Superhero of Medicine Award

Background

Each year at the Annual Fundraising Dinner and Silent Auction, the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation recognizes an outstanding Wisconsin physician with the Superhero of Medicine award.

2025 Superhero of Medicine Award Recipient Christopher Eberlein, MD

Christopher Eberlein, MD, an emergency medicine physician in La Crosse actively leads initiatives to promote harm reduction and increase treatment options for addiction. He serves on the Wisconsin Emergency Medical Services Board and co-founded Alliance to Heal with the mission to defeat the opioid epidemic in the La Crosse community. Forward-thinking and community-driven, Dr. Eberlein is revered for his commitment to the health and safety of Wisconsin. “He is tireless in his efforts to positively impact our community through wide knowledge, deep compassion, innovative leadership and an engaging spirit,” says Scott Rathgaber, MD, CEO Emplify Health.

2025 Emeritus Superhero of Medicine Award Recipient John Ridley, MD

John Ridley, MD is a retired ophthalmologist who practiced in the Milwaukee and Mequon region for over thirty years. Growing up and attending college in Indiana, he relocated to Wisconsin with his family to begin medical residency in 1961. In the 1960s, he joined Cream City Medical Society, Milwaukee’s first and only organization of African American physicians, and trailblazed in leadership and advocacy throughout his career. He was a powerful voice that called attention to systemic racism not only in health care and medicine, but also in education and American history. Amongst numerous affiliations with community, state, and national organizations, he served on the Wisconsin Medical Society Board and AMA House of Delegates during the 1990s and as 2005-2006 Milwaukee Rotary Club President. Colleague Clarence Chou, MD, writes in his letter of recommendation, “Dr. Ridley’s nemesis is thoughtlessness. He has made a change in the way others see the world around them.” Admired for his unwavering kindness and compassion, Dr. Ridley truly has demonstrated himself as a superhero of the community.

Guidelines

The Superhero of Medicine Award shall be awarded to a Wisconsin physician who lives out the mission of the Foundation to an exemplary degree, going above and beyond to improve the health of their patients and/or community, and is involved in a program of the Foundation or a project supported by the Foundation through a grant or other partnership. Preference will be given to physicians who are Wisconsin Medical Society members.

Requirements:

1. The physician must be a Wisconsin resident.
2. The physician must be a medical doctor (MD) or doctor of osteopathy (DO).
3. The physician must be involved in a program of the Foundation or a project supported by the Foundation through a grant or other partnership.
4. Previous winners of the award are not eligible.

Additional letters of recommendation are encouraged. These may be from physicians, patients, community leaders, etc. that help demonstrate the nominee's activities and values. Additional letters of support can be uploaded with the application or emailed to [email protected].

Click here to nominate someone.