UND doctors receive Humanism in Medicine awards David M. Schall, associate professor of surgery at UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences, recently was honored with the prestigious Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award. Marisa A. Upton, a 2009 UND medical school graduate and Minot native, also received a Tow award. The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Awards are sponsored by the New Jersey-based Arnold P. Gold Foundation. They recognize physicians and medical students who best demonstrate the foundation’s ideals of outstanding compassion in the delivery of care, respect for patients, their families and health care colleagues, as well as clinical excellence. Schall was nominated by students and fellow faculty members for the award because of his widely recognized willingness to help others, his demonstrated compassion and empathy in his treatment of and relationships with patients, and for his excellence in professional behavior toward students, colleagues, and the community. He teaches senior medical students in their required Surgery Acting Internship. A native of Grand Forks, Schall graduated from UND School of Medicine with highest honors in 1997. He is certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery. Schall joined Valley Bone & Joint Clinic in 2002 after completing an orthopedic surgery residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. At Valley Bone & Joint Clinic, Dr. Schall specializes in adult reconstruction and foot and ankle surgery, as well as providing general orthopedic and fracture care. Nominated by a peer, Marisa A. Upton was described as, “A true doctor’s and friend’s friend. Marisa’s compassion towards her patients and those she works with is evident daily. She is an inspiration to all she meets, and her compassion for her patients is comparable to none.” Upton, a first year resident at the Minot Center for Family Medicine, has consistently volunteered for numerous activities including Special Olympics, blood drives, high school gymnastics, a mentorship program for Native American youth, and teaching elementary classes about tobacco use dangers. For four years, she served as class representative on the medical school committee that reviews poor academic performance, issues of professionalism, or academic honesty. She is a highly valued contributor, demonstrating exceptional maturity, judgment, and compassion. The Gold Foundation sponsors the annual Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Awards at over 85 of the nation's medical schools. The awards are made possible through a generous donation from entrepreneur and teacher Leonard Tow. -- Denis MacLeod, Communications Specialist, Center for Rural Health, dmacleod@medicine.nodak.edu, 777-3300