Prof. Wimalawansa wins prestigious award

By Dr. Stanley Weeraratne
(csweera@sltnet.lk) Former Professor at Ruhuna and Rajarata Universities

Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Endocrinology, and Nutrition, Prof. Sunil J. Wimalawansa, MD, PhD, MBA, FACP, FACE, FCCP, FRCP, FRCPath, DSc., was honored with the 2024 Eugene T. Davidson Public Service Award by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. The award ceremony was held on May 11 th 2024 at the 33 rd AACE-Annual Scientific & Clinical Congress in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

AACE is the largest clinical endocrinologist association representing over 8,000 endocrinologists worldwide. The Eugene T. Davidson, MD, global Public Service Award, named after a founder and former president of AACE, recognises exceptional contributions to advancing AACE’s mission of providing quality healthcare for patients with endocrine diseases and enhancing public health within the endocrinology community. It is highly esteemed and sought after in the field of endocrine medicine.

Prof. Wimalawansa in addition to multiple other degrees, obtained a diploma in medical administration from Johns Hopkins University School of Business in 2000 and an Executive master’s in business administration (MBA) from Rutgers University Business School in 2006. He has significanly contributed to academia and research with over 300 peer-reviewed articles, numerous book chapters, medical patents, and medical education programmes. He has also authored several books spanning various disciplines and taught undergraduates, and postgraduate level students.

Prof. Wimalawansa’s exceptional contributions have earned him numerous prestigious awards. Recognising his humanitarian endeavours, Prof. Wimalawansa received the Dr. Oscar Gluck International Humanitarian of the Year Award (2007) from the International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD) and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sri Lanka Foundation, Los Angeles in 2005 in honor of his remarkable contributions to science, humanity, and society.

Prof. Wimalawansa has played a crucial role as an advisory member and consultant for numerous leading national and international scientific committees, beyond his involvement in scientific writing and global teaching, his dedication to advancing scientific knowledge is underscored by his regular review of applications for granting organisations and manuscripts of national and international scientific journals. Additionally, he actively serves on editorial boards and remains deeply engaged in scientific research and the publication of cutting-edge findings across various subjects. Dr. Wimalwansa’s positive and visionary leadership and unwavering dedication inspire positive global change and advancements in healthcare. We need to be proud of having a professional like Prof. Wimalawansa amongst us Sri Lankans.