Dr.Robert Rizza was honored recently by Mayo Clinic with the Distinguished Alumni Award given to exceptional alumni who have distinguished themselves in medicine and science. He is a pioneer in diabetes clinical research and an emeritus professor of medicine in the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. Rizza had served as the chair of the Mayo Clinic Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, and Nutrition, and the executive dean for Research. He challenged conventional wisdom about the physiologic basis of type 2 diabetes and established the rationale for a basal-bolus regimen for the treatment of type 1 diabetes. This multiple daily injection program is now the standard of care worldwide.

Dr.Rizza's participation in the American Diabetes Association (former president), American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, and Endocrine Society had helped bring about important practice guidelines that affected the delivery of care throughout the country. His involvement with these groups and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes made contributions to promoting consensus statements and cooperation in research, and implementing research findings in practice for the prime goal of improving public health. Seen in the picture is our Chief Editor Dr.Jothydev Kesavadev and his son along with Mrs and Mr.Dr.Robert Rizza at Rochester, Minnesota, USA (2003).