Awards and Recognitions

The Walter F. Patenge Medal of Public Service award is the highest honor given by the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine. It is named for Walter F. Patenge, the first president of the Michigan Osteopathic Medicine Advisory Board, and is awarded in recognition of lifelong devotion to patient care, service to the community, leadership within the osteopathic profession and excellence in the classroom and clinic.

• Bruce Wolf, D.O., FAOCR • 2023
• J. Justin McCormick, PhD • 2022
• Mary Jo Hughes, DO • 2021
• John W. Sealey, DO • 2021
• Kenneth Elmassian, DO • 2020
• Kari Hortos, DO • 2020
• Kris Nicholoff • 2020
• Lawrence L. Prokop, DO • 2020
• Tressa K. Gardner, DO, FACOEP, FACEP • 2019
• Sandra A. Kilbourn, MA  • 2019
• Mark E. Notman, PhD  • 2019
• Terrie E. Taylor, DO  • 2019
• William M. Falls, PhD • 2018
• Patrick McClellan, DO • 2018
• Joanna R. Pease, DO, FACOI • 2018
• Sister Anne E. Brooks, SNJM, DO • 2017
• Gail Riegle, PhD • 2017
• Paul D. Stein, MD • 2017
• John B. Crosby, JD • 2016
• James J. Rechtien, DO, PhD • 2016
• Robert L. Snyder • 2016
• Earl T. Hecker, DO • 2015
• Senator Carl Levin • 2015
• Veronica Maher, PhD • 2015
• Faylene Owen • 2015
• Mark L. Cummings, PhD • 2014
• David L. Dora, DO • 2014
• Harris W. Mainster, DO • 2014
• L. Brooks Patterson, JD • 2013
• Roger W. Spoelman, PhD • 2013
• David Susser, DO • 2013
• Steve Barnaby • 2012
• David A. Kellam, DO • 2012
• Thomas Lawrence Simmer, DO • 2012
• Patrick E. Lamberti • 2011
• William J. Pintal, DO • 2011
• Kimberlydawn Wisdom, MD • 2011
• Douglas L. Wood, DO, PhD  • 2011
• Michael E. Duggan, JD  • 2010
• Albert L. Lorenzo, PhD. • 2010
• E. James Potchen, MD, JD  • 2010
• Vance D. Powell, Jr., DO • 2010
• Michael D. Faas • 2009
• Philip A. Incarnati • 2009
• Louis Spagnuolo, DO (posthumously) • 2009
• Floyd C. Stevens, Jr., DO • 2009
• William Gifford, MD  • 2008
• Janet Olszewski, MSW  • 2008
• Susan C. Sevensma, DO  • 2008
• William C. Cunningham, DO, MHA • 2007
• John K. Everett, DO • 2007
• David L. Porteous, JD • 2007
• Earl J. Reisdorff, MD • 2007
• Joseph A. Balog, DO (posthumously) • 2006
• Paul E. LaCasse, DO, MPH • 2006
• Dennis M. Paradis, MPH • 2006
• Congressman John J.H. Schwarz, MD • 2006
• Melvin Larsen • 2005
• Gerald F. Robbins, DO • 2005
• Larry A. Wickless, DO • 2005
• Claud R. Young, DO • 2005
• Peter B. Ajluni, DO • 2004
• Lawrence Bass • 2004
• Prince Holliday (posthumously) • 2004
• William Johnston, DO (posthumously) • 2004
• Lynn F. Brumm, DO • 2003
• Edward N. Hodges, III, JD • 2003
• Carol L. Monson, DO • 2003
• W. Douglas Ward, PhD • 2003
• Allen Jacobs, DO, PhD (posthumously) • 2002
• Max T. McKinney, DO • 2001
• Barbara Ross-Lee, DO • 2001
• Donald F. Stanton, DO • 2001
• Floyd T. Meachum, DO • 2000
• Governor William G. Milliken • 2000
• Michael I. Opipari, DO • 2000
• Kenneth C. Taylor, DO • 2000
