Each year, UW Health recognizes its most skilled and dedicated clinicians with its Physician Excellence Awards. These prestigious, peer-nominated awards recognize individuals who demonstrate exceptional skills in clinical practice, education, and leadership along with a commitment to the mission, vision, and values of UW Health.
Two Department of Emergency Medicine faculty members were among the 14 awardees who were honored in a May 21 ceremony in Madison. Below are the award winners from the Department of Emergency Medicine and a summary of information included in their award nominations.
Allie Hurst, MD, MS
Allie Hurst, MD, MS, associate professor, Divisions of Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Prehospital Medicine, received the Rising Star Clinical Practice Excellence Award. Recipients of this award demonstrate a commitment to and enthusiasm for the field of health care, as well as professionalism in all interactions and forums. Dr. Hurst also serves as Medical Director for both Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Med Flight Pediatric Critical Care Transport.
Dr. Allie Hurst is a rising leader in pediatric emergency medicine, known for her clinical expertise, innovative leadership, and impactful research. As the first pediatric-trained physician to complete a UW Med Flight fellowship, she brings critical care to children in their most vulnerable moments.
As Medical Director of the Pediatric Emergency Department, Dr. Hurst led the department through significant challenges and growth, including recruitment efforts that resulted in 24/7 physician coverage and securing Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center re-verification. She has also expanded telehealth services, bringing specialized pediatric emergency care to Northern Illinois.
Her research addresses urgent pediatric issues, including a nationally adopted screening tool for child sex trafficking and co-leadership of the MEDSMART trial, which educates youth and families on opioid safety. Through her work, Dr. Hurst is shaping the future of pediatric emergency care.
Brian Patterson, MD, MPH
Brian Patterson, MD, MPH, associate professor with tenure, received the Clinical Practice Excellence Award. Recipients of this award demonstrate exemplary professional relationships, commitment to quality and patient safety, and exceptional and measurable contributions to clinical practice. Dr. Patterson also serves as Physician Administrative Director for Clinical AI and Medical Informatics Director for Predictive Analytics and Clinical Decision Support at UW Health, as well as Director of the Emergency Care Systems Lab, housed in the BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine.
Dr. Brian Patterson has served as the Medical Informatics Director for Predictive Analytics in the Department of Emergency Medicine since 2017, pioneering AI-driven tools that have significantly enhanced patient care in the emergency department. As UW Health’s first Physician Administrative Director for Clinical AI, Dr. Patterson’s innovations are poised to impact patient care across the system.
Dr. Patterson has successfully advanced technology to enhance the clinician’s role at the bedside. He has created tools to provide clinicians with a seamless referral process, consolidated patient data, evidence-based treatment pathways, and alerts about completed labs and imaging to support clinical decision-making—all of which ensure timely care and improve patient outcomes, without losing the human connection that defines exceptional clinical practice.
Additionally, Dr. Patterson’s research on emergency department crowding, falls prevention, and cognitive impairment has shaped national best practices and garnered over $2.5 million in funding, cementing his role as a leader in clinical AI.
Two other Department of Emergency Medicine faculty — Brian Sharp, MD, and Ryan Tsuchida, MD — were also nominated for awards this year, which marks the 15th annual Physician Excellence Awards at UW Health.