Alumni Awards

Distinguished Honorary Alumni

Distinguished Honorary membership may be conferred on an individual of recognized medical and/or scientific abilities, or upon a person whose outstanding teaching and/or leadership qualities have contributed to the goals of the OAA. Formal recognition of Distinguished Honorary membership will be presented at the annual Homecoming Banquet following election. Distinguished Honorary members shall not be allowed to vote or hold office. They are welcome to all events. Distinguished Honorary members shall be conferred upon election by the Officers and Board of Advisors.

Thomas E. Weiss Outstanding Alumnus Award

In 1999, the Ochsner Alumni Association began presenting an Outstanding Alumnus Award to a former resident. Frank A. Riddick, Jr., MD, presented the first award to Thomas E. Weiss, MD, at the 1999 Homecoming Banquet. Appropriately, the award is named the "Thomas E. Weiss, MD, Outstanding Alumnus Award." Each year this award is given by the OAA to the graduate of its educational programs who has achieved noteworthy accomplishments in academic, professional, civic or cultural arenas. Dr. Richard Milani is our 2023 Outstanding Alumni.

Taylor K. Picket, M.D. Memorial Award

This award is given annually by the OAA to benefit a fellow in the fields of vascular/endovascular surgery or cardiothoracic surgery in memory of Taylor K. Pickett, M.D. Recipients have achieved noteworthy accomplishments in their subspecialty fellowship training at Ochsner as they prepare for a career in the vascular/endovascular surgery or cardiothoracic surgery fields.

Clifford H. Van Meter, M.D. Memorial Lectureship

A memorial lectureship honoring Clifford Van Meter, M.D. is held annually and is CME accredited. Dr. Van Meter was a nationally prominent cardiac surgeon in the fields of heart failure, cardiac transplantation, and mechanical circulatory assistance. This lectureship brings outstanding clinicians in the field to Ochsner and it is sponsored and supported by the OAA.

Edward D. Frohlich, M.D. Memorial Lectureship

In honor of Edward D. Frohlich, MD, the Edward D. Frohlich, MD, Endowed Professorship and Lectureship sponsored by the Ochsner Alumni Association were independently established. Together, the professorship and lectureship help sustain Dr. Frohlich’s achievements in clinical care, mentorship and research. 

Some physicians transform not only the lives of their patients but also the field at large. With his lasting contributions to the world’s understanding and treatment of hypertension, the late Edward Frohlich, MD, is one of those physicians.

Dr. Frohlich first arrived at Ochsner Health in 1976 as the vice president for education and research. For over 40 years, he worked as a cardiologist on staff at Ochsner Clinic, receiving the honorary title of Alton Ochsner Distinguished Scientist.

In addition to being a beloved colleague, Dr. Frohlich was a prolific researcher. He published over 1,100 peer reviewed scientific papers, chapters, editorials and textbooks throughout his career. He also served on the editorial board of a number of peer reviewed scientific journals, including as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine and Editor of Hypertension. He served in leadership positions on national scientific advisory committees and scientific societies including serving as president of the Council on High Blood Pressure Research of the American Heart Association and president of the International Society of Hypertension.

Michael C. Trotter, M.D. History of Medicine Lectureship

An annual lectureship honoring Dr. Michael Trotter, M.D., emeritus President of the Alumni Board for his outstanding service and dedication to the history of medicine. This lectureship features lectures of medical history throughout the centuries.