The American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation has awarded two Californian physicians with Excellence in Medicine Awards for their service and leadership.  

San Pablo internal medicine physician Lonnie Bristow, M.D., was awarded the Pride in Profession award, for physicians whose lives encompass the true spirit of being a medical professional through extraordinary patient care. Dr. Bristow is a clinician and advocate with more than 50 years of experience. In 1995, he became the first Black person to serve as AMA president.

A pioneer in health care equity and policy reform, Dr. Bristow has dedicated his career to ethical and socioeconomic issues such as the mistreatment of sickle cell anemia, the tobacco industry’s effect on public health, the death penalty, and HIV/AIDS.

Los Angeles family medicine physician Jerry Abraham, M.D., was awarded the Dr. Debasish Mridha Spirit of Medicine Award, which recognizes the work of U.S. physicians who demonstrate altruism, compassion, integrity, leadership and personal sacrifice while providing quality health care to destitute, distressed or marginalized population in impoverished communities.

Dr. Abraham is an advocate for equal access to public health and health care for people across Los Angeles. As director of Kedren Vaccines, he has fully repositioned the health care organization to serve as the lead responder for COVID-19 testing, vaccinations and therapeutics, providing more than 450,000 tests and more than 300,000 vaccines with a keen focus on South Los Angeles, earning international and national acclaim.

The awards were presented on June 11, 2022, at the AMA Annual Meeting in Chicago.