| Colwell
receives highest academic honor
John Colwell, M.D., Ph.D., has received a Mastership in the American College of Physicians. This is the highest academic honor that can be bestowed on specialists in internal medicine. The Board of Regents of the American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine bestowed the mastership award to Colwell in recognition of his contributions to diabetes research. Colwell was director of the MUSC Endocrinology-Diabetes Division from 1971-1994 and is now director of the university’s Diabetes Center. Colwell was MUSC’s lead investigator in the landmark Diabetes Control and Complications Trial which documented that tight control of glycemic levels for patients with diabetes could reduce the complications of diabetes by as much as 76 percent. Colwell served as president of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), 1987-1988. Under his leadership the association completed the first national study on the cost of diabetes and its complications. The ADA has recognized his leadership with the Banting Medal for Distinguished Service and the Outstanding Physician Educator in Diabetes Award. In South Carolina, Colwell has served on virtually every committee of the S.C. Affiliate of the ADA as well as chairman of the affiliate board. The S.C. Affiliate established the John A. Colwell Award for Excellence in Diabetes Research of which he was the first recipient. He is currently chairman of the board of the Diabetes Initiative of South Carolina and is implementing a coordinated system for improving diabetes care and management to more than 300,000 people with diabetes in South Carolina. |