2024 Award Recipients
Distinguished Associate Award
Amy Calabrese Donihi, PharmD, BCPS, BC-ADM, FCCP
Dr. Donihi is a professor of pharmacy and therapeutics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. Her clinical practice and research interests focus on inpatient diabetes management, diabetes education, diabetes technology, and facilitation of safe transitions for patients from hospital to home. Dr. Donihi has been a member of the UPMC Diabetes Patient Safety Committee (DPSC) since its inception in 2001, and she has served as co-chair of this system-wide committee since 2010. Through her work with the DPSC, she has collaborated with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers to develop, implement, and assess hospital-wide standardized protocols that target inpatient diabetes and hyperglycemia management.
Distinguished Associate Award
Lucy Thornton, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, BC-ADM
Ms. Thornton is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner in the Division of Endocrinology at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. Her clinical practice focuses on the management of persons with diabetes as well as pituitary, adrenal, and gonadal conditions, with a particular interest in diabetes technology as well as transgender medicine. In addition to paving the way for future endocrinology advanced practice providers (APPs) through her active involvement at AACE, including co-chairing the new Certificate Program Subcommittee, Lucy also serves as the Associate Program Director for the Endocrine, Diabetes and Metabolism NPPA Fellowship at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville – the first program of its kind in the nation, launching in Fall 2024.
AACE Eugene T. Davidson, MD, Public Service Award
Sunil Wimalawansa, MD, PhD, MBA, FACP, FCCP, FRCP, MRCS, FRCPath, DSc. FACE
Dr. Wimalawansa is a trailblazer in managing specialty centers, leading clinical trials, and shaping long-term strategic visions. Renowned as a medical educator and social entrepreneur, he has founded and sustained global social ventures, leaving an indelible mark on the field. In 1994, Dr. Sunil Wimalawansa pioneered the first live “remote medical consultation clinics,” revolutionizing healthcare delivery over 250 miles between Galveston, TX, and U.S.-Mexico border towns. His innovative work has earned him prestigious accolades. As the first trained Clinical Endocrinologist from Sri Lanka, Dr. Wimalawansa’s dedication transcends academia. He has spearheaded global endocrinology education alongside lectures by providing free courses worldwide.
AACE Excellence in Humanities Award
Lewis S. Blevins, Jr., MD
Dr. Blevins, Professor of Medicine and Neurological Surgery, is the Director of the California Center for Pituitary Disorders at the University of California, San Francisco where he has been on faculty for 17 years. His clinical and research interests are in the realm of outcomes of treatments for pituitary disorders and diagnostic tests for hypercortisolism. He has received numerous teaching awards in recognition of his devotion to the education of fellows, residents, and students, and has edited numerous medical textbooks and authored a travelogue recounting his journeys to Ireland. Dr. Blevins is also an artist, and his oil paintings are in collections throughout the world. He has a special interest in the “art of medicine” and has penned an essay on the parallels between artistic creativity and the art of medicine.
AACE H. Jack Baskin, MD, Endocrine Teaching Award
Monica Argawal, MD, MEHP, FACE
Dr. Agarwal is a distinguished professor at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB), specializing in Endocrinology, Nutrition, and Obesity Medicine. As the Director of the UAB Obesity Medicine Fellowship Program and Co-Director of the Clinical Reasoning and Integrated Skills Program (CRISP), she has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of medical professionals. Her academic journey has significantly impacted the training and development of medical students, residents, fellows, and healthcare professionals, fostering an environment that values excellence, curiosity, and compassion. Her contributions include active participation in several committees at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE), as well as involvement with the American Society of Nutrition (ASN) and the American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN).
Outstanding International Clinician Award
Banshi Saboo, MBBS, MD, PhD, FRCP
Dr. Saboo is Chief Diabetologist and Chairman of Diabetes Care & Hormone Clinic at Ahmedabad in India. He has more than 50 publications in indexed journals and has contributed chapters in various textbooks and monograms. Dr. Saboo is an expert of RSSDI Guidelines for the management of Diabetes, ATTD CGM Guidelines & ISPAD Guidelines for Pediatric Diabetes. He has also been awarded Most Impactful Healthcare Leader by the World Health and Wellness Congress and Awards.
