Rochester- November 2024- The Mayo Clinic Alumni Association announced the 2024 recipients of the Mayo Clinic Distinguished Alumni Awards. The six recipients were honored at the Mayo Foundation House in October.

In 1981, the Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees established the Mayo Clinic Distinguished Alumni Award to acknowledge and appreciate Mayo alumni’s exceptional contributions to medicine, including medical practice, research, education, and administration. This award recognizes individuals who achieve national — and often international — distinction in their fields.

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The 2024 Recipients:

• Clifford Jack Jr., M.D. — Dr. Jack is a professor of radiology and the Alexander Family Professor of Alzheimer’s Disease Research at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. He is a consultant in the Division of Neuroradiology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Dr. Jack is a preeminent leader in the area of imaging biomarkers and a field-shifting Alzheimer’s disease pathophysiology researcher. His contributions laid the scientific groundwork for the development of disease-modifying, amyloid-lowering therapies for Alzheimer’s.
• Nita Maihle, Ph.D. — Dr. Maihle is a professor of medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in Jackson, Mississippi. She is the former associate director for research at the UMMC Cancer Center and Research Institute. Dr. Maihle is a pioneer of translational cancer research and biomedical research training. Her work has improved cancer detection, prevention and treatment, particularly in cancers that affect women.
• Alexandre Nehme, M.D. — Dr. Nehme was instrumental in the creation of the Saint George University of Beirut medical school in Beirut, Lebanon. The school’s development was interrupted by a chemical explosion that destroyed over 80% of Saint George hospital. Dr. Nehme played a pivotal role in evacuation efforts. In the months that followed, he and colleagues proceeded with faculty and curriculum development for the medical school.
• Rick Nishimura, M.D. — Dr. Nishimura is an emeritus professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Rochester. Dr. Nishimura has received many awards for his work as an outstanding educator. He is also recognized worldwide as a master clinician with unparalleled experience in hemodynamics and the treatment of valvular disorders.
• Kerry Olsen, M.D. — Dr. Olsen is an emeritus professor of otolaryngology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Rochester. Dr. Olsen is a global expert in head and neck oncologic surgery. He has held many influential leadership and education roles, including serving on the Mayo Clinic Board of Governors, Board of Trustees and as elected president of Mayo Clinic staff in Rochester.
• Robert Wharen Jr., M.D. — Dr. Wharen is an emeritus professor of neurosurgery at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. Wharen was the inaugural chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.