The Lewis B. Flinn President’s Award is made in the name of Lewis B. Flinn, M.D., a founder and the first President of the Delaware Academy of Medicine. It is awarded to an individual or organization that has achieved distinction by substantive contributions to the well being of our community through education, leadership, philanthropy, or service.
The 2025 recipient of the Lewis B. Flinn President’s award is
Anand Panwalker, MD, MACP, FIDSA
Dr. Panwalker was the Vice President for Patient and Family Relations, Clinical Excellence and Professionalism at ChristianaCare in Newark, Delaware, and Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Sidney Kimmel College of Medicine at Jefferson University. He has been President of the Medical/Dental Staff and Chief of Infectious Disease at ChristianaCare.
Previously, he was Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Illinois in Chicago, Associate Professor at Jefferson Medical College, and Chief of Infectious Disease at the VA Medical Center, Wilmington. He has written numerous articles focused on antimicrobial therapies and is the author of a memoir The Place of Cold Water, which details his early life in Kenya, medical training in India, and his post-graduate work in Chicago. His perspective from life on three continents is a poignant and sobering narrative.
Sick and Scared… his second book, examines the work we must do to fix our dysfunctional health care system. Dr. Panwalker became an ACP member in 1977 and a Fellow in 1979. He has been active in the Delaware Chapter, having received both the Laureate and Leonard Lang Awards, the latter given to one exemplifying the qualities of an outstanding internist. In April 2024, the American College of Physicians conferred the title of Master to him in recognition of his clinical and academic endeavors. He is one of only eight Delaware physicians ever given this award in the past 100 years.
His many teaching awards include two Golden Apples as well as the Best Attending of the Year at the University of Illinois, the Distinguished Teaching Award for House staff Education at Jefferson, Teacher of the Year at Christiana Care, the Mark Maxwell Award at Christiana Care for compassionate and ethical care and the Delaware HIV consortium Award for the care of veterans with HIV/AIDs and the Commendation for Excellence Award from the entire medical staff at Christiana Care. Since his transition from direct clinical responsibilities to leadership roles within Christiana Care, he remained a crucial voice in support of clinical excellence and professionalism introducing a Just Culture within the health care system. He retired in November 2024.
Previous Recipients of the Lewis B. Flinn President’s Award
2008: Victor F. Battaglia, Sr., Esq.
2009: Robert W. Frelick, M.D.
2010: Leslie W. Whitney, M.D.
2011: Robert B. Flinn, M.D.
2012: Edwin L. Granite, D.M.D
2013: Katherine L. Esterly, M.D.
2014: LTG(DE) William H. Duncan, M.D.
2015: Joseph A. Kuhn, M.D.
2016: J. Kent Riegel, Esq.
2017: The Honorable Susan C. Del Pesco, Esq.
2018: Nicholas J. Petrelli, M.D., F.A.C.S.
2019: Sherman L. Townsend
2020-2021: Governor John C. Carney and First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney
2022: Verna Wilkins Hensley
2023: Lolita A. Lopez, F.A.C.H.E.
2024: Joseph F. “Ted” Kestner, Jr., MD