Distinguished Physician Award | Mahoning Valley Medi

Nomination for the Distinguished Physician Award

Nominations are now open for the 2025 Distinguished Physician Award, an honor established in 1978 to recognize a physician who has made outstanding contributions to the medical profession, their patients, and the community. Nominees must be members of the Mahoning Valley Medical Society and may be active, retired, or deceased. Only current Society members may submit nominations, which should include details about the nominee’s achievements and why they are deserving of this distinction.

1978 – Dr. Ramiro Albarran; Dr. John A. McCann (Posthumous)
1979 – Dr. Richard D. Murray
1980 – Dr. Walter J. Tims
1981 – Dr. John C. Melnick
1982 – Dr. Jack Shreiber
1983 – Dr. Samuel D. Goldberg
1984 – Dr. John J. McDonough
1985 – Dr. C. Edward Pichette
1986 – Dr. William E. Sovik
1987 – Dr. Andrew A. Detesco
1988 – Dr. Stephen W. Ondash; Dr. Gabriel E. Dicicco
1989 – Dr. Henry S. Ellison
1990 – Dr. Frederick A. Freidrich; Dr. Lewis Reed (Posthumous)
1991 – Dr. Angelo Riberi; Dr. Charles Waltner (Posthumous)
1992 – Dr. George H. Dietz

1993 – Dr. Henry Holden
1994 – Dr. Kenneth J. Hovanic
1995 – Dr. A. Reed Hoffmaster (Posthumous)
1996 – Dr. Chester A. Amedia, Jr.
1997 – Dr. Hira L. Khanna
1998 – Dr. Patrick B. Cestone (Posthumous)
1999 – Dr. Rashid A. Abdu
2000 – Dr. Sanford Gaylord
2001 – Dr. Anand Garg; Dr. Chatrchai Watanakunakom (Posthumous)
2002 – Dr. John Buckley, Sr.
2003 – Dr. Chander Kohli
2004 – Dr. John J. Turner
2005 – Dr. Raymond S. Boniface; Dr. Ulrich H. Boening (Posthumous)
2006 – Dr. Sudershan K. Garg; Dr. John Politis (Posthumous)
2007 – Dr. Richard Memo; Dr. Robert Ricchiuti
2008 – Dr. James E. Might

2009 – Dr. Charles A. Crans
2011 – Dr. Vincent Lepore
2012 – Dr. Thomas E. Albani, Jr.
2013 – Dr. Abdul Ghani
2014 – Dr. Nancy Gantt
2015 – Dr. C. Conner White
2016 – Dr. Charles Wilkins
2017 – Dr. Rebecca Bailey
2018 – Dr. Joni Canby
2019 – Dr. James Smith (Mah); Dr. John T. Vlad (Trumbull)
2020 – Dr. Raymond Duffett (Mah); Dr. Chris Knight (Trumbull)
2021 – Dr. Jean Blair (Mah); Dr. Joseph Cerimele (Trumbull)
2022 – Dr. Roberto Bacani (Mah); Dr. Ron Dwinnells (Trumbull)
2023 – Dr. Denise Bobovnyik (Mah & Trumbull)
2024 – Dr. Charles McGowen (Mahoning)