Medical educators recognized at 2024 Physicians Alumni Weekend

Four MU School of Medicine alumni and current medical educators were honored from Nov. 8-9 at the medical school’s annual Physicians Alumni Weekend.

Each year, the MU Medical Alumni Organization recognizes alumni for their outstanding achievements, contributions to the field of medicine and support of the School of Medicine.

Congratulations to the 2024 award recipients:

Mary Dohrmann, MD

Dohrmann earned her medical degree from the MU School of Medicine in 1974 and currently serves as the Brent M. Parker, MD Professor of Medicine in Cardiology and Professor of Clinical Medicine. She is currently the program director for the Fellowship in Cardiovascular Disease, the associate designated official for Graduate Medical Education and the director of Electrocardiography and Stress Testing at MU Health Care.

Dohrmann’s clinical interests include chronic cardiovascular disease management, cardiovascular risk reduction and rehabilitation, geriatric cardiology, and heart disease in women. She teaches at all levels, including students, residents, fellows, nurses, allied health professionals and community groups.

Barry J. Gainor, MD

Gainor recently retired from practice after 37 years of service to the University of Missouri. He remains active with the School of Medicine as an Emeritus Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, including resident training, research and outreach.

Gainor has been a cornerstone of orthopaedic surgery at MU since the 1970s. He has cared for thousands of patients, helped build the orthopaedic surgical residency training program, established programmatic resident research, and elevated MU’s national and international reputation and standing as an orthopaedic surgery and research center of excellence.

Anand A. Patel, MD

Patel earned his medical degree from the MU School of Medicine in 2014 and is currently an assistant professor of Medicine in Hematology/Oncology at the University of Chicago. He also serves as the director of the Inpatient Leukemia Service and is an associate program director of the Adult Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Program.

Patel has been recognized nationally for his expertise in leukemia, recently being appointed to serve on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) panels for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs).

Kristin Sohl, MD

Sohl, a distinguished pediatrician and professor of Pediatrics at MU, is the founder and executive director of ECHO Autism. The network spearheads efforts to improve access to high-quality screening, evaluation, and longitudinal support for individuals on the autism spectrum, particularly in underserved and rural populations.

In addition to her exceptional contributions to the field of medicine, Sohl is regarded as the biggest child health advocate in Jefferson City, Missouri. She created and developed a robust advocacy curriculum for MU’s pediatric department that continues to inspire residents in training. Sohl was also a founding member of the state-wide advocacy group, MOCARE, that created a first of its kind advocacy track for residents throughout the state.

Following the recognition of this year’s medical alumni award recipients, Carl Myers, MD, garnered the first-ever Dean’s Distinguished Service Award. Myers, a 1974 graduate of the School of Medicine, played a key role in his graduating class raising more than $500,000 for their respective scholarship.

Myers has served as a practicing physician at North Kansas City Hospital for more than 47 years. His exemplary community service and generosity reaches beyond MU, as he has volunteered as the team physician for his hometown of Platte City, Missouri, high school football team and provides physicals for all student-athletes in town.

As well as honoring this year’s alumni award winners, School of Medicine alumni attendees partook in lectures from distinguished alumni and interactive panel discussions. The Physician Alumni Weekend’s premier event, the 67th annual Medical Alumni Dinner, celebrated marquee reunions of 12 medical school graduating classes – 1964, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2019.

2024 Physicians Alumni Weekend Photos