Duke Professor Philip Cook Elected To Institute Of Medicine

DURHAM, N.C. -- The Duke Medical Alumni Association recognized 10 distinguished individuals for their contributions to the field of medicine at its annual awards luncheon and meeting on Friday, Oct. 19, at Duke University Medical Center.

The awardees were recognized in four separate categories: Distinguished Faculty Award, Distinguished Alumnus Award, Humanitarian Award and W. G. Anlyan, MD, Lifetime Achievement Award.

The recipients of the Distinguished Faculty Award were:

Dr. Brenda E. Armstrong of Durham, an associate professor of cardiology, associate dean, and director of admissions at the School of Medicine.

Dr. John M. Harrelson of Bahama, N.C., a professor of orthopedic surgery and associate professor of pathology.

Dr. John L. Weinerth of Durham, a professor and vice chief of the Division of Urology; associate dean and director of the Graduate Medical Education Program.

The recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award were:

Dr. Henry J. Carr Jr. of Clinton, N.C., a retired internist, former president of the North Carolina Medical Society Foundation, and founder and president of the Medical Mutual Insurance Company of North Carolina.

Dr. William H. Spencer III of Charleston, S.C., a leading researcher of cardiac pacing and coronary interventions, the Temple Professor of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and a cardiology faculty member at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.

Dr. Thaddeus B. Wester of Lumberton, N.C., a retired pediatrician, former deputy state health director and co-founder of the Lumberton Children's Health Clinic.

The recipients of the Humanitarian Award were:

Dr. Joseph B. McCormick, a 20-year career "virus hunter" for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control who has investigated the Ebola and HIV/AIDS viruses and is current assistant dean of the University of Texas at Houston, School of Public Health.

Dr. Lewis G. Zirkle Jr. of Richland, Wash., an orthopedic surgeon and founder of Surgical Implant Generation Network (SIGN), a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care and providing treatment for fractures to economically disadvantaged people around the world.

The recipients of the W.G. Anlyan, MD, Lifetime Achievement Award were:

Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans and Dr. James H. Semans of Durham, who are well known for their philanthropic contributions to the community. Mrs. Semans is a member of Duke University's founding family, a chairman emeritus of The Duke Endowment, and one of the principal philanthropists of North and South Carolina. Dr. Semans is professor emeritus of the Department of Surgery, a member of the board of trustees and founding chairman of the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation, and a member of numerous Duke organizations.

Note to editors: Photos of the award recipients are available by contacting Marty Fisher.