麻豆社

Medical Alumni Association Awards

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2026 Medical Alumni Association Awards. The Medical Alumni Awards will be presented at the 2026 MAA Reunion on June 12-14, 2026. Please note the deadline for 2026 MAA Awards nominations is Sept. 10, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CST. All nominations submitted after the deadline will be held for 2027 consideration. To nominate an individual, please see the criteria below.

Nomination Process

• Nominations will be accepted until Sept. 10, 2025.
• The nomination form must be submitted electronically through the application website.
• A current resume or curriculum vitae is required and must be emailed by the nomination deadline to medalum@southalabama.edu with the nominee's first and last name in the subject line.
• A letter of endorsement is strongly encouraged and may be emailed by the nomination deadline to medalum@southalabama.edu with the nominee's first and last name in the subject line.
• It is the responsibility of the nominator to ensure that the nomination form is completed and supplemental documentation is submitted by the published deadline.
• Self-nominations are welcome.
• Nominations will be kept on file for 5 years.

Memorial Awards Eligibility

The USA Medical Alumni Association acknowledges that too often our alumni and current or former Whiddon College of Medicine faculty or staff pass on too soon, in what may have been the peak of their careers.

In light of this, a Memorial Award may be designated (in any of the following categories) for an eligible nominee who is recently deceased, defined as passing within the five years of nomination. Memorial Awards will be given at the discretion of the MAA Awards Committee.

Medical Alumni Association Awards Criteria 

The Distinguished Medical Alumni Award 

Purpose: To recognize an alumnus whose career has illustrated a commitment to leadership within the medical field; either in academics, business, government, or other unique positions. Such careers are usually distinguished by major leadership positions or respected national reputations.

Criteria

• Nominee must be a degreed alumnus from the 麻豆社 Whiddon College of Medicine.
• Nominee must have demonstrated outstanding leadership in the medical field.

Past Recipients

• 2018: Dr. David Gremse, 鈥�83
• 2019: Dr. David Adkison, 鈥�84
• 2024: Dr. Daniel C. Potts, '93
• 2024: Dr. S. Lane Rutledge, '81 (Memorial Award)
• 2025: Dr. Mark S. Williams, '80
   

The Medical Alumni Humanitarian Award

Purpose: To recognize an alumnus who has made a significant impact on the medical care of the public, uniting medical service and public benefit on a local, national or international scale.  

Criteria

• Nominee must be a degreed alumnus from the 麻豆社 Whiddon College of Medicine.
• Nominee must have contributed a unique or outstanding form of service to the medical care of the public.

Past Recipients

• 2018: Dr. Marilyn Aiello, 鈥�76
• 2019: Dr. Steven Kinsey, 鈥�89
• 2024: Dr. Robert W. Chagrasulis, '81
• 2025: Dr. Lynn E. Yonge, 鈥�86
   

The Distinguished Service Award

Purpose: To recognize an alumnus or faculty/staff member who has made a significant contribution improving the quality and reach of the Whiddon College of Medicine, as well as service that substantially benefits or enhances the reputation of the College.

Criteria

• Nominee must be either a Whiddon College of Medicine alumnus or faculty/staff member.
• Nominee must have exhibited outstanding service by enhancing education, the quality thereof, or other academic missions of the college.

Past Recipients

2025 Award Recipients

Mark S. Williams, M.D., M.B.A., J.D., CPE, 鈥�80

Distinguished Medical Alumni Award

Mark S. Williams, M.D., M.B.A., J.D., CPE, is currently an associate professor at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine. He has held the distinction of serving as the senior physician leader at various large healthcare systems across Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, and most recently, Montana. Dr. Williams has been a steadfast advocate for patient safety, physician leadership development, rural healthcare, and primary care. He has collaborated with large employers to enhance the well-being of their employees and their families and has been a long-standing supporter of the College of Community Health Sciences in Tuscaloosa.

Williams was recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus of the 麻豆社 in 2016 and one of "50 People of Influence" on the 50th anniversary of the founding of the USA Whiddon College of Medicine in 2023. Williams and his wife, Sandi, have four children and five grandchildren who reside in Alabama, Montana and Washington State. He and his family are avid "river-runners," having spent nearly 40 years exploring the wilderness rivers in Idaho.

The Distinguished Medical Alumni Award recognizes an alum whose career illustrated a commitment to leadership within the medical field, either in academics, business, government, or other unique positions. Such careers are usually distinguished by major leadership positions or respected national reputations.

Lynn E. Yonge, M.D., FAAFP, FAWM, 鈥�86

Medical Alumni Humanitarian Award

Dr. Lynn Yonge is a lifelong outdoorsman and an Eagle Scout. He was a member of the first class of Fellows of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine and was a two-term member of the Board of Directors of the Wilderness Medical Society.

Dr. Yonge currently represents the Wilderness Medical Society in the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health. He teaches wilderness medicine as a senior elective for two Alabama medical schools.

