2025 Academy Annual Awards
Regina Benjamin, MD, MBA
Dr. Benjamin, in her capacity as 18th Surgeon General of the U.S., ushered prevention and community health to the forefront of national policy. She emphasized the possibility of a “healthier and more connected America,” and stressed that public health begins not in a doctor’s office, but in our homes, schools, and workplaces. Dr. Benjamin’s dedication to bridging medicine and humanity has served as inspiration to generations of medical professionals and policymakers alike.
Jennifer Doudna, PhD
Dr. Doudna’s scientific ingenuity and moral clarity earned her the Medal for Biomedical Science. She is a Nobel Laureate in Chemistry and co-inventor of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, which exponentially accelerates our ability to understand and modify the code of life. This monumental achievement, which collectively benefits us all, empowers treatments of genetic diseases and magnifies our understanding of biology. Dr. Doudna has also demonstrated forthright leadership in ensuring that the immense power of gene editing is developed with good intent and responsible follow-through.
Dean, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine. Recipient of the Stephen Smith Medal for Contributions in Public Health
Peter Jay Hotez, MD, PhD
Dr. Hotez earned the Stephen Smith Medal for his pivotal work as a physician-scientist and global leader in infectious disease and vaccine research but is also well-known as a champion against vaccine misinformation. He has testified before Congress and speaks to the media in vigorous defense of scientific progress and medical best practices. Dr. Hotez’s years of research and unwavering vaccine advocacy has demonstrated that fighting misinformation is not a mere academic endeavor, but a moral necessity that saves countless lives around the world.
Timothy R. B. Johnson, MD
Dr. Johnson was awarded the Stearns Medal for Clinical Practice for demonstrating excellence in clinical care and setting a high standard for commitment to medical education. As the Bates Professor of the Diseases of Women and Children and Chair of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Michigan, he was a living testament to the notion that excellent clinical outcomes are intertwined with teaching, selfless service, and global outreach. Dr. Johnson’s impact has been felt far outside of the Great Lakes state and University of Michigan hospital walls: he aided maternal and reproductive health systems in Ghana and Ethiopia. The former Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics cemented an enduring legacy that lives on in his patients, the health systems he empowered, and the professionals he mentored and inspired.
Mary Woolley
Woolley has transformed how the U.S. understands and supports medical and health research. For more than three decades as President and CEO of Research!America, she has helped forge a coalition of academics, industry leaders, government officials, and health advocates. Woolley made it clear that scientific discovery necessitates better health, economic power, and a more just and equitable society. While she stepped down after 35 years of leading Research!America, her commitment to transparent, valued, and inclusive science will echo in the work of her mentees and the lives of those who have been touched by her legacy.
The Carnegie Corporation of New York and The Rockefeller Foundation
The Carnegie Corporation of New York and The Rockefeller Foundation were each presented with the Plaque for Exceptional Service to the Academy, which represents gratitude for their foresight in supporting the academy across generations. These two formidable New York institutions gave New York Academy of Medicine the resources to create a home at 103rd Street and 5th Avenue in Manhattan, where we are celebrating our home that has witnessed a century of medical progress and purpose.