• Gerson I. Cooper • 1999
• Thomas Graddy, DO • 1999
• Eugene Oliveri, DO • 1999
• Gerald A. Faverman, PhD • 1998
• Richard N. Knight, DO, FACGP • 1998
• William A. Sederburg, PhD • 1998
• Dorothy E. Carnegie, DO • 1997
• Philip E. Greenman, DO, FAAO • 1997
• James K. Haveman Jr., MS • 1997
• Robert C. Ward, DO, FAAO • 1997
• Paul E. Kimberly, DO, FAAO • 1996
• Kenneth E. Murray, DO • 1996
• Barbara J. Sawyer-Koch, MPA • 1996
• R.G. Curtiss, DO • 1995
• Norman Gevitz, PhD • 1995
• Edgar L. Harden, EdD • 1995
• Myron S. Magen, DO • 1991
• Roger J. Bulger, MD • 1989
• John Mennell, MD • 1989
• Leighton E. Cluff, MD • 1988
• Ellis Siefer, DO • 1988
• Senator Dan L. DeGrow, JD • 1987
• Murray Goldstein, DO, MPH • 1987
• Charles A. Murphy, DO • 1987
• Myrtle Black, PhD • 1986
• Raymond A. Gadowski, DO • 1986
• Annette H. Kabara (posthumously) • 1986
• Uwe E. Reinhardt, PhD • 1986
• William A. Athens, DO • 1985
• John R. Hogness, MD • 1985
• Thomas V. Angott • 1984
• J. Leonard Azneer, PhD • 1984
• Donald A. Henderson, MD, MPH • 1984
• Thaddeus P. Kawalek, PhD • 1984
• John P. Wood, DO • 1984
• Hermann A. Zeil, MD • 1984
• Senator Michael J. O’Brien, Jr. • 1983
• Alvin R. Tarlov, MD • 1983
• R. McFarlane Tilley, DO • 1983
• William G. Anderson, DO • 1982
• William B. Walsh, MD • 1982
• Lt. Governor James H. Brickley • 1981
• J.S. Denslow, DO • 1981
• John T. O’Connor, DO • 1981
• Frederick C. Robbins, MD • 1981
• Keith Goldhammer, PhD • 1980
• Edward A. Loniewski, DO • 1980
• Robert D. McCullough, DO • 1980
• W. Kenneth Riland, DO • 1980
• W. Clemens Andreen, DO • 1979
• Donald J. Evans, DO • 1979
• Ruth Hanft, PhD • 1979
• Senator Michael J. O’Brien, Sr. (posthumously) • 1979
• Eugene L. Sikorski, DO • 1979
• Frank Merriman • 1978
• Lawrence W. Mills • 1978
• David E. Rogers, MD • 1978
• Warren M. Huff • 1977
• M.S. Klein • 1977
• Russell G. Mawby, PhD • 1977
• Allen Zieger, DO • 1977
• Maynard J. Amelon, DO • 1976
• Theodore Cooper, MD, PhD • 1976
• Walter F. Patenge • 1976
• James O. Watson, DO • 1976
• Senator Bill S. Huffman • 1975
• Martin E. Levitt, DO • 1975
• Frank J. McDevitt, DO • 1975
• Caspar W. Weinberger • 1975
• Earl E. Congdon, DO • 1974
• Robert J. Cook • 1974
• Lawrence Jarrett, DO • 1974
• Alfred M. Pelham • 1974
• Representative Paul G. Rogers • 1974
• Philip Adler, DO  • 1973
• John A. Hannah • 1973
• Representative Russell Hellman • 1973
• Representative Dominic J. Jacobetti • 1973
• Senator Anthony Stamm • 1973
• Leonard Woodcock • 1973
• Wilber J. Cohen, PhD • 1972
• Senator Raymond D. Dzendzel • 1972
• Hobert C. Moore, DO • 1972
• Edwin L. Novak, OD • 1972
• Morris Thompson • 1972
• Representative William Copeland • 1971
• Merlin K. DuVal, MD • 1971
• Representative Josephine Hunsinger • 1971
• Senator Garland Lane • 1971
• John L’Hote • 1971
• Alan M. Potts, DO • 1971
• Senator Charles O. Zollar • 1971

