For Release: IMMEDIATE
Date: October 27, 2005

EWALD W. BUSSE AWARD PRESENTED TO DONALD K. WALLACE

RALEIGH: The Ewald B. Busse Award was presented to Donald K. Wallace, M.D., F.A.C.P., at the North Carolina Conference on Aging held in New Bern on Oct.19.

Dr. Wallace, a practicing physician in Moore County, is also the medical director of two continuing care retirement communities. He is board certified in internal medicine, with a specialty in geriatrics. He was educated at Wake Forest University and the Duke University School of Medicine.

Dr. Wallace is being recognized for his service as the president of Medical Review of North Carolina, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for North Carolina, since 1983. Medical Review of North Carolina recently changed its name to The Carolinas Center for Medical Excellence. Dr. Wallace has been a leader in this transition, and in giving providers across the spectrum of heath care the tools that they need to give their patients the best care possible.

Karen Gottovi, director of the North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services, presented the award.

The Busse Award recognizes an individual or organization that has had a significant impact on enhancing the health status of older North Carolinians through efforts to direct health related policies and/or to provide leadership in developing solutions to health care problems.

The Busse Award is one of three awards presented each year to individuals, organizations or communities that have excelled in meeting the needs of older citizens in the state. Given by the Division of Aging and Adult Services in the NC Department of Health and Human Services, the awards are the Dr. George L. Maddox Award and the Ernest B. Messer Award along with the Busse Award. Drs. Busse and Maddox, and Mr. Messer were three pioneers in the field of aging in North Carolina.

Dr. Busse, who passed away last year, was president emeritus of the NC Institute of Medicine and the founding director of the Duke University Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development.

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