AMWA names 31 women physicians for 2026 INSPIRE Award

The American Medical Women’s Association has named 31 women physicians as recipients of its 2026 INSPIRE Award, recognizing leadership, mentorship, patient care, advocacy and service. The annual honor, announced during Women in Medicine Month, spotlights physicians whose work is shaping medicine and supporting women in the field.

Why it matters: - The AMWA INSPIRE Award recognizes women physicians who are influencing care, training, advocacy, and workplace culture in medicine. - The 2026 honorees span academic medicine, community care, specialty practice, and leadership roles across the U.S. - The award highlights women physicians whose work affects patients, trainees, and the broader health care system.

What happened: - The American Medical Women’s Association announced 31 recipients of the 2026 AMWA INSPIRE Award on Sept. 23, 2026. - AMWA presents the annual award in September during Women in Medicine Month. - The award honors women physicians for vision, integrity, service, and role modeling in medicine and health care. - AMWA said the recipients were selected for leadership, mentorship, patient care, advocacy, and service.

The details: - AMWA Leadership Council established the INSPIRE Award in 2021 to recognize women physicians who inspire others through excellence in patient care, mentorship, leadership, community service, and advocacy. - Recipients are nominated by colleagues, mentees, supervisors, students, or collaborators. - Honorees include physicians in clinical, academic, and administrative roles, ranging from professors and residency directors to practice owners, hospital leaders, and specialty specialists. - The 2026 recipients are Leslie Algase, Bhooma R. Aravamuthan, Rebekah Bernard, Ja’Nelle M. Blocker, Jan K. Carney, Colleen Christmas, Melanie Cree, Grace Y. Gombolay, Kami Harless, Saba A. Hasan, Tracey L. Henry, Martha L. Hlafka, Amy K. Holbrook, Teresa M. Hunter-Pettersen, Elena Jimenez-Gutierrez, Kathryn R. Ko, Gogi Kumar, Padmini Murthy, Suchitra Pilli, Karen Poirier-Brode, Rachel S. Rubin, Nicole Schlechter, Sasha K. Shillcutt, Mary Katherine Scott Siebenaler, Divya Sistla, Damaris Vega, Akshra Verma, Ekaterina A. Vypritskaya, Michelle F. Wallen, Tiffani L. Bell Washington, and Janice L. Werbinski. - Several honorees work at major academic medical centers, including the University of Rochester, Washington University School of Medicine, Emory University, the University of Arizona, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and the University of Nebraska Medical Center. - The honorees also include physicians focused on underserved care, street medicine, public health, endocrinology, urology, OB/Gyn, emergency medicine, and sexual medicine.

Between the lines: - The award list shows AMWA emphasizing leadership beyond formal titles, including mentorship, community service, and culture-building in medicine. - The wide range of specialties suggests AMWA wants the honor to reflect influence across the profession, not just in one practice setting. - By naming 31 recipients, AMWA is using the award to broaden visibility for women physicians whose work may not always receive public recognition.

What's next: - AMWA will continue to use the INSPIRE Award to spotlight women physicians nominated by peers and trainees. - The organization will likely keep presenting the honor each September during Women in Medicine Month. - AMWA said it will continue its broader mission of advancing women physicians and improving the health of women.

The bottom line: - AMWA is using the 2026 INSPIRE Award to recognize 31 women physicians whose leadership and service are shaping medicine from the clinic to the classroom to community care.