McNeese wins Distinguished Service Award
McGovern Medical School presented Margaret McNeese, MD, Ransom Lummis Family Professor in Pediatrics, and vice dean of Admissions and Student Affairs, with the inaugural John P. and Kathrine G. McGovern Distinguished Service Award.
The award is presented to a member of the faculty of McGovern Medical School who has rendered exceptional meritorious service and impacted every facet of the school’s mission. It is the highest tribute the school can award to one of its members.
McNeese received the award April 28 at the commencement ceremony for the McGovern Medical School graduating class of 2023. She was surprised on stage by her daughters Bridget McNeese Cummins and Dr. Catherine McNeese.
McNeese has served on the faculty of McGovern Medical School for more than 46 years. A renowned pediatrician, McNeese earned her medical degree in 1971 from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. She completed her residency in pediatrics and a fellowship in ambulatory pediatrics at UTMB Health and has held hospital appointments at John Sealy Hospital, Shriners Hospital for Children, and currently, at Memorial Hermann Health System and Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital.
She also maintains a thriving pediatrics practice and has served as the head of the school’s Student Health Services.
Throughout her academic career, McNeese has been a dedicated advocate for students and patients. A true champion of medical education, she ensures that students receive the support and resources necessary to succeed in both their training and their careers. She also is a well-respected expert in child abuse and is often called upon to provide a voice for victims who are unable to speak for themselves. Additionally, McNeese served on the Texas Medical Board from 2006-2019, advocating for quality health care for the citizens of the State of Texas.
As one of the Medical School’s longest-serving and most munificent faculty members, McNeese embodies the selflessness and service that are the hallmarks of McGovern Medical School. She has built a legacy that will forever be reflected by the school that she loves, and in the careers of those whom she has educated and trained.