Outstanding National Clinician Award
Richard Pratley, MD
Dr. Richard Pratley serves as the Samuel E. Crockett Chair in Diabetes Research, Senior Investigator and Diabetes Program Lead at the AdventHealth Translational Research Institute, and Medical Director at the AdventHealth Diabetes Institute, in Orlando, Florida. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Medicine with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. As a member of the American Diabetes Association, the European Association for the Study of Diabetes and The Obesity Society, Dr. Pratley continues his active involvement in the professional community. Dr. Pratley regularly presents at national and international meetings, has written over 400 peer-reviewed articles, and is a Principal Investigator for both NIH and pharmaceutical company sponsored trials in diabetes and obesity.
AACE Rising Star in Endocrinology Award
Halis Kaan Akturk, MD
Dr. Akturk is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, Adult Clinic at the University of Colorado. He published over 85 peer reviewed articles and has been a reviewer in many reputable diabetes and diabetes technology journals. Dr. Akturk is currently serving as the Communications Director of the American Diabetes Association, Diabetes Technology Interest Group since 2020 and represents Barbara Davis Center Adult Clinic in the T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Initiative. His research is focused on improving glycemic control with advanced diabetes technologies and therapeutics in people with type 1 diabetes.
AACE Rising Star in Endocrinology Award
Sun Lee, MD, MS, MSc, ECNU
Dr. Lee is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Nutrition, and Weight Management at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. Dr. Lee is also a clinical researcher, with focus on thyroid disorders, iodine nutrition, and thyroid disrupting chemicals, especially in pregnancy. Dr. Lee serves on multiple national and local committees, including at the American Thyroid Association (ATA) and as a current president of New England Endocrine Alliance. She currently serves as an appointment member of the American Thyroid Association Thyroid and Pregnancy Guidelines Task Force and on the editorial board of Thyroid. Dr. Lee's research has been published in many peer-reviewed journals and she has presented her work at national and international conferences.
AACE Rising Star in Endocrinology Award
Elizabeth Bauer, MD, FACP
Dr. Bauer joined the United States Navy and completed her internal medicine internship and residency at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. She completed her endocrine fellowship at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and is now practicing as a staff endocrinologist and assistant professor of internal medicine in San Diego, CA. Dr. Bauer has been closely engaged with AACE, serving as the fellow in-training (FIT) representative to the AACE Board of Directors for one year and serving on many AACE committees. Her main endocrine interests are diabetes and obesity; her greatest professional joys are teaching and GME education. Blending these interests, she developed an obesity curriculum for the internal medicine graduate education program at Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD), which has been added to their GME curriculum.
Master of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (MACE) Distinction
R. Mack Harrell, MD, FACP, FACE, ECNU
Dr. Harrell is Co-Director of the Memorial Center for Integrative Endocrine Surgery at Memorial Health System, Hollywood, Miramar, Weston and Boca Raton. Dr. Harrell is among fewer than 800 physicians worldwide who have completed the Endocrine Certification in Neck Ultrasound (ECNU) program previously administered by the American College of Endocrinology (ACE). He has served as a clinical professor of medicine at Nova Southeastern University since 2001. Dr. Harrell has performed thousands of thyroid biopsies and parathyroid localizations and brings a unique expertise to the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal tumors. He is a past President of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and the American College of Endocrinology.
Master of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (MACE) Distinction
Daniel L. Hurley, MD, FACE
Dr. Hurley is Associate Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. He was Director of the Endocrine Fellowship Program from 1992 to 1997 and has been annually recognized for his excellence in teaching and received the Teacher of the Year Award from the Mayo Graduate School Residents and Fellows in 1992. His primary clinical interests are osteoporosis and metabolic bone diseases, outpatient nutrition/obesity and bariatric surgery, and hospital nutrition. Dr. Hurley is a Fellow of the American College of Endocrinology (FACE) and has served as President of the MN-Midwest Chapter of AACE and on the national AACE Board of Directors, including being elected President of AACE and serving as AACE Chancellor.
