Melissa Stiles, MD, and David Ringdahl, MD, were honored at a virtual celebration on December 7, 2020, with UW Health Physician Excellence Awards. These prestigious awards are given annually to individuals who demonstrate exceptional skills in clinical practice and education, and a commitment to the mission, vision, and values of UW Health. Honorees were nominated by their peers with letters of support from colleagues, community leaders and patient families.
Melissa Stiles, MD
Melissa Stiles, MD
Dr. Stiles received the Leadership Excellence Award for demonstrating exceptional leadership skills outside of DFMCH as well as at an enterprise-wide level. Dr. Stiles blazed trails throughout her career by bringing emerging social and healthcare issues to the table for physician and healthcare response. She maintained a primary care practice in Belleville for 25 years and served as co-director and center director.
In the mid-90s, Dr. Stiles brought the issues of domestic violence and gun control within the walls of healthcare and the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, long before others viewed them as issues to be addressed by healthcare. Advocacy has been core to her work, and she is a bridge builder between communities, policymakers, advocates, academia and practitioners across a broad spectrum of issues — from falls prevention to prevention of all forms of violence, healthcare reform, and healthy aging.
She has filled numerous leadership roles within the department and the school, serving as mentor to faculty members and students alike. She held the role of associate program director and director of faculty development. More recently, Dr. Stiles served as inaugural director of the Longitudinal Teacher Coach Program where she co-developed and facilitated a 16-week program for 36 teaching coaches from 12 different departments.
Colleague Jennifer Edgoose, MD, MPH, praised not only her leadership roles, but also her leadership style. “Dr. Stiles is through and through one of the kindest and most compassionate individuals I know,” said Edgoose. “She embraces a whole-person approach incorporating core principles of wellness and gratitude in her work and is as likely to teach using skills of improvised theater and cooking as she is to provide a formal didactic lecture to engage her audience, be they clinical learners or community members.”
David Ringdahl, MD
David Ringdahl, MD
Dr. Ringdahl received the Clinical Practice Award for demonstrating exceptional patient- and family-centered care with a commitment to quality and patient safety. He has practiced full scope family medicine at the Deforest-Windsor Clinic for more than 30 years where he devotes 100% of his time to patient care.
In his letter of support, Daniel Jarzemsky, MD, lauded Ringdahl’s commitment to his patients and community. “Dave’s contributions go beyond clinical practice,” said Jarzemsky. “He continues to serve as medical director for the EMS in his community. He has taught medical students since he first started in practice in 1988, with a long tenure as preceptor of the Primary Care Clerkship for third year medical students. He currently serves as lead preceptor in the Phase 1 Preceptor Program, fulfilling the UW goal of educating the next generation of providers of family medicine.”
A strong and respected leader, Dr. Ringdahl has elevated the patient experience through key positions including medical director for the Deforest-Windsor, Cross Plains and Mount Horeb family medicine clinics. He has served on or chaired numerous committees throughout his career, and is known for his thoughtful and unbiased oversight and integrity.
Congratulations to these DFMCH physicians!
Published: January 2021