One award may be given to a faculty member drawn from the ranks of instructor, assistant professor, associate professor and professor, for innovative or exceptional teaching of osteopathic principles and practice. The award will not necessarily be granted annually, but when regarded as warranted.

• ​​​Timothy J. Francisco, D.O. • 2012 
• Mark R. Gugel, D.O. • 2007
• Jacob J. Rowan, D.O. • 2006 
• Eugenia Zimmerman, M.D. • 2005
• Jennifer Gilmore, D.O. • 2004 
• David Grimshaw, D.O. • 2002
• Kari Hortos, D.O. • 2001 
• Lisa Vredevoogd, D.O. • 2000 
• Howard Teitelbaum, D.O., Ph.D., M.P.H. • 1998-99 
• Philip Greenman, D.O. • 1997
• William Pintal, D.O. • 1996
• Sherman Gorbis, D.O. • 1996
• Lon Hoover, D.O. • 1995

• ​​​​​Gerald R. Aben, M.D. • 2016 
• Francis A. Komara, D.O. • 2013 
• Lawrence Prokop, D.O. • 2009
• Paul Quinlan, D.O., M.S. • 2009
• Darryll Patterson, M.D. • 2008
• Jayne H. Martin, D.O. • 2007
• Jayne H. Martin, D.O. • 2005
• Jayne Martin, D.O., and Cheryl Doane, D.O. • 2003 
• Kelly Ludema, D.O. • 2002
• Catherine Kerschen, D.O. • 2001 
• Howard Teitelbaum, D.O., Ph.D., M.P.H. • 2000 
• Mary Hughes, D.O. • 1998-99
• Ralph Otten, D.O. • 1997
• Mary Hughes, D.O. • 1996 
• Peter Gulick, D.O. • 1996 
• Howard Dean, D.O. • 1995 

One award may be given to a campus-based (East Lansing, Detroit or Macomb) faculty member, drawn from the ranks of instructor, assistant professor, associate professor and professor, who demonstrates excellence as a teacher of basic science to first-year and second-year MSUCOM students. The nominee should be a role model to faculty and students and be based full-time at MSUCOM. The award will not necessarily be granted annually, but when regarded as warranted.

• Carol Restini, Ph.D. • 2021
• Stephen DiCarlo, Ph.D. • 2020
• Raquel Ritchie, Ph.D. • 2019
• Mei-Hui Tai, Ph.D. • 2017
• Carol Ann Wilkins, Ph.D. • 2016
• Frances A. Kennedy, D.V.M., M.S. • 2015
• Stephen P. Schneider, Ph.D. • 2014
• Andrea Amalfitano, D.O., Ph.D. • 2013
• Robert B. Stephenson, Ph.D. • 2011
• Anthony T. Paganini, Ph.D. • 2010  

Up to three awards may be given annually to faculty members who demonstrate excellence as clinicians and teachers of medical students, interns or residents. Nominees should be role models to faculty and students and be based full-time off-campus. The award will not necessarily be granted annually, but when regarded as warranted.

• Matthew Hysell, M.D. • 2022
• Scot Randall, D.O. • 2022
• Richard Bryce, D.O. • 2021
• Joseph Gorz, D.O. • 2017
• Marshall B. Sack, D.O. • 2010
• Lonson L. Barr, D.O. • 2004
• Janet Eng, D.O. • 2003
• David Strobl, D.O. • 2000
• Kari Hortos, D.O. • 1998-99
• William Swords, D.O. • 1997
• David Strobl, D.O. • 1996
• Thomas Graddy, D.O. • 1995
• Michael Opipari, D.O. • 1995

One award may be given to a faculty member in either a clinical or basic science department drawn from the ranks of instructor, assistant professor, associate professor and professor, who has made innovative or exceptional contributions to the development of COM’s curriculum. The award will not necessarily be granted annually, but when regarded as warranted.

• David Strobl, D.O. • 2021
• Martha Faner, Ph.D. • 2020
• Paul Kowalski, M.D. • 2019
• Janice Schwartz, Ph.D. • 2018
• Ralph Otten, D.O. • 2017
• Rebecca Pratt, Ph.D. • 2017
• Robert B. Stephenson, Ph.D. • 2015
• Jane B. Gudakunst, M.D., and Jayne H. Ward, D.O. • 2013
• Laryssa N. Kaufman, M.D. • 2012
• Mary J. Hughes, D.O. • 2011
• Bhavini Bhavsar, M.D., M.P.H. • 2009
• John E. Thornburg, D.O., Ph.D. • 2008
• Terry A. Hagan, Ed.D. • 2006
• Lawrence L. Prokop, D.O. • 2005
• Keith J. Lookingland, Ph.D. • 2004
• John L. Wang, Ph.D. • 2003
• Mary Hughes, D.O. • 2002
• Gregory Fink, Ph.D., and John Greene, D.O. • 2000
• Shirley Siew, M.D. • 1998-99
• Robert Stephenson, Ph.D. • 1997
• Kusum Kumar, M.D. • 1996
• Laryssa Kaufman, M.D. • 1996
• Ralph Otten, D.O. • 1995
• Kathryn Lovell, Ph.D. • 1995

One award may be given to a campus-based (East Lansing, Detroit or Macomb) faculty member in recognition of sustained demonstration of osteopathic principles as well as unselfish service dedicated to betterment of people of the world. The award will not necessarily be granted annually, but when regarded as warranted.

