(Isstories Editorial):- Albany, New York Jan 22, 2026 (Issuewire.com) – Elena Fuentes-Afflick, MD, MPH, Chief Scientific Officer for the Association of American Medical Colleges, and Professor Emerita of Pediatrics, University of California at San Francisco, will be presented with the Elizabeth Blackwell Women in Medicine Career Achievement Award from the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) at the 111th AMWA Annual Meeting in San Francisco in March.
The AMWA Elizabeth Blackwell Award Women in Medicine Career Achievement Award was created as a lasting tribute to the first woman to earn a medical degree from an American medical school. The award is presented annually to celebrate a woman physician who has made an outstanding contribution to the cause of women in the field of medicine, created pathways for other women in medicine, and made exceptional contributions to the advancement of women physicians. The award was initiated in 1949 by Elise S. L’Esperance, MD. Until 1993, the award was given only to AMWA members, but is now open to all women physicians.
“Dr. Elena Fuentes-Afflick’s career reflects the very essence of the Elizabeth Blackwell Award–uniting rigorous scholarship, visionary leadership, and an unwavering commitment to advancing equity in medicine. Through her national influence, mentorship, and groundbreaking work in immigrant and Latino health and academic integrity, she has shaped a more just and inclusive future for women in medicine,” says Dr. Susan Hingle, AMWA Immediate Past President and 2026 Awards Chair.
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Elena Fuentes-Afflick, MD, MPH, is the Chief Scientific Officer of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Before joining the AAMC, Dr. Fuentes-Afflick served as professor of pediatrics and vice dean at the University of California, San Francisco. Her scholarly work has focused on Latino health, acculturation, immigrant health, health disparities, faculty misconduct, and diversity in academic medicine. An elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, she received the Joseph W. St. Geme, Jr. Leadership Award from the Federation of Pediatric Organizations. Dr. Fuentes-Afflick earned her undergraduate and medical degrees at the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in public health from the University of California, Berkeley. She completed her pediatric residency and chief residency at UCSF, followed by a research fellowship at the UCSF Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies.
Physician Awards will be presented in person during the AMWA Awards Gala, on Saturday, March 28 from 6 to 9 pm PT.
The AMWA Annual Meeting, held March 27-29, celebrates the theme: Thriving, Leading, Transforming: Rooted in Purpose, Rising in Power, Committed to Service. Sessions are designed to spark learning, reflection, and bold action, while celebrating the strength, resilience, and vision of those transforming medicine from the inside out.
To attend the Awards Ceremony or register for the full meeting, visit: amwa-doc.org/amwa111.
ABOUT AMWA
The American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA), founded in 1915, is the oldest multispecialty professional organization of women in medicine. Our mission is to advance women physicians and improve the health of women. www.amwa-doc.org
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