The 2024 Renner-Hansen Awards Dinner, held at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in November, celebrated the vital work of family medicine and the importance of community trust. This annual event provided an opportunity for colleagues to honor each other and recognize significant contributions to the field.
The annual Renner-Hansen Awards Dinner offers an opportunity to celebrate the vital work of family medicine.
Attendees enjoyed special presentations from guests honored with the event’s namesake awards. The Marc Hansen Award, named after the founder of the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (DFMCH), honors junior faculty for their contributions to student and resident education or scholarly work in family medicine. The John H. Renner Wisconsin Idea Award, created in 2001 to honor the first DFMCH chair, Dr. John Renner, recognizes a Wisconsin citizen or organization annually for their commitment to family medicine and the health needs of Wisconsin.
John H. Renner Wisconsin Idea Award: James DeLine, MD
Dr. James DeLine honored with Wisconsin Idea Award.
Dr. James DeLine, the village doctor of La Farge, Wisconsin since 1983, was honored with the John H. Renner Wisconsin Idea Award. Although DeLine was unable to attend the event, DFMCH Chair David Rakel shared career highlights and a video showcasing his work with patients in his rural community, including Amish and Mennonite populations.
“He is the ultimate family physician,” Rakel remarked. “He started one of the first birthing centers outside of a hospital for the Amish community, and that takes guts.”
Dr. DeLine’s career has been marked by his dedication to his small community and the unique needs of the patients he serves. Establishing trust helped him address numerous genetic disorders prevalent among the Amish, who have a higher incidence of certain diseases due to genetic isolation. He founded the La Farge Medical Clinic and Center for Special Children, leading to significant research in genetics and advancements in care. Dr. DeLine has observed over 30 different genetic conditions, including BRAT1, a rare disease with only 20 to 30 known cases worldwide, six of which he has managed.
Despite his world-renowned work in genetics, DeLine remains a beloved family doctor who draws great inspiration from the community he serves.
Hansen Lecturer: Bethany Howlett, MD, MHS
Dr. Bethany Howlett delivers the Marc Hansen Lecture.
Bethany Howlett, director of OB and newborn care for DFMCH, delivered an inspiring lecture at the event. Growing up with a deep connection to nature, Howlett’s childhood was filled with exploration and adventure, from trails behind her home in Connecticut to family trips to Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. Her grandparents, who were farmers and mushroom growers, and her grandmother, a labor and delivery nurse at Johns Hopkins, further influenced her appreciation for nature and patient care.
After obtaining a master’s in health science, Howlett pursued global health work in South Sudan and the Middle East, focusing on education and training local health professionals.
“These experiences helped me get a sense of what it means to be part of a community,” Howlett shared. “What does it mean to ask questions about what is important to people who live in this space and what does it mean for me as an outsider to come into this space and to ask those questions?”
Howlett’s connection to teaching and nature is also reflected in her personal life with her partner, Eric, as they live on a small farm outside of Madison. She embraces the distinct seasons of Wisconsin, finding lessons in each one. Summer symbolizes sharing and abundance, fall represents preparation and connection, winter encourages patience and introspection, and spring brings chaos and excitement for new possibilities. Howlett believes that observations and lessons from the natural world can be applied to all areas of life, including patient care. She invites others to stay curious, use all their senses, and connect deeply with their surroundings and the people they serve.
The evening concluded with the presentation of several other honors for excellence in service and research.
Randall Ballwahn (left) presents the Robert Drachenberg Staff Excellence Awards to Shelly Shaw, MPH (center), and Sara Arscott, MS, PhD (right).
Christa Pittner-Smith, MD (left) and Yohualli Anaya, MD, MPH (right), receive Faculty Excellence Awards.
Dr. Russell Lemmon (left) presents the Richard Roberts, MD, JD, Clinical Staff Excellence Award to Katie McCreary, MD (right).
William Scheckler, MD, Research Awards were presented by Earlise Ward, PhD (left) with recipient Linda Park, PhD, MSSW, MSB (right).
Brian Stamm, MBA, MPH, (right) accepts the William Scheckler, MD, Research Award from Earlise Ward, PhD. Recipients not pictured: Brian Arndt, MD, David Horton, MS.
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Published: December 2024