Master of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (MACE) Distinction
Shashank Joshi, MD, DM, FACP, FACE
Dr. Joshi is a Consultant Endocrinologist at Lilavati Hospital and Joshi Clinic, Mumbai, India. He is an academic faculty of Medicine and Endocrinology at several Indian and international universities and has authored over 1000 publications, 100 books, and is amongst the top 0.1 percent scientists in the field of Internal Medicine by PLOS (Stanford University). His current research commitments include Remission of Type 2 Diabetes via Artificial Intelligence, Transcultural Endocrinology, Obesity phenotypes and Evolving spectrum of Thyroid Disorders. Dr. Joshi has held prominent leadership positions including Past Dean of Indian College of Physicians, Past President of Association of Physicians of India, Endocrine Society of India, RSSDI and many others.
Master of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (MACE) Distinction
Janet McGill, MD, FACE
Dr. McGill is Professor of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research at Washington University School of Medicine and attending physician at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. She was the Endocrinology Fellowship director from 2009 – 2016 and has mentored many students, residents and fellows. As a clinical researcher, Dr. McGill has been the principal investigator on over 200 clinical trials and a member of steering committees on multi-center clinical trials. Clinically, Dr. McGill treats adults with all forms of diabetes in the multidisciplinary Washington University-Barnes-Jewish Hospital Diabetes Center and manages inpatients with diabetes and endocrine disorders. Dr. McGill is an active member of ADA, and recent advocacy work has led to improved access to continuous glucose monitors for persons in Missouri and nationally.
Alan J. Garber, MD, PhD, MACE, Lectureship for the Prevention and Management of the Complications of Diabetes
Guillermo Umpierrez, MD, CDCES, MACP, FACE
Dr. Umpierrez is Professor of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Emory University, Director of the Clinical Research Center at Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia. He is a clinician scientist with extensive experience in conducting clinical and population research in diabetes and metabolic disorders. He served as the 2022 President for Medicine & Science of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), is the author of more than 500 scientific manuscripts and book chapters, and has served as the principal investigator in several landmark clinical trials in the hospital management of diabetes in critical and noncritical care settings.
Hossein Gharib, MD, Educational Lectureship
Jennifer Sipos, MD
Dr. Sipos is a Professor of Medicine and Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the Department of Medicine at the Ohio State University. She also serves as the Medical Director of the Neuroendocrine Cancer Program at The Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Sipos has developed an interest in the use of ultrasonography for the diagnosis and management of thyroid nodules and cancer and has taught and served as a course director for numerous ultrasound courses nationally and internationally. Additionally, she is actively involved in several clinical research projects with a particular interest in factors implicated in the development of salivary damage after radioiodine therapy, clinical trials for the evaluation of targeted therapies in refractory thyroid cancer, and the diagnostic use of molecular markers in thyroid nodules. Dr. Sipos is also a member of the Thyroid Carcinoma Panel of the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines.
Kahn-Tan-Faiman Frontiers in Science and Endocrinology Award
Margaret E. Wierman, MD
Dr. Wierman is a Professor in Medicine, Integrative Physiology and OBGYN at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. She has a lifelong interest in the control of the reproductive axis and role of sex steroids in women and men. Her research has involved control of GnRH neuron development, and disorders of the reproductive axis and more recently endocrine tumorigenesis, including pituitary tumors and adrenal cancer. Clinically she is an endocrinologist interested in hormonal disorders in women and men as well as patients with pituitary tumors and adrenal cancer. She is past Clinical Scientist Vice President of the Endocrine Society and led the Endocrine Society guidelines on the Role of Androgens in Women. Dr. Wierman is also the immediate past president of the International Society of Endocrinology.