• Michael J. Boivin, Ph.D., and Gary L. Willyerd, D.O. • 2013
• Gretchen Lano Birbeck, M.D. • 2011
• Terrie E. Taylor, D.O. • 2008

One award will honor the career accomplishments of a campus-based (East Lansing, Detroit or Macomb) faculty or staff member for his or her long and enthusiastic commitment to the college. The award will not necessarily be granted annually, but when regarded as warranted.

• Graham Atkin, Ph.D. • 2022
• Robin Hastings • 2021
• Julia Busik, Ph.D. • 2019
• Bethany Heinlen; Suzanne Kohler; and Laura McCabe, Ph.D. • 2018
• Shirley Siew, Ph.D. • 2017
• Celia B. Guro, Ph.D.; Robert B. Stephenson, Ph.D.; and David I. Kaufman, D.O. • 2016
• John Li-Ming Wang, Ph.D. • 2014
• Walter J. Esselman, Ph.D. • 2013
• Kenneth E. Moore, Ph.D. • 2012
• Annmarie Y. Cook • 2008
• John E. Thornburg, D.O., Ph.D. • [Year Not Listed]

One award may be given to a faculty member who has demonstrated early success in research. Particular consideration will be given to nominees who have (a) developed research programs to explore the basic tenets of the osteopathic profession, or (b) enhanced the research stature of the college.

The selection committee will have considerable latitude in interpretation. The award is not restricted to young or beginning faculty. It is intended that basic scientist candidates will be clearly identified with the college. The award will not necessarily be granted annually, but when regarded as warranted.​​

• Andrew Olive, Ph.D. • 2021
• Nathan Tykocki, Ph.D. • 2020
• Erik Martinez-Hackert, Ph.D. • 2019
• Jason Bazil, Ph.D. • 2018
• Karen Liby, Ph.D. • 2017
• Erik M. Shapiro, Ph.D. • 2016
• Monique Floer, Ph.D. • 2015
• Christopher M. Waters, Ph.D. • 2014
• Julia Vitalevna Busik, Ph.D. • 2011
• John L. Goudreau, D.O., Ph.D. • 2007
• Min-Hao Kuo, Ph.D. • 2005
• Robert W. Wiseman, Ph.D. • 2003
• Stephanie Watts, Ph.D. • 2000

One award may be given to a faculty member who has achieved sustained excellence in research, as demonstrated by publication record, extramural support and national and international recognition. Particular consideration will be given to nominees who have (a) developed research programs to explore the basic tenets of the osteopathic profession, or (b) enhanced the research stature of the college. 

The selection committee will have considerable latitude in interpretation. It is intended that basic scientist candidates will be clearly identified with the college. The award will not necessarily be granted annually, but when regarded as warranted. 

• Min-Hao Kuo, Ph.D. • 2022
• Alla Sikorski, Ph.D. • 2021
• Michael Boivin, Ph.D. and Jacek Cholewicki, Ph.D. • 2018
• Jacek Cholewicki, Ph.D. • 2018
• Yong-Hui Zheng, Ph.D. • 2017
• Julia V. Busik, Ph.D. • 2016
• Stephanie W. Watts, Ph.D. • 2015
• David L. Kreulen, Ph.D. • 2014
• Paul D. Stein, M.D. • 2013
• Laura R. McCabe, Ph.D. • 2009
• Gregory D. Fink, Ph.D. • 2006
• Margot Kurtz, Ph.D. • 2003
• J. Justin McCormick, Ph.D. • 2002
• Veronica Maher, Ph.D. • 2001
• Roger Haut, Ph.D. • 2000

• Joanne K. Baker, D.O. • 2017
• Joanne K. Baker, D.O. • 2014

• Basma Al Masraf, Class of 2025 • 2022
• Stephen Elmer • 2022