President’s Award
The President’s Award is presented to one individual during years when a worthy candidate exists to a young physician (under 10 years of practice), who is nominated by the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (MAOPS) President and approved by both the MAOPS Awards Committee and Board of Trustees. All candidates must be members of MAOPS.
The 2025 MAOPS President’s Award recipient is Michelle Helton, DO. Dr. Helton first came to our attention as a student when she attended numerous conventions and was active in her campus MAOPS chapter. Upon entering her residency, she became one of the first to participate in the MAOPS Wetzel Fellow Program and became just the second member to graduate from this leadership program. She has served as a trustee on the MAOPS Board, attended the AOA House of Delegates numerous times, and also attended the AOA LEAD program with other MAOPS leaders. She is an active member of the MAOPS Legislative Committee and attends Physician Advocacy Day annually. She currently practices at Lake Regional Clinic in Camdenton.
Historical List of President’s Award Winners:
- 2025 – Michelle Helton, DO
- 2024 – Jordan Palmer, DO
- 2023 – Patrick Nakashima-Moran, DO
- 2022 – Katie Murray, DO, MS, FACS
- 2021 – Jared Nichols, DO
- 2020 – William “Russ” Carpenter, DO
- 2019 – Katie Davenport-Kabonic, DO
- 2018 – Elizabeth Lucore, DO, MPH
- 2017 – Chris Paynter, DO
- 2016 – Ashley Warren, DO
- 2015 – Michael Brown, DO
- 2014 – David Tannehill, DO
- 2013 – Steven Brushwood, DO
- 2012 – Logan Banks, DO
- 2011 – Thomas Randoll, DO
- 2009 – Christopher J. Wolf, DO
- 2008 – Megan C. McBride, DO
- 2007 – Mark S. Pelikan, DO
- 2006 – Ken V. Holt, DO
- 2005 – Katherine Lichtenberg, DO
- 2004 – Andrew T. Roudebush, DO
- 2003 – R. Troy Barton, DO
- 2002 – Victoria A. Damba, DO
- 2001 – Randy S. Buckles, DO
- 2000 – Carol E. Kirila, DO
- 1999 – Ramona A. Miller, DO
- 1998 – Timothy W. Jennings, DO
- 1997 – Bruce R. Williams, DO
- 1996 – Kenneth E. Jones, DO
- 1995 – Alan M. Weaver, DO
- 1994 – Donna K. McCluskey, DO; Todd D. McCluskey, DO
- 1993 – Michael H. Ledbetter, DO
- 1992 – Robert C. Woods, DO
- 1991 – Samuel L. Brayfield, DO
- 1990 – William T. Betz, DO
- 1989 – William Cottingham, DO
- 1988 – Joseph M. Yasso, Jr., DO
- 1987 – Richard A. Witte, DO
- 1986 – Barry D. Spoon, DO
- 1985 – Joseph W. Thompson, DO
- 1984 – Thomas S. Spooner, DO
- 1983 – David K. Bean, DO
- 1982 – Chuck W. Johnson, DO