Throughout her career, Roxie Albrecht (84MD) paired patient care as a trauma surgeon with transformational advocacy for better patient outcomes. During her 20 years as the Director of Trauma for University of Oklahoma Health, she led the state’s first Level 1 trauma center and coordinated trauma care system. Albrecht is an exemplar in her field who has served in leadership roles on 32 regional and national professional societies.  

Richard Shields (85MA) is a nationally recognized spinal cord injury researcher who has led the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine physical therapy department for the last twenty years. Under his research-driven direction, the program has consistently maintained a top five U.S. News & World Report ranking and has become the benchmark used by physical therapy departments across the nation to improve their programs. 

Charles Thornton (81MD) is an internationally recognized expert on the mechanisms and treatment of myotonic dystrophy, one of the most common forms of muscular dystrophy. His scientific breakthroughs about repeat expansion diseases helped uncover fundamental disease processes and paved the way for novel treatments now in clinical trials. As the Saunders Family Distinguished Professor in Neuromuscular Research at the University of Rochester Medicine Department of Neurology, Thornton is fostering the next generation of physician-scientists in the field as he continues to work toward better treatments.

Throughout his career, William Scott (64MD, 70R) has epitomized service: to his country; the subspecialty of pediatric ophthalmology; hundreds of medical students and resident and fellow physicians he trained and mentored; and hundreds of thousands of young patients across Iowa he treated. He helped establish Iowa KidSight, a statewide vision screening program for children. Even after retiring from the University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences in 2002, Scott returned to the department for several years to see patients in clinic when colleagues were away on medical or maternity leaves — a testament to his commitment and care.

Teri Wahlig (87MD) serves as president and CEO of ChildServe, Iowa’s only children’s specialty hospital. Her leadership has been transformative — both for the organization and for the care provided to some of Iowa’s most medically complex pediatric patients. A neonatologist by training, Wahlig is known for the rare balance of vision, innovation, and clinical insight she brings to her role as a physician-leader. 

Arguably the most followed doctor on social media, William Flanary (17R) is an ophthalmologist in the Pacific Northwest, as well as a global advocate, speaker, podcaster, and health educator. Known as “Dr. Glaucomflecken” to his six million social media followers, his often-humorous videos demystify medicine and educate the public on health policy. He has used his notoriety to become a trusted voice for many who might feel overwhelmed by the complexities of health care and to speak out about burnout and other once-taboo topics in medicine.

Lyndsay Harshman (11MD, 14R, 16F) is transforming care for children with kidney disease through innovations in research and clinical practice. An associate professor in the Stead Family Department of Pediatrics and director of the Pediatric Physician Scientist Training Pathway Program, she also serves as medical director of the Pediatric Kidney Transplant Program. These roles reflect her clinical expertise and commitment to academic medicine. A physician-scientist, clinician, and leader in her field, Harshman also mentors the next generation of pediatric researchers.
 

Unique among the college’s honors, the Award for Friendship recognizes individuals who are not alumni for their exceptional support and dedication to the college’s missions of education, research, and service.

Frank Mitros has made contributions to the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine spanning generations of students, colleagues, and patients. His supportive, encouraging approach to teaching garnered him widespread recognition, including the University of Iowa’s Collegiate Teaching Award in 2004 and multiple Teacher of the Year honors from both medical students and pathology residents. The weekly conference he founded to bring together pathology and gastroenterology colleagues, now in its 50th year, has left an indelible mark on patient care.