CLAIRE C. LAURENCE/Arizona Daily Wildcat Dr. Ronald S. Weinstein M.D. was recently awarded for his philanthropic efforts and dedication to the medical profession by being named the "Physician of the Year" by Tucson University Medical Center.

The National Republican Congressional Committee in Washington, D.C., honored two professors in the College of Medicine with Arizona's Physician of the Year award.

Dr. Ronald Weinstein, professor and chair of the Pathology department at the UA College of Medicine, and Dr. Anna Graham, professor of Pathology at the College of Medicine, received the awards for their extensive work in Arizona health care and services.

Weinstein, who earned his bachelor of science degree from Union College, his medical degree from Tufts Medical School and pathology training at Massachusetts General and Harvard University, said he was honored to have recognition associated with Arizona.

"I am delighted to receive this award but am especially delighted that the award says it is from Arizona," Weinstein said. "We have an incredible pool of talent here in Arizona, and it is a delight that the governor and legislature is looking at the biomedical industry."

In addition to his work in telemedicine, Weinstein is also considered the inventor of robotic telepathology and the array microscope developed in cooperation with the UA Optical Science Center.

One of Weinstein's accomplishments has been the Arizona Telemedicine Program at University Medical Center, which is one of the premier telemedicine programs in the country and was founded in 1996 through the efforts of Weinstein and Sen. Robert Burns, R-Ariz.

We have an incredible pool of talent here in Arizona. – Dr. Ronald Weinstein Pathology department chair

"We like to be creators and not feel confined by a traditional academic job description," Weinstein said. "This award is a tribute to the university, and it is wonderful how the UA encourages that."

Graham, professor of pathology at the College of Medicine and proud UA alumna, said she was happy to say she received all of her education in Arizona, most of which was at the UA.

Graham's area of expertise is orthopedic pathology, and she has also published research on cardiac transplantation pathology.

"I'm excited, because what we have done here has in a way help sensitize towards patients needs," Graham said. "It is wonderful to be able to provide the highest quality care, while at the same time, saving the state some much-needed funding."

Graham was also the president of the Arizona State Pathological Society, Treasurer of the Arizona State Medical Association and a retired delegate from the American Medical Association.

Both Graham and Weinstein are holders of the distinguished lifetime teaching award for the College of Medicine, of which only five have ever been awarded.