Larry Johnson, Megan Davis Awarded for Medical Ethics
| Nov. 22, 2016 | Larry G. Johnson, M.D., and Megan R. Davis, M.D., have received the 2016 Chris Hackler Awards for Excellence in Medical Ethics. Both work in the Department of Internal Medicine in the UAMS College of Medicine.
The University Hospital Ethics Committee presents the award to one faculty member and one resident each year who champion a culture of ethics through their attitudes and practices. The award was started in 2005 to promote the thoughtful analysis and discussion of ethical issues in patient care.
The award was named after Chris Hackler, Ph.D., in appreciation for and recognition of his 25 years on campus as the founding director of the Division of Medical Humanities. He was course director for the medical students’ medical ethics course from 1983-2005. He was the initial recipient of the award.
Megan R. Davis, M.D., left, receives the 2016 resident Hackler ethics award from James D. Marsh, M.D.
Johnson has served as professor and director of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine since his recruitment from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, in 2005. He is also chief of the Pulmonary Section for the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System.
Johnson was praised by the committee for routinely attending to patients’ and families’ informational and emotion needs when making difficult, end-of-life decisions and teaching his medical students to do the same. He was also cited for working well with interdisciplinary teams.
Davis, who joined the Division of Palliative Medicine as an assistant professor in July, was recognized for excellence in ethics during her internal medicine-pediatrics residency and her fellowship in hospice and palliative medicine. She also serves as co-director of the UAMS Adult Sickle Cell Clinical Program.
Davis was honored for being an advocate for the wishes of patients. Colleagues described her as a calm voice during what can be emotional end-of-life care decisions. “We have seen her help families move through their grieving process and make medical decisions, ever cognizant of what the patient would have wanted,” according to a nomination letter.
The two received plaques and their names have been added to a permanent plaque displayed in the foyer of UAMS Medical Center.