KCMS AWARDS

2023 Award Recipients

Thanks for all who joined us in November to celebrate our accomplishments from 2023! We had a wonderful time at the Bauer Event Space and enjoyed celebrating our award winners together. The Kansas City Medical Society presented the following 2023 Awards at our Annual Meeting:


Lifetime Acheivement Award

John Hagan, III, M.D.

John C. Hagan, III, MD, has authored 225 medical papers including 11 first literature reports, edited two medical texts, participated in 10 clinical trials, and designed surgical instruments. He is editor of Missouri Medicine medical journal and previous editor of Kansas City Medicine. He served in leadership of many organizations including President of Clay-Platte County & Kansas City Medical Societies, and Missouri Society of Eye Physicians & Surgeons. He has received many honors including the Hall of Fame Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He is married for 57 years to Rebecca Chapman Hagan. They have two daughters Carol Hagan, PhD and Catherine Hagan, PhD, DVM and two grandsons. He honorably served as Captain, USAF medical corps during the Viet Nam War Era.

Friend of Medicine Award

James Wooten, Pharm.D.

Recognizes a non-physician for outstanding service to medicine.


Dr. James Wooten is a professor in the Department of Internal Medicine; Section of Clinical Pharmacology at University Health for the UMKC School of Medicine. His responsibilities include teaching pharmacology to medical students, as well as students in both the Anesthesia Assistant and Physician Assistant Programs. Dr. Wooten also makes daily rounds with medical students at University Health.  Dr. Wooten has been a faculty member with the UMKC School of Medicine since 1998 and he serves on several committees within the School of Medicine. His professional interests include all aspects of pharmacotherapy as well as medication utilization in geriatric patients.  Dr. Wooten has several publications about a wide range of topics including medication use in the elderly. Before coming to the UMKC School of Medicine, Dr. Wooten was the clinical pharmacy coordinator and a faculty member of the Family Practice residency program at Trinity Lutheran Hospital. Dr. Wooten also worked at St. Luke’s Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital.

Rising Star Award

Jessica Heimes, D.O.

Recognizes a physician who has made significant contributions to medicine in the Kansas City Metro Area early in their career.


Jessica Heimes attended medical school at KCUMB in Kansas City, MO. She completed General Surgery Residency at KU Med. She moved on to Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship at Loma Linda University in CA. Returning to Kansas City in 2017, she began working for Heart Surgeons of Kansas City at St. Luke’s Hospital. In 2021 she became the Surgical Director of Heart Transplant at St. Luke’s Hospital, leading the team in performing the program’s 1000th heart transplant.

Patient and Community Advocate Award

Stephen Salanski, M.D.

Recognizes a physician who has made significant contributions towards improving access to care or quality of care.


Stephen Salanski, MD is a retired Family Physician who spent the majority of his 35 practice years as Faculty/Program Director of the Research Family Medicine Residency Program.  Steve is active in several community healthcare-related nonprofit organizations.  He was the Chair of the KCMS Foundation Board in 2020 and again now in 2023 – overseeing Metro Care and WyJo Care Programs.  Steve was President of the KCMS in 2016 and continues to serve on the KCMS Board and Leadership Council.  He is the Center for Practical Bioethics Board Chair for 2023-2024 and previously Co-Chaired the CPB Ethics Committee Consortium from 2004 until 2017. 


Steve represents KCMS on the Kansas City Health Collaborative Board and is currently Treasurer of that Board.  In 2020, he was Chair of the Baptist-Trinity Lutheran Legacy Foundation Board (now Acrux KC) and continues to serve on that Board.  Steve also led many community health initiatives in Lee’s Summit as Co-Chair of the Lee’s Summit Health Education Advisory Board for almost 15 years – and now serves on the new Lee’s Summit Wellness Commission.

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