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Distinguished Alumni

The Vanderbilt Medical Alumni Association honors alumni whose career achievements in the medical profession reflect honor on Vanderbilt University School of Medicine or Vanderbilt Health (formerly Vanderbilt University Medical Center). Recipients are selected based on contributions to the field of medicine as a distinguished clinician, exceptional educator, progressive leader, and/or research scientist. Active VMAA alumni may be considered for this honor.  This award is presented on an annual basis, in conjunction with our VUSM Reunion program.

 

Awards on a table.

Submit Your Nominations

Now accepting nominations for our 2026 Distinguished Alumni award! The deadline to submit nominations for 2026 is Wednesday, March 18, 2026.  Direct questions to the VMAA team at medalumni@vanderbilt.edu.

Nomination Form

2024 Distinguished Alumni

Major General (Ret.) Stephen L. Jones, M.D. (VUSM 1978)

Major General (Ret.) Stephen L. Jones, M.D. (VUSM 1978)

Major General (Ret.) Stephen L. Jones, M.D. (VUSM 1978)

Major General (Retired) Stephen L. Jones dedicated over four decades to the United States Army and the medical profession. Graduating magna cum laude with a B.A. in Chemistry from Vanderbilt University in 1974, he earned his M.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 1978. He began his military medical career at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, completing his internship, residency in Internal Medicine, and fellowship in Cardiology.

Throughout his distinguished career, General Jones held pivotal leadership positions. As Commanding General of the Army Medical Department Center and School from 2013 to 2016, he shaped medical training and education for Army healthcare professionals. Concurrently, he served as Chief of the U.S. Army Medical Corps, overseeing the professional development of Army physicians.

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Ann Hutcheson Price, M.D. (VUSM 1978)

Ann Hutcheson Price, M.D. (VUSM 1978)

Ann Hutcheson Price, M.D. (VUSM 1978)

Ellen Ann Hutcheson Price, MD FACP, ‘78, is an Associate Professor Emerita of Medical Education and Administration with Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Dr. Price’s relationship with, and contributions to, Vanderbilt and VUSM span more than 50 remarkable years.

A Nashville native, Dr. Price graduated from Hillsboro High School and completed her B.S. in Chemistry from Vanderbilt University in just three years, graduating Magna Cum Laude, earning an induction into Phi Beta Kappa, and receiving the Chemistry Department’s Award of Achievement. 

As a member of the women’s tennis team, Price was a national standout in both singles and doubles. She was the three-time Tennessee State Collegiate singles champion, the winner of the Southern Championship in 1976, and she made round 16 of the National Women’s Tennis Tournament in 1970 and 1971. She has been inducted into the Hillsboro High School Athletics Hall of Fame, the Metro Nashville Public Schools Hall of Fame, the Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame, and the Tennessee Tennis Hall of Fame.

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John L. Tarpley, M.D. (VUSM 1970)

John L. Tarpley, M.D. (VUSM 1970)

John L. Tarpley, M.D. (VUSM 1970)

John “Tarp” L. Tarpley, MD ‘70, FWACS, FACS is a Professor Emeritus of Surgery with Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and an affiliated faculty member with the Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health. Deeply committed to the training of future physicians, Dr. Tarpley has worked to innovate medical education at Vanderbilt for over thirty years, serving in roles such as Master Clinical Teacher and Program Director of the General Surgery Residency Program.

A double ‘dore, Dr. Tarpley completed both his bachelor of arts in chemistry in 1966 and his doctor of medicine degree in 1970 at Vanderbilt University, receiving the Lange Medical Award and Albert Weinstein Prize in Medicine during his time. He would go on to complete his surgery residency at Johns Hopkins University before serving as faculty member in their Department of Surgery for 14 years.

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Past Distinguished Alumni Winners

  • See a list of VMAA Distinguished Alumni Winners dating back to 1983.

    1983 | Norman E. Shumway, Jr., M.D.
    1984 | James A. Clifton, III, M.D.
    1985 | Floyd W. Denny, Jr., M.D.
    1986 | Jean A. Cortner, M.D., Harris D. Riley, Jr., M.D.
    1987 | Henry C. McGill, Jr., M.D.
    1988 | Frank A. Riddick, Jr., M.D., Sheldon M. Wolff, M.D.
    1989 | William H. Boyce, Jr., M.D.
    1990 | Phillip Gorden, M.D., David E. Rogers, M.D., Frank C. Spencer, M.D.
    1992 | William W. Cleveland, M.D., Ralph L. Nachman, M.D.
    1994 | Robert M. Carey, M.D., Joe W. Grisham, M.D.
    1996 | Blair E. Batson, M.D., Antonio M. Gotto, Jr., M.D., James B.D. Mark, M.D.
    1997 | John S. Derryberry, M.D.
    1998 | Judson G. Randolph, M.D.
    2000 | Robert W. Mahley, M.D., Ph.D.
    2002 | Alan S. Rosenthal, M.D., Mildred T. Stahlman, M.D.
    2004 | Irwin B. Eskind, M.D., J. Donald M. Gass, M.D., George R. Burrus, M.D.
    2006 | Robert D. Collins, Sr., M.D., Bert W. O’Malley, M.D.
    2008 | Richard B. Johnston, Jr., M.D., Harold L. Moses, M.D.
    2010 | Robert L. Frye, M.D., William Schaffner, M.D.
    2012 | David H. Walker, M.D., John M. Leonard, M.D.
    2014 | Oscar B. Crofford, M.D.
    2016 | Elizabeth Kathleen Neuzil, M.D., M.P.H., Levi Watkins Jr., M.D.
    2018 | Kathryn M. Edwards, M.D., FAC, David M. Gershenson, M.D.
    2020 | Jean Anderson, M.D., Aubrey J. Hough, Jr., M.D., DSc, FCAP
    2022 | Kathleen R. Cho, M.D., Kevin B. Churchwell, M.D.