Physician Division — Awards
Elizabeth Blackwell Award
The Elizabeth Blackwell Medal, created as a lasting tribute to the first woman awarded an M.D. degree from an American medical school, is granted to a woman physician who has made the most outstanding contributions to the cause of women in the field of medicine.
The award was initiated in 1949 by Elise S. L’Esperance, MD. Prior to 1993, the award was a member award but is now open to both members and non-members.
View the Blackwell Award Exhibit and Short Film
Criteria
- Woman physician either working or having worked in the U.S.
- Influenced the ever-expanding role of women in medicine
- Demonstrated commitment, originality, innovation, or creativity in her field of medicine
- Made pathways for other women in medicine
- Made exceptional contribution to the image of women in medicine
- Overcame adversity in medicine
- Achieved recognition as a leader in women’s health in the area of public policy, health care delivery, research, medical education, patient care, application of basic sciences to health care.
2023 AMWA Award Winner
Submit a Nomination
Nominations are now closed.
Previous Recipients
2022 Julie K. Silver, MD
2021 Susan Thompson Hingle, MD, MACP, FRCP, FAMWA
2020 Darilyn Moyer, MD, FACP, FRCP, FIDS
2019 Alma Littles, MD
2018 Michele Barry, MD, FACP
2017 Marjorie R. Jenkins, MD, MEdHP, FACP
2016 Padmini Murthy, MD MPH, MS
2015 Mae Jemison, MD
2014 Mary Guinan, MD. PhD
2013 Kimberly Templeton, MD
2012 Luanne Thorndyke, MD
2011 Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD
2010 Linda Clever,MD, MACP
2009 Nancy Nielson, MD
2008 Elinor Christiansen, MD
2007 Debra R. Judelson, MD
2006 Patricia Joy Numann, MD
2005 Sarah S. Donaldson, M.D., FACR
2004 Mary Jane England, M.D.
2003 Joanne Lynn, M.D.
2002 Olga Jonasson, M.D.
2001 No Annual Meeting, no selection
2000 Nanette Kass Wenger, M.D., and Jeanne Spurlock, M.D., posthumously
1999 Lila Stein Kroser, M.D.
1998 Leah J. Dickstein, M.D., and Tina Strobos, M.D.
1997 LeClair Bissell, M.D.
1996 Elizabeth W. Karlin, M.D.
1995 Vivian W. Pinn, M.D.
1994 Anne H. Flitcraft, M.D.
1993 Yoshiye Togasaki, M.D.
1992 Roselyn Payne Epps, M.D., and Jane E. Hodgson, M.D.
1991 Anne L. Barlow, M.D.
1990 Lila A. Wallis, M.D.
1989 Helen O. Dickens, M.D.
1988 Claudine M. Gay, M.D.
1987 A. Lois Scully, M.D.
1986 Luella Klein, M.D.
1985 Carol C. Nadelson, M.D.
1984 Charlotte H. Kerr, M.D., and Helen M. Caldicott, M.D.
1983 Clara Raven, M.D.
1982 Helen B. Taussig, M.D.
1981 Mathilda R. Vaschak, M.D.
1980 Ann P.D. Manton, M.D.
1979 Bernice C. Sachs, M.D.
1978 Minerva S. Buerk, M.D.
1977 Eva F. Dodge, M.D., and Edith P. Brown, M.D.
1976 Claire F. Ryder, M.D.
1975 Ruth Hartgraves, M.D.
1974 Laura E. Morrow, M.D.
1973 Alice Drew Chenoweth, M.D.
1972 Alma Dea Morani, M.D.
1971 Frieda Bauman, M.D.
1970 Rosa Lee Nemir, M.D.
1969 Katharine W. Wright, M.D.
1968 Margaret J. Schneider, M.D.
1967 Amey Chappell, M.D.
1966 Esther C. Marting, M.D.
1965 Camille Mermod, M.D.
1964 Helena T. Ratterman, M.D.
1963 Elizabeth S. Waugh, M.D.
1962 Judith Emmelia Ahlem, M.D.
1961 Elizabeth Kittredge, M.D.
1960 Nelle Sparks Noble, M.D.
1959 Helen F. Schrack, M.D.
1958 Ada Chree Reid, M.D.
1957 Esther Pohl Lovejoy, M.D.
1956 Evangeline S. Stenhouse, M.D.
1955 Elise S. L’Esperance, M.D.
1954 Mabel E. Gardner, M.D.
1953 Elizabeth Bass, M.D.
1952 Catharine Macfarlane, M.D.
1951 Esther Pohl Lovejoy, M.D.
1950 Bertha Van Hoosen, M.D.
1949 Mary Riggs Noble, M.D.
