Distinguished Alumni Awards

Every year, the UW School of Medicine Alumni Association recognizes exceptional alumni with a series of awards. We encourage UW School of Medicine alumni, faculty, staff and other professional colleagues to nominate alumni for one or more of the awards listed below.

Nominations for the 2025 awards are open; you may submit nominations until December 31, 2024. Please contact the Alumni Office at medalum@uw.edu with any questions about the awards or nomination process.

The UW School of Medicine Alumni Association is delighted to honor the recipients of the 2024 alumni awards.  Register for the Awards Ceremony here. Please note, this link takes you to the Reunion Weekend registration page where you can select registration for the Friday night awards ceremony.

Distinguished Alumnus Award

Recognizes an alum whose professional achievements and cumulative contributions have brought personal distinction, enhanced the general health and well-being of the public through professional practice, research or public policy, and brought honor to their alma mater.

Lawrence E. Holland, MD, Res. ’86
We honor Dr. Lawrence Holland for his outstanding dedication and achievements in the field of orthopedics. Over four decades, Dr. Holland has consistently demonstrated compassion, competence, adaptability and leadership. His commitment to patient care, medical education and philanthropy is evident through his extensive involvement in teaching, mentoring and charitable endeavors. His remarkable journey to becoming a highly respected orthopedic surgeon exemplifies resilience, hard work and generosity. Despite his many accolades and awards, Dr. Holland remains humble and focused on the well-being of his patients and colleagues. He serves as an inspiring model for future generations of physicians.

Alumni Humanitarian Award

Honors an alum who embodies the ideals of UW Medicine and whose career reflects an ongoing commitment to serve others through the practice of medicine, or whose research has contributed to greater communal good.

Ramona Okumura, BS ’81
We honor Ramona Okumura, a dedicated clinician and lecturer with 27 years of service to the University of Washington School of Medicine. Ramona’s humanitarian efforts in the field of pediatric prosthetics are truly commendable. Through her work previously with the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and now HEAL Palestine, she has provided essential prosthetic treatment as well as training for Palestinian clinicians in Gaza. Ramona’s tireless dedication to improving the lives of children with limb loss extends beyond her physical presence in Gaza; she actively collects donated prosthetic components and provides virtual consultations. Her leadership in organizations like the Association of Children’s Prosthetic-Orthotic Clinics reflect her broader impact in advancing the field, while her service with Gaza Amputee Projects highlights her unwavering commitment to humanitarian causes.

Alumni Service Award

Recognizes an alum whose dedicated and determined efforts have benefited the University of Washington School of Medicine and/or the University of Washington School of Medicine Alumni Association and/or their community.

Scott R. Stuart, MD ’01, Res. ’04, Chief Res. ’05
We celebrate Dr. Scott Stuart for his exceptional service to his alma mater and the medical community. Dr. Stuart demonstrated empathetic and collaborative leadership during his tenure as president of the University of Washington School of Medicine Alumni Association from 2014–2022, significantly enhancing the UWSOM Alumni Association and fostering greater unity within the alumni community. Dr. Stuart’s dedication to medical education includes his coordination of shadowing and clerkship opportunities; mentoring of aspiring healthcare professionals; participation in alumni and community events such as the UW Diversity Career Fair and Dinner with a Dawg; and his role as a capstone instructor. His professional achievements, volunteer work and many awards underscore his contributions as a clinician, teacher and mentor.

Alumni Early Achievement Award

Honors an alum who graduated within the last 20 years and has excelled in their career, making significant contributions to public health through clinical care, medical science, research, humanitarianism or administrative activities.

Andrew Trister, MD, PhD, Res. ’10, Chief Res. ’14
We honor Dr. Andrew Trister for his early-career achievements as a leader and innovator in expanding access to healthcare through technology. Dr. Trister led the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s efforts to accelerate the development and adoption of molecular and antigen tests during the COVID-19 pandemic. His career highlights include serving as the Chief Medical and Scientific Officer at Verily, as deputy director of digital health and artificial intelligence at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and as a founding member of Apple’s Health team. His leadership roles, including board positions and advisory roles in healthcare companies, further illustrate his commitment to advancing global health through technology and innovation. Dr. Trister is an active mentor and contributes to scholarly work in healthcare and technology that focuses on improving healthcare access and delivery worldwide.