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Beginning in 1955, the UNC School of Medicine has celebrated exemplary alumni and faculty with its Distinguished Medical Awards. These awards were established to recognize those who had made an important contribution to the founding and growth of the four-year medical school at UNC.

The Distinguished Medical Alumni Awards are presented to alumni whose outstanding professional service and achievements bring esteem to the UNC School of Medicine. In recent years, alumni have been honored for excellence in professional and community leadership as well as superior work that has garnered national or international attention.

  • Living MD or PhD graduates of the School of Medicine are eligible, as well as MD physicians who completed residency or fellowship training at UNC Hospitals.
  • Full-time UNC Chapel Hill or AHEC faculty are not eligible for this award.

The Distinguished Faculty Award honors excellence in teaching, contributions to medicine in the state, leadership in continuing education of practicing physicians and improvement of communication between UNC faculty, alumni and residents of the state.

  • Full-time UNC School of Medicine and AHEC faculty (both active and retired) are eligible.

The Early Career Achievement Award, new for the 2023 awards program, honors School of Medicine graduates who have quickly made a mark in the field of medicine through scientific, academic or humanitarian accomplishments.

  • UNC School of Medicine alumni who completed their training within the past 15 years are eligible for this award.

How to Nominate:

Awards are presented each year during Spring Medical Alumni Weekend. The 2024 Spring Medical Alumni Weekend will be held during the weekend of April 26-27, 2024.

Nominations are requested via the below online form. A letter of nomination is requested, no more than 500 words, outlining 3-5 accomplishments that make the individual worthy of this recognition. After submission, MAA staff will likely reach out to request additional material to complete the nomination, typically a curriculum vitae and a letter of support.

We are currently accepting nominations for the 2024 awards program through Friday, November 10, 2023.

Submit A Nomination

Need assistance with your nomination? We are happy to help. Contact Dillon Kimmel at dkimmel@unc.edu or 919-962-6786.