Seven Scholars Honored at 2008 McGovern-Tracy Awards Dinner

On Tuesday, June 3, 2008 approximately 100 guests gathered at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center to honor the 2008 McGovern-Tracy Scholars. Valerie Gilchrist, MD, Department of Family Medicine Chair welcomed the guests. She then introduced Jim Davis, MD, MS, who was the Master of Ceremonies during the evening.

Through the generosity of Mrs. Isabel McGovern Kerr, the UW Department of Family Medicine has established this program to honor and reward UW medical students and DFM residents for exemplifying values of community service and leadership while in training and further, to honor Michele Tracy, a UW medical student who was tragically killed while participating in an education service program in Malawi, Africa in July 1999.

After a wonderful dinner, Byron Crouse, MD, Professor of Family Medicine and Associate Dean for Rural and Community Health, gave a very informative keynote presentation on "Lessons Learned from Serving Communities".

The 2008 McGovern-Tracy awards were given to one second year Family Medicine resident (Deborah Dreyfus, MD) and six second year UW medical students (Michelle Buelow, Nathaniel Chin, Elizabeth Doherty, Joseph Hansen, Micaela O'Neil and Kevin Thao.

Each recipient took a few moments to describe their leadership and community service experiences and their hopes for the future. In addition to their clinical and other academic responsibilities, each scholar has made remarkable contributions to improving the health care in communities.

Three other awards were mentioned at this ceremony.

• The Robert F. and Irma K. Korbitz Endowed Scholarship in Family Medicine is presented to fourth year medical students who show a strong interest in the field of family medicine.
• The Jan Ashe Memorial Award for Excellence in Community Radiography created in memory of Jan Ashe, a radiologic technician at the Northeast Clinic, is presented to a student graduating from the School of Radiologic Technology.
• The Zorba Paster Compassion in Action awards recognize medical students who, in the course of their medical school education, develop, implement or improve health care in a disadvantaged community.

The Department of Family of Family Medicine is proud and honored to have the opportunity each year to celebrate this ceremony at the beautiful Monona Terrace and Convention Center, and to present awards to these very accomplished scholars!