The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital Honors Dr. Vicky Fraser with 2023 President's Achievement Award

On Dec. 7, 2023, The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital presented Vicky Fraser, MD, the Adolphus Busch Professor of Medicine and the chair of the John T. Milliken Department of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine, with its 2023 President's Achievement Award.

Each year, the Foundation presents the President's Achievement Award to an accomplished physician, researcher, or faculty partner who upholds the Barnes-Jewish Hospital mission, advances medical knowledge, continuously improves the delivery of world-class patient care, and educates the next generation of clinicians. The award is given at an annual event that recognizes the enduring partnerships among the Foundation, donors, physicians, and other team members across BJC HealthCare and Washington University School of Medicine.

"Recipients of the President's Achievement Award are among the finest, most accomplished physicians in the world who have been tremendous partners to the Foundation," says Susan Ell, Foundation vice president and executive director. "This defines Dr. Fraser. Our partnerships are at the heart of the advanced care the hospital provides our community. We're honored to work alongside exceptional physicians and leaders—such as Dr. Fraser—who inspire donors to make impactful gifts that fuel progress, innovations, and hope in medicine that benefit our families, friends, and our community."

A well-respected physician, scientist, and leader, Dr. Fraser has been with Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Hospital for nearly 35 years and has made her mark in multiple areas.

In 2012, she became the first female head of the Department of Medicine, the largest department at the medical school. As chair, she oversees more than 750 faculty and a staff of nearly 2,500. Through her leadership, the Department of Medicine has received more research funding than any other research enterprise at Washington University.

Dr. Fraser is also physician-in-chief at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and director of Washington University's Clinical Research Training Center, which is supported by the Foundation. Dr. Fraser’s leadership skills were evident early in her career. In 2005, she assumed the role of chief of the Division of Infectious Disease. With Dr. Fraser at the helm, the division continued to expand infectious diseases services and research to become the largest provider of HIV care in the region.

"Dr. Fraser's countless contributions, expertise, and vision are only matched by her compassion and integrity," says John Lynch, MD, Barnes-Jewish Hospital president "She mentors other physicians and strives to help them reach their highest potential and make the world a better place. "

Dr. Fraser is a strong advocate for equity in academic medicine. She works tirelessly to address structural barriers that limit careers of women and other underrepresented groups.

She also has made it a priority to look at medicine with fresh eyes to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion. Her ongoing commitment to this effort runs deep as she seeks to identify systemic inequities and health disparities and work with teams to develop solutions.

As an expert in health care epidemiology, Dr. Fraser has focused her research on preventing and controlling medical errors, hospital-acquired infections, and adverse events. This research, combined with her work with the BJC Infection Control Consortium, led to dramatic declines in hospital-acquired infections at BJC facilities.

Dr. Fraser thanked the Foundation for supporting her research work to reduce hospital-acquired infections, as well as providing her with grants that launched several programs to benefit community health.

"The Foundation funds are critical to enable Washington University faculty to get grants and do important work," she says. "The Foundation made it possible for me to get independent research funding and have a successful research career for more than 30 years."

In the past year, Dr. Fraser was awarded the Association of Professors of Medicine Robert H. Williams, MD, Distinguished Chair of Medicine Award for her outstanding leadership from the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine. Most recently, she was presented with the SHEA Senior Scholar Award from the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

A native St. Louisan, Dr. Fraser received her medical degree from the University of Missouri–Columbia and completed her residency and chief residency in internal medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. She completed a fellowship in infectious disease at the former Barnes Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine and built her career in her hometown.

Rich Liekweg, BJC HealthCare president and CEO, congratulated Dr. Fraser on being honored with the Foundation's President's Achievement Award. "Thank you for your leadership, partnership, friendship, and collaboration over the years. You are a trailblazer in academic medicine as we improve the health of our communities, train the next generation of physician-scientists and clinicians, and advance the frontiers of medicine."

Written by Joyce Romine.