Wintemute, Chuck are recipients of distinguished alumnus, humanitarian awards

A UC Davis School of Medicine alumnus who is a leading researcher in the field of epidemiology and prevention of firearm violence, and another alumnus who raises money for community charities, were honored recently at the school’s Alumni Day Reunion Dinner.

The 2006 School of Medicine Distinguished Alumnus Award was presented to Garen Wintemute, Class of 1977, while the 2006 School of Medicine Humanitarian Award went to John Chuck, Class of 1989.

Wintemute is one of the nation’s leading researchers in the field of epidemiology and prevention of firearm violence and has done more than any other individual in medicine to translate the results of such research into effective public policy. After completing his medical training at UC Davis, Wintemute entered the private practice of emergency medicine. During his first year, he worked for six months in Cambodia with the International Committee of the Red Cross. His experiences in Cambodia and as an emergency medicine physician changed his career. Determined to refocus on prevention and policy issues, he obtained a Master’s of Public Health degree in international health and injury epidemiology, then joined the faculty at UC Davis.

Wintemute published three of the first papers ever to consider firearm violence from a public-health perspective.

The Distinguished Alumnus Award, established in 1988, was created to give recognition annually to an alumna/us of the UC Davis School of Medicine or Medical Center for contributions to society and distinguishing themselves through outstanding achievements in medicine.

Chuck is a family physician with the Permanente Medical Group and a clinical professor at the UC Davis School of Medicine. As the founder and CEO of Serotonin Surge Charities, Chuck has been the driving force behind fund-raising efforts that have provided support for community charities and, in particular, $180,000 in support of the UC Davis School of Medicine student-run clinics and predoctoral training programs.

Chuck, a 1989 alumnus of the UC Davis Family Practice Residency Program, has been a popular preceptor at the School of Medicine continuously since 1990. Chuck's dedication to improving patient care and providing for the underserved is reflected in his daily life as a physician, mentor and volunteer in the community.

The Humanitarian Award, established in 1990, was created to give recognition annually to an alumna/us of the UC Davis School of Medicine or the UC Davis Medical Center for outstanding contributions to their community through distinguished public service.