MMA Awards
Award Entry Guidelines
Each year at its Annual Conference, the MMA honors physicians and medical students in the state who have made outstanding contributions to their profession, their practice or the world around them.
To nominate someone for an award, please fill out the nomination form online or print and mail it in.
For background information and criteria for each award, click here.
Distinguished Service Award
This award is the MMA's highest honor. It is given to a physician who has made outstanding contributions in service to the MMA and on behalf of medicine and the physicians of Minnesota during his or her career.
President's Award
This award is designated for individuals who have made outstanding contributions in service to the goals of the MMA - making Minnesotans the healthiest in the nation; making Minnesota the best place to practice; and advancing professionalism in medicine.
Medical Student Leadership Award
This award honors a member of the MMA Medical Student Section who demonstrates outstanding commitment to the medical profession.
James H. Sova Memorial Award for Advocacy
James H. Sova was the chief lobbyist for the MMA from 1968 until the time of his death at the AMA meeting in December1981. This award shall be made to a person who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of public policy, medical sciences, medical education, medical care or the socio-economics of medical practice.
Recent MMA Award Recipients
Distinguished Service Award
| Year |
Recipient |
| 2019 |
Donald Jacobs, MD |
| 2018 |
Cindy Firkins Smith, MD |
| 2017 |
Benjamin Whitten, MD |
| 2016 |
Patricia Lindholm, MD |
| 2015 |
Patrick Zook, MD |
| 2014 |
Paul Matson, MD |
| 2013 |
Macaran A Baird, MD |
| 2012 |
John Van Etta, MD |
| 2011 |
Anthony C Jaspers, MD |
| 2010 |
Douglas L Wood, MD |
| 2009 |
Terence P Cahill, MD |
| 2008 |
G. Richard Geier Jr, MD |
| 2007 |
Blanton Bessinger, MD, MBA |
| 2006 |
Frank J Indihar, MD, MBA |
| 2005 |
Timothy J Crimmins, MD |
| 2004 |
Judith F Shank, MD |
| 2003 |
Lyle Munneke, MD |
| 2002 |
None |
| 2001 |
Raymond G. Christensen, MD |
| 2000 |
Paul S. Sanders, MD |
James H. Sova Memorial Award for Advocacy
| Year |
Recipient |
| 2019 |
Jeffrey Schiff, MD |
| 2017 |
Andy Slavitt |
| 2016 |
Melisa Franzen |
| 2014 |
Thomas Huntley |
| 2007 |
Thomas Huntley |
| 2005 |
Jan Malcolm |
| 2004 |
David Durenberger |
Medical Student Section Award
| Year |
Recipient |
| 2019 |
Tom Schmidt |
| 2018 |
Abby Solom |
| 2017 |
Alexander Feng |
| 2017 |
Nathan Ratner |
| 2016 |
Courtney Moors |
| 2015 |
Elizabeth Fracica |
| 2013 |
Mark E Bergstrand |
| 2011 |
Shayla M Wilson |
| 2010 |
Elizabeth R Vogel, MD |
| 2009 |
Nicole J Te Poel, MD |
| 2008 |
Andrew P Landstrom |
| 2007 |
Nicholas A Zane, MD |
| 2006 |
Lisa J Maurer, MD |
| 2005 |
Colin M Segovis, MD |
| 2004 |
Aaron L Nelson, MD |
| 2004 |
Stephanie D Stanton, MD |
President's Award
| Year |
Recipient |
| 2019 |
Kathryn Duevel, MD |
| 2019 |
George Lohmer |
| 2018 |
Thomas Kottke, MD |
| 2018 |
Charlie Reznikoff, MD |
| 2017 |
Dionne Hart, MD |
| 2017 |
Christopher Reif, MD |
| 2016 |
Sally Trippel, MD |
| 2015 |
George Schoephoerster, MD |
| 2015 |
Steven Meister, MD |
| 2015 |
Jane Willet, DO |
| 2014 |
Beth Baker, MD |
| 2013 |
Fred T Nobrega, MD |
| 2013 |
Erick Reeber, MD |
| 2011 |
Kenneth W Crabb, MD |
| 2010 |
Linda L Van Etta, MD |
| 2010 |
Nicholas F Reuter, MD |
| 2010 |
Frank B Cerra, MD |
| 2009 |
Edward P Ehlinger, MD, MSPH |
| 2009 |
Harriet Hodgson |
| 2008 |
Stephen L Hadley, MD |
| 2008 |
John W Larsen, MD |
| 2008 |
David L Estrin, MD |
| 2007 |
John R Balfanz, MD |
| 2007 |
Patrick J Zook, MD |
| 2007 |
George D Malkasian Jr, MD |
| 2007 |
Roger K Johnson, CAE |
| 2006 |
Jane Abrams |
| 2006 |
Noel R Peterson, MD, MS |
| 2005 |
Charles R Helleloid, MD |
| 2005 |
Bruce A Norback, MD |
| 2004 |
Fred T Nobrega, MD |
| 2004 |
Edward A Spenny, MD |
| 2004 |
Frank J Indihar, MD, MBA |
| 2004 |
John V Thomas, MD |
| 2004 |
Anthony C Jaspers, MD |
| 2004 |
Lee H Beecher, MD |
| 2004 |
Dianne Fenyk |