Kenneth M. Viste, Jr. MD
Young Physician Leadership Award

Now accepting nominations. Deadline: Monday, February 2, 2009.

BACKGROUND

The Wisconsin Medical Society and all of the Society’s affiliates lost one our most compassionate and passionate leaders in 2005. At age 64, Dr. Viste remained an active volunteer at local, state and national levels. He exemplified commitment to patients, community and the profession of medicine. Please read about Dr. Viste’s unique legacy by clicking here.

This award was established in 2006 in his honor to recognize a young physician who demonstrates these attributes. In addition to recognition such as an engraved award, the Foundation will make a contribution to an organization with which the young physician has direct involvement.

GUIDELINES

A young physician is defined as a licensed Wisconsin physician who is less than 40 years old or has been practicing medicine fewer than five years.

The physician must be a member of the Wisconsin Medical Society.

A completed nomination packet must include:

• A minimum of one letter of nomination from a physician representing a medically-related organization such as a county medical society, specialty society, hospital or clinic on the organization’s letterhead.
• A completed nomination form
• Additional letters of recommendation are encouraged. These may be from physicians, patients, community leaders, etc. that help demonstrate the nominee’s activities and values that help promote Dr. Viste’s exceptional legacy.

Nominations will be reviewed by a sub-committee consisting of two Trustees of the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation and one member of the Wisconsin Medical Society Board of Directors.

For the Nomination Form, click here.

Houghton Award

BACKGROUND

John H. Houghton, MD (1907-1968), a general practitioner at Wisconsin Dells, was president of the State Medical Society of WI in 1965-66 and was a member of its council and Commission on Medical Care Plans. He was also a member of the Council on Health of the State of WI. Shortly before his death, he established an award for deserving medical students who exhibit not only scholastic and scientific excellence, but interest as well in working together in a medically organized sense to achieve broad goals of public health.

William J. Houghton, MD (1906-1969), a general surgeon at Milwaukee, was a member of the council of the State Medical Society of WI from 1961-69. Just prior to his death, he furthered the fund established by his brother.

Additional contributions are currently being made by Drs. William and Mary Alice Houghton and by Mary Agnes Houghton toward making this highly regarded award fund more permanent and self-sustaining.

In establishing this award for medical students, the Houghton brothers hoped to encourage young men and women to a greater appreciation of the need for physicians to work together through their county, state, and national medical organizations as well as to achieve a well-rounded education, including the socio-economic as well as the scientific.

For more information on the Houghton brothers, click here.

SELECTION

There is no application. One fourth year medical student displaying outstanding scholastic and leadership abilities is nominated by the dean at each medical school in Wisconsin (the Medical College of Wisconsin and the UW School of Medicine & Public Health) with final approval from the Foundation Board of Trustees. The awards, which include an engraved piece and $1,000 cash, are presented during the Wisconsin Medical Society’s annual meeting in April.