The Parker J. Palmer Courage to Lead Award honors designated institutional officials (DIOs) who have demonstrated excellence in overseeing graduate medical education (GME) programs at their Sponsoring Institutions. DIOs have authority and responsibility for all graduate medical education programs in a teaching hospital, community hospital, or other type of institution that sponsors GME programs.

2024 Award Recipients

Gregory K. Unruh, MD
Gregory K. Unruh, MD

Designated Institutional Official
Kansas University Medical Center
Kansas City, Kansas

Manuel C. Vallejo, MD, DMD
Manuel C. Vallejo, MD, DMD

Designated Institutional Official
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia

John B. Waits, MD, CPE, FAAFP
John B. Waits, MD, CPE, FAAFP

Designated Institutional Official
Cahaba Medical Care
Centreville, Alabama

Past Award Recipients

2023 Award Recipients

Kimberly M. Baker-Genaw, MD, FACP
Kimberly M. Baker-Genaw, MD, FACP

Henry Ford Health
Detroit, Michigan

Susan E. Kirk, MD
Susan E. Kirk, MD

University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia

Antoinette Spevetz, MD
Antoinette Spevetz, MD

Cooper University Health Care, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
Camden, New Jersey

2022 Award Recipients

Ted Epperly, MD
Ted Epperly, MD

Full Circle Health
Boise, Idaho

Joann Porter, MD, FACP
Joann Porter, MD, FACP

Creighton University School of Medicine
Omaha, Nebraska

Mark C. Wilson, MD, MPH
Mark C. Wilson, MD, MPH

University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine and University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
Iowa City, Iowa

2021 Award Recipients

Meghan Walsh, MD, MPH, FACP
Meghan Walsh, MD, MPH, FACP

Hennepin Health System
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Deborah M. DeMarco, MD, FACP
Deborah M. DeMarco, MD, FACP

University of Massachusetts Medical School
Worcester, Massachusetts

2020 Award Recipients

Karen E. Broquet, MD, MHPE
Karen E. Broquet, MD, MHPE

Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Springfield, Illinois

John Patrick T. Co, MD, MPH
John Patrick T. Co, MD, MPH

Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts

2019 Award Recipients

Ronald G. Amedee, MD
Ronald G. Amedee, MD
Designated Institutional Official
Ochsner Health System
New Orleans, Louisiana
Nedd I. Brown, EdD
Nedd I. Brown, EdD
Designated Institutional Official
University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
  Elias I. Traboulsi, MD
Elias I. Traboulsi, MD
Designated Institutional Official
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio

2018 Award Recipients

Jerri Curtis, MD
Jerri Curtis, MD
Designated Institutional Official
National Capital Consortium
Bethesda, Maryland
Karen E. Heiser, PhD
Karen E. Heiser, PhD
Designated Institutional Official
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Columbus, Ohio
Tsveti Markova, MD, FAAFP
Tsveti Markova, MD, FAAFP
Designated Institutional Official
Wayne State University School of Medicine
Detroit, Michigan

2017 Award Recipients

Madeline Erario, MD, FACP
Madeline Erario, MD, FACP
Designated Institutional Official
Inova Fairfax Medical Campus
Falls Church, VA
Abdulla K. Ghori, MD
Abdulla K. Ghori, MD
Designated Institutional Official
MetroHealth Medical Center
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH
Rita M. Patel, MD
Rita M. Patel, MD
Designated Institutional Official
UPMC Medical Education
Pittsburgh, PA

2016 Award Recipients

Mary C. Ottolini, MD, MPH
Mary C. Ottolini, MD, MPH
Designated Institutional Official
Children’s National Medical Center
Washington, DC
Steven H. Rose, MD
Steven H. Rose, MD
Designated Institutional Official
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, MN

2015 Award Recipients

Miriam Bar-On, MD
Miriam Bar-On, MD
Designated Institutional Official
University of Nevada School of Medicine
Las Vegas, NV
Roseanne C. Berger, MD
Roseanne C. Berger, MD
Designated Institutional Official
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY
Thomas A. Blackwell, MD, FACP
Thomas A. Blackwell, MD, FACP
Designated Institutional Official
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
Galveston, TX

2014 Award Recipients

Robert B. Baron, MD, MS
Robert B. Baron, MD, MS
Designated Institutional Official
University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine
San Francisco, CA
Linda M. Famiglio, MD
Linda M. Famiglio, MD
Designated Institutional Official
Geisinger Health System
Danville, PA
Joseph Zarconi, MD, FACP
Joseph Zarconi, MD, FACP
Designated Institutional Official
Summa Health System
Akron, OH

2013 Award Recipients

Ann M. Dohn, MA
Ann M. Dohn, MA
Designated Institutional Official
Stanford Hospital and Clinics
Stanford, CA
Richard Green, Captain, Medical Corps, United States Navy
Richard Green, Captain, Medical Corps, United States Navy
Designated Institutional Official
Naval Medical Center San Diego
San Diego, CA
Frederick M. Schiavone, MD, FACEP
Frederick M. Schiavone, MD, FACEP
Designated Institutional Official
University Hospital, SUNY at Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY

2012 Award Recipients

Robin C. Newton, MD, FACP
Robin C. Newton, MD, FACP
Designated Institutional Official
Howard University Hospital
Washington, DC
Lawrence M. Opas, MD
Lawrence M. Opas, MD
Designated Institutional Official
University of Southern California/
LAC+USC Medical Center
Los Angeles, CA
Judy L. Paukert, PhD
Judy L. Paukert, PhD
Designated Institutional Official
Methodist Hospital (Houston)
Houston, TX

2011 Award Recipients

John Musich, MD
Designated Institutional Official
William Beaumont Hospital
Royal Oak, MI
Carl Patow, MD, MPH, MBA, FACS
Designated Institutional Official
HealthPartners Institute for Medical Education
Bloomington, MN
James Zaidan, MD, MBA
Designated Institutional Official
Emory University
Atlanta, GA

2010 Award Recipients

Arnold Eiser, MD
Vice President, Medical Education
Mercy Catholic Medical Center
Darby, PA
Norman Ferrari, III, MD
Senior Associate Dean, School of Medicine
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV
Mark Juzych, MD
Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education
Vice President, Academic Affairs
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI