Congratulations to our 2019 Honorees!
Awards were presented on Thursday, September 26, at the KCMS Annual Meeting.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Charles B. Wheeler, Jr., MD
Former mayor of Kansas City and a third-generation physician.
Learn more and read our tribute bio.
Watch video tribute from awards presentation.
Friend of Medicine Award: Patrick B. (Rusty) Ryan, PharmD
Longtime faculty member in the Department of Community and Family Medicine at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and member of the Kansas City Medical Society Retired Physicians Organization.
Learn more and read our tribute bio.
Watch video tribute from the awards presentation.
Member Awards:
- Rising Star Award: Carole E. Freiberger-O’Keefe, DO, critical care intensivist at Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City and board member since 2012 of the Kansas City Medical Society. Learn more and read our tribute bio. Watch video tribute from the awards presentation.
- Patient and Community Advocate Award: Peter J. DiPasco, MD, and Leland Graves, III, MD, of the University of Kansas Medical Center, for their donated treatment of a cancer patient through the Kansas City Medical Society’s Wy Jo Care program.
Learn more and read our tribute bio. Watch video tribute from the awards presentation. - Innovation Award: Nathan D. Granger, MD, MBA, of Clay-Platte Family Medicine Clinic and founder of the Kansas City Metropolitan Physician Association and the KCMPA-ACO, and board member of Centrus Health of Kansas City.
Learn more and read our tribute bio. Watch video tribute from the awards presentation. - Community Service Award: JayDoc Free Clinic, of Kansas City, Kansas, which provides free primary and specialty care to low income, underserved residents of the Kansas City area; the clinic is managed and staffed by medical students.
Learn more and read our tribute bio. Watch video tribute from the awards presentation. - Exemplary Leadership Award: James L. Vacek, MD, MS, of the University of Kansas Medical Center, for his leadership in patient care, teaching and research in the field of cardiology in Kansas City.
Learn more and read our tribute bio. Watch video tribute from the awards presentation.
Please join in congratulating our 2019 honorees.
See a list of past honorees 2014-2018