Pittsburgh, January 13, 2008 -- L. Dade Lunsford, MD, director of the Center for Image-Guide Neurosurgery, was awarded the Allegheny County Medical Society's 2007 Ralph C. Wilde Award at the society's Annual Installation of Officers and Physicians Awards Presentation on Saturday, January 12.

Established in 1975, the Ralph C. Wilde Award -- named in honor of the former society president -- is considered the most prestigious award presented by the ACMS. It is given to a member of the society who demonstrates the noteworthy personal and professional characteristics -- physician, teacher, leader and human being -- exemplified by the Dr. Wilde. The award is not given annually, but rather only when a candidate emblematic of Dr. Wilde’s high ideals and standards is nominated.

Past winners of the award include Robert B. Atwell, MD, Richard D. Bruehlman, MD, William M. Cooper, MD, Paul C. Gaffney, MD, Dwight C. Hanna III, MD, Jay G. Linn Jr., MD, Ross H. Musgrave, MD, Eugene N. Myers, MD, and Eugene Wiener, MD.