Award Recognition

Nephrologist Patricia Kao Receives ASP Eric G. Neilson Award

Patricia Kao, 2025 Eric G. Neilson, MD, Leadership in Specialty Internal Medicine Award recipient.

WashU Nephrologist Patricia Kao, MD, MS, MHPE has been awarded the 2025 ASP Eric G. Neilson, MD, Leadership in Specialty Internal Medicine Award.  Dr. Kao is Professor of Medicine in the Divisions of Nephrology and General Medicine & Geriatrics, and is Director of the Washington University Teaching Physician Pathway (WUTPP). 

The award is presented by the Association of Specialty Professors (ASP), one of the five founding organizations of the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine (AAIM).  Founded in 1994 by Eric G. Neilson, MD, the award recognizes a leader who has significantly influenced the field of internal medicine specialties.

“I am so fortunate to be a part of the WashU community, who has supported and valued my work as a clinician educator and has provided me with vast opportunities to grow as a leader.  Thanks also to the Alliance for Academic Medicine and the Association of Specialty Professors for this recognition and honor.” 

Patricia Kao

Since joining WashU Nephrology in 2016, Dr. Kao has built a remarkable list of achievements in medical education, most notably creating the WUTPP.  With the support of the prestigious Carol B. and Jerome T. Loeb Teaching Fellowship (2017-2019), she designed and pioneered the WUTPP program and curriculum. This program offers residents and fellows interested in medical education the chance for in-depth professional development as clinical educators. Since 2017, 144 residents and fellows from internal medicine, pediatrics, ob-gyn, general surgery, dermatology, radiation oncology, and physical medicine and rehabilitation have graduated from, or are currently participating in, one of Kao’s clinician educator programs.

The Alliance will honor the 2025 awards recipients during Academic Internal Medicine Week 2025, held April 6-9, New Orleans, LA.  


Follow @kao_patricia and @AAIMOnline on X.

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