Yonge is the owner of a 340-acre Certified Alabama Treasure Forest and a Certified Prescribed Burn Manager. He practices adolescent medicine and lives with his wife, Cori, in Fairhope, Alabama.

The Medical Alumni Humanitarian Award recognizes an alum who has made a significant impact on the medical care of the public, uniting medical service and public benefit on a local, national or international scale. 

Bassam A. Bassam, M.D., FAAN

Distinguished Service Award

Bassam A. Bassam, M.D., FAAN, Professor of Neurology, completed his Neurology Residency at Wayne State University (WSU) in Detroit, Michigan, and Neuromuscular Fellowship at WSU and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He is a former faculty member at the University of Michigan and joined the 麻豆社 in 1985 as an attending neurologist and the Director of the Neuromuscular Clinic & EMG Autonomic Testing Laboratory. Dr. Bassam served as an Interim Chair of Neurology in 2008. He provided tertiary neuromuscular care and served on multiple institutions and national professional committees for nearly four decades. Bassam has earned extensive local and national academic and scholarly recognition, serves as an invited speaker at top national annual scientific meetings and seminars, and is well published in peer-reviewed journals, abstracts and book chapters.

He is the recipient of four USA Whiddon College of Medicine Red Sash Awards, the Neurology Department Outstanding Teacher Award, and two top national awards, including the 2023 Distinguished Physician Award by the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Association and the 2024 A. B. Baker Teacher Recognition Award by the American Academy of Neurology. After 10 years of cold weather in Michigan and Minnesota, Bassam considers himself blessed by moving to sweet home Alabama, joining and contributing to the USA faculty mission, and living in Mobile with his lovely wife, Rana.

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes an alum or faculty/staff member who has made a significant contribution to improving the quality and reach of the Whiddon College of Medicine, as well as service that substantially benefits or enhances the reputation of the College.

Jack A. Di Palma, M.D., FACP, FASGE, MACG

Distinguished Service Award

Jack A. Di Palma, M.D., FACP, FASGE, MACG, served the USA Whiddon College of Medicine from 1987 to 2025 in the Department of Internal Medicine and Division of Gastroenterology as Division Director, Fellowship Director and Director of Endoscopy. Dr. Di Palma trained in medicine at New York Medical College in Valhalla, New York, and did a residency in internal medicine at the United States Air Force Medical Center (USAF), Keesler, in Biloxi, Mississippi. After completing his fellowship in gastroenterology at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, he served on their teaching faculty. Dr. Di Palma鈥檚 scholarly interests are in various areas of digestive disorders and physiology. He has contributed to more than 350 published articles, reviews, book chapters and abstracts. Di Palma was recognized as 鈥淏est Clinical Teacher鈥� by the 1996 College of Medicine students and by 鈥淏est Doctors鈥� in 鈥淢obile/Baldwin Counties,鈥� 鈥淎labama鈥� and 鈥淎merica.鈥� The USA Gastroenterology Division was voted as the best clinical elective in 1998 by medical students. Di Palma is active in gastroenterology associations and organized medicine. He served on the Board of Censors of the Medical Society of Mobile County and was the chairman of the Mobile County Board of Health. Di Palma is the past-president of the American College of Gastroenterology. He and his wife, Ann (B.S., USA 鈥�97), reside in Mobile and have two daughters, Elizabeth Di Palma and Sr. Mary Michael Di Palma, SsEW.

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes an alum or faculty/staff member who has made a significant contribution to improving the quality and reach of the Whiddon College of Medicine, as well as service that substantially benefits or enhances the reputation of the College.

Robert W. Israel, M.D., FACP

The de Juan, Chambers, Oppenheimer Healthcare Award

Dr. Robert W. Israel is a board-certified internal medicine physician and Fellow of the American College of Physicians, with over four decades of experience in patient care. Dr. Israel serves as the Director of the Integrative Health and Wellness Program at USA Health, where he leads initiatives that blend traditional medicine with lifestyle-based approaches to health.

A pioneer in culinary medicine, Israel champions the concept that nutritious food can and should be delicious. Under his leadership, USA Health has established teaching kitchens that offer hands-on cooking classes for patients, medical students, and the community, emphasizing plant-forward diets and the role of nutrition in preventing and managing chronic diseases. Israel earned his medical degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and completed his residency at Maine Medical Center. His dedication to integrative care has garnered attention from national media outlets, including NPR and Alabama Public Radio, highlighting his efforts to transform healthcare through education and lifestyle medicine. Beyond his professional endeavors, Israel enjoys fishing, hiking, cooking, and spending time with his wife, Cammie, three children, and four grandchildren.

The de Juan, Chambers, Oppenheimer Healthcare Award recognizes a Whiddon College of Medicine adjunct faculty or healthcare leader in our region who has shown a deep commitment to the health of our community and has made a significant contribution to the medical field or the education of our healthcare professionals.