VCU Physician receives Distinguished Service Award from Richmond Academy of Medicine

By Malorie Burkett

The Richmond Academy of Medicine (RAM) recently presented Dr. Donald M. Switz, professor of internal medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University, with the 2004 Distinguished Service Award for Exemplary Medical Society Leadership.

The Distinguished Service Awards are presented to RAM members who have shown leadership initiative and leadership promise.

A member of RAM and former president of the organization, Switz received the award for demonstrating a long-standing commitment to local, state and national organized medicine. He was nominated by Dr. Sheldon Retchin, VCU Health System CEO and VCU vice president for health sciences, and selected for the award by the academy nominations committee.

Switz has held leadership positions in at least seven professional societies including, RAM, the Medical Society of Virginia, American Medical Association and the American College of Physicians. He also has been a member of the Governor's Advisory Board on Medicare and Medicaid, chairman of the Physicians' Section for United Way, a board member with Sheltering Arms Hospital and the Fan Free Clinic. Since he first came to VCU, he has been a teacher and mentor to medical students. Switz, a resident of Richmond, received his medical degree in 1962 from the University of Chicago.

In addition to Switz, four other individuals connected with the VCU Medical Center received Distinguished Service Awards. These included Dr. J. Shelton Horsley III, former faculty member, VCU Department of Surgery; Dr. William Nelson, adjunct professor, VCU Department of Community Medicine and Preventive Health; Dr. Cliff Deal, medical resident at VCU Medical Center; and Margrette Moore, third year medical student at the VCU School of Medicine

The Richmond Academy of Medicine was created in 1821 as an organization for local physicians committed to promoting the science and practice of medicine and surgery.