Baylor to recognize 11 outstanding honorees at the 2026 Alumni Awards
Baylor College of Medicine announces 11 honorees to be recognized at the 2026 Alumni Awards ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 12, at Hotel ZaZa – Houston Museum District. Each year, these awards honor Baylor alumni and faculty whose exceptional achievements have advanced their fields through groundbreaking research, elevated standards of patient care, outstanding teaching and distinguished professional accomplishments.
This year, the Alumni Award Selection Committee chose William “Billy” Cohn, M.D. ’86, Res. ’91, Res. ’93, Hon. Ph.D., professor of surgery – cardiothoracic transplantation and circulatory support at Baylor, for the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.
Dr. William “Billy” Cohn
For more than 30 years, Cohn has helped solve one of medicine’s most enduring challenges: creating a viable replacement for the failing human heart given the scarcity of donor hearts. Through pioneering work in artificial-heart technology, mechanical circulatory support and medical device innovation, he has expanded the possibilities for patients with end-stage heart failure while helping train the next generation of surgeons. He also is a prolific inventor whose more than 130 U.S. patents have contributed to numerous breakthrough medical technologies, enabling him and others to better the lives of more patients more than would be possible within the confines of the operating room.
“I am extremely proud to have attended Baylor College of Medicine and to have had the opportunity, during my 23 years on the faculty, to follow in the innovative footsteps of several of my legendary mentors, including Dr. Michael DeBakey, Dr. O.H. Frazier and Dr. Joseph Coselli,” Dr. Cohn said. “Being recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Alumni Association is beyond humbling.”
Through transformative contributions to medicine, science, education and humanitarian service, these Baylor College of Medicine honorees have improved countless lives and helped shape healthier communities locally, nationally and globally. You can read more about their accomplishments here.
The full list of 2026 Alumni Award winners is below:
Lifetime Achievement Award
William Cohn, M.D. ’86, Res. ’91, Res. ’93, Hon. Ph.D.
Distinguished Alumnus Award
Abigail L. Caswell, D.N.P. ’15, CRNA, APRN
Andrew G. Lee, M.D., Res. ’93
George Perry, Ph.D., Fel. ’82, Hon. D.
Erik Roberson, M.D. ’99, Ph.D. ’97
Young Alumnus Award
Lindsey Burrage, M.D., Ph.D., Res. ’13, Fel. ’14
Sarah-Ann Keyes, Ed.D., PA-C ’12, DipACLM, FACLM
Adam Hansen, Ph.D. ’20
Humanitarian Award
Tri Dinh, M.D. ’92, Int. ’93
Distinguished Service Award
Adriana M. Strutt, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, Int. ’05, Fel. ’08
Distinguished Faculty Award
Saaed Ahmed, M.D., M.Sc. ’14
For questions about the 2026 Baylor College of Medicine Alumni Awards, contact alumni@bcm.edu.