Medallion of Merit winners made medical school, hospital history
In 2021, Wake Forest’s Dr. J. Wayne Meredith (MD ’78) and Julie Ann Freischlag made history by becoming the first two physicians from the same institution to serve back-to-back as presidents of the American College of Surgeons.
On Thursday, Wake Forest University will bestow them each with the Medallion of Merit, the University’s highest honor, at the annual Founders Day celebration. The ceremony starts at 4 p.m. in Wait Chapel.
In a tribute video prepared for Thursday’s ceremony, colleagues praised both physicians for their inspirational and transformative leadership.
Dr. Meredith, a Winston-Salem native who was born in the hospital that would become his workplace, served Wake Forest for 36 years, retiring in 2024 as chief of clinical chairs at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and chair of surgery at the School of Medicine. During his tenure, he worked to remake trauma care across the state, becoming known as the “father of North Carolina trauma care” and developing what would become a national model for trauma care collaborations.
“I’ve been connected with Wake Forest at some level or another for over 50 years,” said Meredith, whose father also was a physician at Wake Forest Baptist. “It’s been a love affair, it’s been a roller coaster, it’s been terrific.”
The partnership between Dr. Meredith and Dr. Freischlag “raised the clinical significance of our medical center nationally,” according to Dr. Craig Greven (MD ’83), professor and chair of ophthalmology at the School of Medicine.
Known as an unflagging mentor as well as a builder of teams that deliver results, Dr. Freischlag was instrumental in creating a next-generation academic health system with Atrium Health and establishing a School of Medicine campus in Charlotte as part of that transformation.
She retired in December 2025 as CEO and chief academic officer of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, chief academic officer and executive vice president of Advocate Health and executive vice president of health affairs at Wake Forest University. Earlier that year, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist opened a new adult emergency department tower named for her.
“Julie’s legacy is preserving the most sacred parts of Wake Forest and of our culture, and what it means to work for humanity,” said Dr. Lindsay Strowd (MD ’09), professor and chair of dermatology at the School of Medicine.
A livestream of the Founders Day ceremony will be available on the Wake Forest website.
Categories: Awards & Recognition, Pro Humanitate, University Announcements
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