This award was established in 1995 to recognize a practicing physician who has contributed to innovative laser procedures and/or laser products for medicine. It is given in memory of Ellet Drake, MD, co-founder of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery.
This award may be given to either ASLMS members or non-members. The award recipient will receive a plaque and $1,000 at the Annual Conference and will be required to present a lecture at the conference.
The candidate must meet the following criteria:
- A practicing physician with at least five years of practice
- Contributed to innovative laser procedures and/or laser products for medicine
- Contributed to literature and/or has demonstrated excellence in teaching on a regional or greater level substantiating their laser activity during their career
- Good verbal communication skills to allow for an informative, appropriate lecture
No award will be granted to any person if the award would be contrary to any United States law, including but not limited to trade embargoes administered by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
2026 Recipient
Tina S. Alster, MD, FAAD
Past Recipients
2025 – Dieter Manstein, MD, PhD
2024 – Kristen M. Kelly, MD
2023 – Eric F. Bernstein, MD, MSE
2022 – Fernanda H. Sakamoto, MD, PhD
2021 – Dieter Manstein, MD, PhD
2020 – Merete Haedersdal, MD, PhD, DMSc
2019 – Gerald N. Goldberg, MD
2018 – Jill S. Waibel, MD
2017 – Melanie Grossman, MD
2016 – Mathew M. Avram, MD, JD
2015 – Brian D. Zelickson, MD
2014 – Nathan S. Uebelhoer, DO
2013 – Emil A. Tanghetti, MD
2012 – Brian S. Biesman, MD
2011 – Dieter Manstein, MD
2010 – Henry H.L. Chan, MBBS, PhD, FRCP
2009 – Suzanne L. Kilmer, MD
2008 – Jeffrey S. Dover, MD
2007 – E. Victor Ross, MD
2006 – Kenneth A. Arndt, MD
2005 – Richard E. Fitzpatrick, MD
2004 – J. Stuart Nelson, MD, PhD
2003 – Robert A. Weiss, MD
2002 – Jerome M. Garden, MD
2001 – Roy G. Geronemus, MD
2000 – George S. Abela, MD
1999 – Raymond J. Lanzafame, MD
1998 – Ronald G. Wheeland, MD
1997 – David B. Apfelberg, MD
1996 – R. Rox Anderson, MD
1995 – John A. Parrish, MD