The WSU Medical Alumni Association initiated the Distinguished Alumni Award to be presented annually to alumni who have made outstanding contributions to humanitarian causes; whose contributions to the health field in the broader sense are outstanding; and/or for service to the School of Medicine. The 2001 awards were presented during the Alumni Reunion on May 19. 

PAUL DEWEESE, MD, ‘81
Paul N. DeWeese, MD, has an exemplary record as a physician and legislator dedicated to providing health-care access. Dr. DeWeese is a member of the Michigan House of Representatives, representing the 67th State House District of Ingham and Livingston counties.

Dr. DeWeese graduated from Wayne State University School of Medicine in 1981 and was president of the Student Council as well as class president. He is board certified in internal medicine and serves on the emergency medicine staff at Eaton Rapids Community Hospital and Owosso Medical Center.

In 1989, Dr. DeWeese spearheaded the creation of the Medical Access Project – administered by the Capitol Area Red Cross – to provide basic medical care to the indigent. He has also served as past vice chair of the Ingham County Board of Health. Dr. DeWeese plans to draw from this experience to tackle issues such as ensuring health care for all of Michigan’s residents.

Dr. DeWeese has served as vice chair of the House Committee on Health Policy and chairs the special task force on access to health care for the working uninsured.  

HARVEY L. NEIMAN, MD, ‘68
Harvey L. Neiman, MD, joined the Western Pennsylvania Hospital in 1985 as chairman of the Department of Radiology and clinical professor of diagnostic radiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Neiman has authored 25 book chapters and is the primary author of the textbook “Augiography of Vascular Disease.” He is currently professor of diagnostic radiology at Temple University School of Medicine.

Dr. Neiman was president of the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound from 1985 to 1987. In 1994, he was elected to the Board of Chancellors of the American College of Radiology and chaired the Commission on Ultrasound until 1997 when he became chairman of the Commission on Economics. In September 1998, Dr. Neiman was elected vice chairman of the Board of Chancellors. In September 2000, he became chairman of the board of Chancellors of the American College of Radiology and is currently serving a two-year term. He has also spoken extensively both nationally and internationally and has been visiting professor at 25 universities.

During his tenure at Western Pennsylvania, Dr. Neiman developed a highly successful residency program in diagnostic radiology and subspecialty fellowship program in interventional radiology, abdominal imaging and women’s imaging. The department is a national leader in filmless radiology.

RICHARD STACK, MD, ‘76
Richard S. Stack, MD, is a worldrecognized authority in cardiovascular disease. Dr. Stack is on a sabbatical leave of absence from Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC, while serving as president of Atlanta Cardiovascular Research Institute, a non-profit research and education organization dedicated to the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Dr. Stack also serves as managing partner of Synecor, a new technology incubator.

Dr. Stack has authored more than 350 manuscripts, book chapters and abstracts. He has been a principal and co-principal investigator for three NIH grants and has received multiple research awards during his career.

Dr. Stack holds 18 current worldwide patents and has an additional 24 patents pending on a variety of vascular therapeutic devises. Currently, his research team is developing a drug-delivery stent device – invented by Dr. Stack – which holds great promise for overcoming many of the limitations of current stents.

A major thrust of Dr. Stack’s current efforts include new devices for the treatment of peripheral vascular disease, particularly cerebrovascular disease.