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Robert H. Williams, MD, Distinguished Chair of Medicine Award
About the Award
The Robert H. Williams, MD, Distinguished Chair of Medicine Award is presented by the Association of Professors of Medicine (APM) to a physician who has demonstrated outstanding leadership as the chair of a department of internal medicine. The award is presented annually at during the APM Winter Meeting portion of Academic Internal Medicine Week.
Nomination Criteria
In selecting a recipient, predominant attention is given to progress made by the candidate in the administration of a department of internal medicine. Overall contributions to academic internal medicine made by the candidate in the areas of education, research, and patient care are considered as well.
Nomination Information
Nominations must be submitted online. Self-nominations are not accepted for this award.
A nomination packet must include:
- A completed nomination form.
- One nomination letter from within the department.
- Three letters supporting the nomination
- One from departmental leadership within the department (e.g., vice chair, residency/fellowship program director, division chief)
- One from outside the department, but within the institution (e.g., chair, dean or similar leader from another department)
- One from outside the institution (chair, dean, or similar leader at another institution or an internal medicine professional society leadership position)
- The nominee’s curriculum vitae.
Selection Process
The recipient is selected by the APM Council. If the approved recipient is unable to attend the APM Winter Meeting to accept the award, the recipient forgoes acceptance of the award and will be reconsidered the following year. All nominations will be considered for the year they are nominated as well as the following two years.
The APM President may ask the recipient to present a paper of a topic of interest to the APM membership and request its publication in a national medical journal. The APM President or their designate shall present the recipient with the award during the APM Winter Meeting held in conjunction with Academic Internal Medicine Week.
2019 APM Awards
Robert H. Williams, MD, Distinguished Chair of Medicine Award: John M. Carethers, MD
The 2019 APM Robert H. Williams, MD, Distinguished Chair of Medicine Award recipient is John M. Carethers, MD. The association’s highest honor, the APM Robert H. Williams, MD, Distinguished Chair of Medicine Award recognizes a physician who has demonstrated outstanding leadership as the chair of a department of internal medicine at a medical school. The award is presented annually at the APM Winter Meeting.
Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at University of Michigan Medical School, Dr. Carethers has been instrumental in the successful growth of the department. According to his nominators, when Dr. Carethers first arrived at University of Michigan Medical School, “he inherited approximately 550 faculty,” and today “oversees approximately 880 faculty.” In addition, both clinical revenue and the grant portfolio have seen a very successful growth.
His nominators cited that Dr. Carethers “has made academic development of the University of Michigan Internal Medicine faculty a major priority.” He has “cultivated leadership skills,” and his faculty are “prominent in honorific societies, including over 70 of his faculty in ASCI, 50 faculty in AAP, and 12 faculty elected into the National Academy of Medicine.” Dr. Carethers also established the Clinical Excellence Society, which recognizes faculty who demonstrate clinical excellence towards their patients and colleagues.
In addition to his leadership and role as chair, Dr. Carethers continues to actively see patients and run an NIH-funded lab. “His department has expanded clinically and developed an Acute Care for Elders Unit and a 40-bed Medical Short Stay Unit, and has helped spearhead the opening of in-hospital palliative care beds.”
Prior to being chair at Michigan Medical School, Dr. Carethers was Division Chief of Gastroenterology at University of California San Diego. There he “doubled the size of his division, acquired an NIH-funded GI Center grant, and recruited several outstanding physicians-scientists.” Dr. Carethers currently serves on the APM Nominating Committee and is President of the Association of American Physicians.
Dr. Carethers earned his medical degree from Wayne State University and completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. He then completed a fellowship in gastroenterology at the University of Michigan.