most outstanding first-year medical student in biochemistry. The award honors Dr. Mary Anderson Hilton, a longtime faculty member of the Department of Biochemistry, who retired in 1995 and was an outstanding medical educator.
The O.J. Hurt Award
This is presented by the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery to a graduating student displaying the traits most reflective of Dr. Hurt and his philosophy of orthopaedics and patient care, i.e., dedication to orthopaedics, honesty, integrity and medical knowledge.
The Dr. Vernon O. Kash Award
The Vernon O. Kash Award was established by Mrs. Vernon Kash to honor her husband, a 1936 graduate of the University of Louisville School of Medicine. This award is given to an outstanding student in anatomy.
The Helene & Walter Zukof, MD, Memorial Scholarship Award
The Kentucky Academy of Family Physicians provides an award each year to a fourth-year medical student who has demonstrated the most interest in family medicine during his/her course of studies in medical school.
The Letitia Shelby Kimsey-Taylor Award for Excellence in Microbiology and Immunology
This award is presented by the Department of Microbiology and Immunology to honor the late Letitia Shelby Kimsey-Taylor, M., who was an outstanding teacher in this department from 1947 to 1976. The award is given to the second-year student achieving highest honors in the course of medical microbiology.
The Dr. Atwood P. Latham Memorial Prize in Anatomy
In 1928, Mrs. Mary B. Latham established this award in memory of her husband. This award is given to the first-year medical student deemed most proficient in anatomy.
The Benjamin M. Rigor, MD, Excellence in Anesthesiology Award
Dr. Benjamin M. Rigor, MD, served as Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Louisville School of Medicine from 1981-1999. This award is given to the member of the graduating class who demonstrates great interest and proficiency during elective and tutorial courses in anesthesiology.
The Louisville Academy of Ophthalmology Excellence Award
The award is given to the graduating medical student who exhibits enthusiastic dedication to the field of Ophthalmology. This can be displayed in clinical rotations as well as research involvement.
The Dr. John Walker Moore Scholarship Award
This scholarship is awarded in memory of Dr. John Walker Moore, Dean of the School of Medicine from 1928 to 1949, in recognition of his great skill and competence as an internist and teacher. It is given to the outstanding third-year student in medicine.
The American Academy of Neurology Medical Student Prize for Excellence in Neurology
The American Academy of Neurology provides an award to the senior student who has demonstrated the most promise for a career in neurology during the course of studies in medical school.
The Dr. Morris Newberg Scholarship Award
This scholarship was established in memory of Dr. Morris Newberg and is awarded for proficiency in internal medicine.
The School of Medicine Student Diversity Award
This award is presented to a graduating student to recognize extraordinary contributions to medical education and healthcare of groups underrepresented in medicine.
The Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women's Health Outstanding Third-Year Student Award
This award is given to the student achieving the highest level of academic performance and demonstrating superior clinical performance in obstetrics, gynecology, and women’s health.
The Pathology Honor Society
The Pathology Honor Society, presented by the Inter-society Council for Pathology Information, a national honor society, selects student members on the basis of scholastic achievement in the pathology curriculum, research accomplishments as a medical student, leadership potential as evidenced by activities as a medical student, and overall excellence with potential to develop further academically. Students are selected in their second year.
The Hiram C. Polk, Junior, Scholarship Award
This award was established by the graduating surgical residents in 1986 and 1987 to provide financial assistance to a fourth-year medical student who has demonstrated outstanding scholarly achievement as well as an interest in pursuing a career in surgery.
The Dr. Morton and Ann Kasdan Plastic Surgery Outstanding Student Award
In 2012, Dr. Adam Augenstein and Dr. Arun Rao, the graduating plastic surgery residents, established this award to honor their commitment to medical student education. This award is given to the fourth-year medical student that best exemplifies Dr. Kasdan's commitment to the field of plastic surgery.
The HSC Office of Diversity & Inclusion Health & Social Justice Scholar
This award is presented to the student who has shown demonstrable commitment to addressing health disparities in their research, respective professions, and daily life. Moreover recipients completed the planning and implementation of a community-based participatory research project, with real-life community applications.
The Dr. E. Owsley Grant Award for Academic Excellence in Urology
The Department of Urology established this award to honor his commitment to Urology and to the University of Louisville. Dr. Grant, a Louisvillian, was the first person appointed to the University of Louisville faculty as a full-time urologic surgeon. This award is given to a senior student who has excelled in the study of Urology, shown great dedication, work ethic, and plans to enter this specialty field.
The Morgan Williams Award
Dr. Hugh C. Williams, former Associate Professor of Surgery and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, established the Morgan Williams Award in memory of his son. This award is presented to the student who demonstrates the best performance in surgery during the third year. This award is based on an evaluation of scholarship, devotion to humane patient care, imagination and acceptance of responsibility as judged by the Chair and faculty members.
The Dr. Carroll L. Witten Memorial Award
This award is presented to the outstanding fourth-year medical student entering a family practice residency program in Kentucky.
The Dr. Peter Knoefel Award
Dr. Peter Knoefel joined the faculty in 1935 and served as Professor and Chair of Pharmacology from 1941 to 1966. This award is presented to a fourth year student who has demonstrated ability and interest in clinical pharmacology.
The George I. Uhde Award for Excellence in Otolaryngology
The Dr. George I. Uhde Award for Excellence in Otolaryngology is presented in honor of the late Dr. Uhde who is recognized as the father of modern otolaryngology in the city of Louisville.
The Dean’s Award for Scholarship
This award is given annually to the graduating senior with the highest four-year record of academic achievement.
