Rainbow Award
The prestigious Rainbow Award acknowledges our physicians and community preceptors who display outstanding attributes of professionalism and excellence in medicine and impart these characteristics to their students.
About the Rainbow Award
The Rainbow Award was established in 1998-1999 by the Medical Student Assembly in conjunction with the Dean of the School of Medicine to honor our heroes in medicine.
The distinguished Rainbow Award honors those individuals who exemplify the attributes of professionalism in medicine and share those qualities with the students whom they mentor.
Nomination Process
Each year, medical students nominate those physicians who have impacted their educational experience and have given them a solid example of excellence in the field of medicine. Rainbow Award nominees are specifically recognized for possessing the following qualities and attributes:
- altruism
- accountability
- excellence
- duty and service
- honor and integrity
- respect for patients, staff and students
Nominations are submitted by students and honorees are then selected by students. Students nominate five finalists and then vote for the ultimate award recipient.
Nomination Criteria
- Nominees must be a member of KU School of Medicine physicians or community preceptors.
- Students recommend the faculty names with a statement justifying why they deserve to be recognized with the award.
- Nominations, all support materials and questions should be sent to the Student Voice Committee Chair.
Selection Criteria
- The student selection committee evaluates nominees by reviewing their personal questionnaire and CV.
- Five finalists are selected by student committee.
- Five finalists are required to complete a Rainbow Award Finalist questionnaire and are invited to submit their CV.
- The winner is selected from the list of five finalists by student body vote.
- The winner is announced at A Grand Affair, the annual award dinner and gala.
Award and Presentation
The past year recipient presents to the new winner. Honorees get an award certificate and trophy, and a short video highlighting their achievements is shared at the award dinner.
Previous Honorees
- 2022-2023
Annabel Mancillas, M.D. - 2021-2022
David Becker, M.D. - 2020-2021
Laurel Witt, M.D. - 2019-2020
Jennifer Villwock, M.D. - 2018-2019
Gary Gronseth, M.D. - 2017-2018
Kirk Miller, D.O. - 2016-2017
Abebe Abebe, M.D. - 2015-2016
Joseph LeMaster, M.D. - 2014-2015
Jana Zaudke, M.D. - 2013-2014
Michael Kennedy, M.D. - 2012-2013
Sarah Taylor, M.D. - 2011-2012
Gary Doolittle, M.D. - 2010-2011
Deborah Clements, M.D. - 2009-2010
Garold Minns, M.D. - 2008-2009
Mark Meyer, M.D. - 2007-2008
David Robbins, M.D. - 2006-2007
Mary Duff, M.D. - 2005-2006
Daniel Dickerson, M.D. - 2004-2005
Vance R. Burns, M.D. - 2003-2004
Steven Simpson, M.D. - 2002-2003
Belinda A. Vail, M.D. - 2001-2002
LeAnn Detar-Newbert, M.D. - 2000-2001
Debra Smith, M.D. - 1999-2000
Michael Moncure, M.D. - 1998-1999
Linda Campbell, M.D.