GALVESTON, Texas – The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston honored six School of Medicine alumni at the 18th annual Ashbel Smith Distinguish Alumnus Awards Ceremony and Reception.
These physicians, nominated and elected by their peers, were recognized for their service to the medical profession and humanity and for their integrity, stature, ability, demonstrated pride in UTMB and community contributions. Established in 1965, the ASDA Award is the highest honor bestowed by the alumni of the SOM Alumni Association with only 193 SOM alumnus receiving this prestigious award since its inception.
Dr. Michael Attas, Class of 1973, currently practices medicine in Waco. He is credited with establishing and directing the first national undergraduate program in medical humanities at Baylor University in 1999. In his efforts to grow the program, Attas was successful in securing scholarship funding from the Debakey Medical Foundation for outstanding medical humanities students.
Dr. Robert Daniel Beauchamp, Class of 1982, served as an assistant professor in the department of surgery at UTMB, joined the teaching faculty at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee in 1994, then tapped to lead the Division of Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery in 1997. In 2001, he was appointed the J.C. Foshee Distinguished Professor and chair of the Section of Surgical Sciences where he currently oversees eight departments of surgery and 240 faculty members.
Dr. Melinda L. Estes, Class of 1978, currently serves as president and CEO of St. Luke’s Health System in Kansas City, Missouri. Board certified in both neurology and neuropathology, Estes restored the financial health and credibility of Fletcher Allen Health Care in Vermont, opened a new hospital and created a significant positive operating margin for the Cleveland Clinic in Naples, Florida and developed the Office of Clinical Effectiveness at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio to oversee quality operations. Estes is currently responsible for 10 hospitals and management of a $1.5 billion health system in Kansas City.
Dr. Jeffrey D. Lanier, Class of 1966, a recognized expert in corneal and external disease and corneal surgery, made more than 200 clinical presentations and has mentored 25 fellows during his career. Lanier served as a general medical officer in the U.S. Navy in Vietnam and in California before completing a residency in ophthalmology at UTMB, along with a fellowship in corneal and external disease at the University of California at San Francisco. Lanier moved to Houston in 1973 and joined the Houston Eye Associates, where he has enjoyed practicing medicine for more than 40 years, serving as president of the organization the past 15 years.
Dr. Sharon S. Raimer, Class of 1972, completed an internship at the University of Utah in 1973 and a dermatology residency at Baylor College of Medicine in 1976 before returning to Galveston to join the faculty of UTMB where she currently serves as professor and chair in the department of dermatology. In addition to her service on national committees including two appointments with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Raimer has been recognized as a Houstonian Top Doctor, a Texas Monthly magazine Super Doctor and named one of the Best Doctors in America.
Dr. Earl F. Singleton, Class of 1964, trained in general surgery and otolaryngology/head and neck surgery before moving to Wichita Falls, Texas in 1973 where he started a single specialty group and enjoyed 39 years of practicing general ear, nose, throat and facial plastic surgery. Singleton served on several hospital committees and community service boards and received the Distinguished Service Award in 2007 from the Wichita County Medical Society. He has been active in his support of UTMB, sitting on the Development Board and the School of Medicine Alumni Association Board of Trustees.