The Dean’s Award for Leadership
The Dean's Award for Scholarship is given annually to the member of the graduating class who has demonstrated outstanding leadership during all four years of medical school.
The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award presented by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation
Recognizes a graduating medical student for excellence in both compassionate patient care and scientific achievement.
The George P. Caldwell Award
In 1954, Dr. William G. Caldwell, an alumnus of the class of 1943, established an award in honor of his father, Dr. George P. Caldwell. The award is presented to a student who has exhibited special proficiency in the study of medicine.
The Dr. Carl Cooper, Jr. Award
This award was established by the Kentucky Medical Insurance Company and is presented to the senior student who has exhibited excellence in the area of doctor-patient relations and communication.
The Merck Manual Book Awards
Books are awarded to outstanding seniors who have shown great scholarly interest. Each year the number of recipients is determined by Merck and is based on the number of graduation seniors.
The Dr. Norvin Green Memorial Prize
In 1919, Miss Susan T. Green established an annual award in memory of her father, Dr. Norvin Green. Dr. Green graduated from the University of Louisville School of Medicine in 1840.
The Tim Lee Carter Award
This award, funded by University of Louisville Medical School Student Senate in honor of Congressman Tim Lee Carter, M.D., is made annually to a fourth year medical student who, during his/her medical studies at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, has made an outstanding contribution in an area of non-academic extracurricular student life.
The Alpha Nu Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Kappa Medical Fraternity Award
This award was established in 1995 by Drs. Hoyt D. Gardner and Letitia Kimsey-Taylor. This award is given in honor of the late Dr. Kimsey-Taylor, a "sister" member of the Alpha Kappa Kappa Fraternity by the Brothers of the Alpha Nu Chapter of the AKK Medical Fraternity. It is given each year to a student who has overcome significant obstacles to achieve his/her degree.
The Dr. Parish B. Cleveland Achievement Award
This award was established in 1954 in honor of Dr. Parish B. Cleveland, an alumnus of the Class of 1943. It is given to the senior who has shown the greatest improvement by virtue of his/her own efforts during his/her medical career.
The Dr. Ethel Larosa Scholarship Award
This award was established by the Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s Foundation in honor of Dr. Ethel Larosa-Klemens, a physiatrist and champion of innovative pediatric rehabilitation. Dr. Larosa-Klemens was a 1994 graduate of the University of Louisville School of Medicine and was a champion of pediatric rehabilitation in the Louisville community before her death in 2006. This award is presented annually to a female medical student, preferably interested in the field of rehabilitation or pediatrics, for excellence scholastic achievement and service to the community.
The Presley F. Martin Memorial Award
Each year, a graduating senior is chosen by his/her peers to receive the Presley F. Martin award. The student must possess and reflect characteristics of a good physician - ones you would seek in choosing your own physician: competence, ethical behavior, leadership, compassion, humor.
The Student Affairs Award
This award is given annually to a student who has exhibited outstanding cooperation and service to his/her class and the school through joint efforts with the Office of Medical Student Affairs.
The Medical Alumni Award
The Medical Alumni Award was established form the funds contributed by the Medical Alumni Association. It is usually presented to a student (Class of 2024) who has exhibited academic excellence and scholarliness during their medical career.
The Dr. Israel Muss Memorial Prize
This award is given annually by those who cherish the memory of Dr. Israel Muss. This award is presented to a student (Class of 2024) who has demonstrated a combination of scholarliness, an avid search for technical knowledge, a breadth of interests, and a deep concern for the humanity of all people.
The Dr. Max L. Garon Scholarship Award
The Dr. Max L. Garon Scholarship Award was established by the Sidney I. Kornhauser Foundation. This award honors Dr. Max L. Garon, a graduate of the class of 1929. It is given to a medical student who is an outstanding member of the class (Class of 2024). The Kornhauser Foundation chooses the recipient from three (3) nominations submitted by the Prizes and Awards Committee.
The Schwartz Insurance Group Scholarship Award
This scholarship is awarded to a medical student (Class of 2024) who demonstrates academic achievement, involvement is student activities, and dedication to community service. Need based scholarship as well. The Schwartz Group is interested in ‘humanism’ members.
The Dr. Herbert Wald Phi Delta Epsilon Scholarship Award
The Phi Delta Epsilon Scholarship Award was first presented in 1975. The award was established with the Sidney I. Kornhauser Foundation by Dr. & Mrs. Herbert Wald. This award is presented to a student who, during their second year (Class of 2025), was outstanding in scholarship, student leadership, and dedication to service in the community. The Prizes and Awards Committee submits the names of three (3) nominees to the Kornhauser Foundation, from which one (1) recipient is chosen.
The Drs. Murrell H., Martin Z., and Benjamin M. Kaplan Award
This award is administered by the Sidney I. Kornhauser Foundation, and was established by Mr. & Mrs. Joseph H. Kaplan in honor of Mr. Kaplan's three brothers, Drs. Murrell H., Martin Z., and Benjamin M., graduates of the University of Louisville School of Medicine, Class of 1934, 1941, and 1946, respectively. This award is presented annually to a student (Class of 2026) who has exhibited scholarship, leadership, and a keen interest in medicine. The Kornhauser Foundation chooses the recipient from (3) nominations submitted by the Prizes and Awards Committee.
The Janke B. Mains Memorial Award
This award was established in 1979 by the Class of 1982 in memory of their classmate, Janke B. Mains. In March of 1979, Ms. Mains was involved in an automobile accident and she and her child were killed. At the time of her unexpected death, Janke was a first year student who had excelled in Human Embryology. This award honors Janke and her child. It is presented each year to a student who was in their first year in the previous academic year (Class of 2026). The student must be a parent.
