Meet the Honorees

On Saturday, February 8, more than 200 physicians and guests gathered at The Center at 2300 in Sacramento to celebrate local health care excellence. Alongside camaraderie, a fantastic dinner, and a stellar performance by the Sacramento Ballet Second Company, we honored three outstanding physicians with SSVMS’s highest awards:

Dr. Eric Williams, Outstanding Medical Society Volunteer Award

The Outstanding Medical Society Volunteer Award recognizes a member who has significantly advanced the mission of SSVMS.

Dr. Williams has been instrumental in mentoring aspiring physicians through the Future of Medicine program, which he helped expand in partnership with local health systems. Under his leadership, the program now graduates more than 100 students annually.

Dr. Williams chairs the Future of Medicine Advisory Committee, selecting students and providing mentorship beyond the program. He has also generously donated thousands of dollars to support its success.

Beyond this, he contributes to SSV Medicine magazine as a writer, poet, and Editorial Committee member. He co-leads the SSVMS Med Poets Society, fostering a creative space for physician-writers. Additionally, he volunteers with the Historical Committee and Museum of Medical History, preserving the history of medicine through exhibits and research.

His unwavering dedication to mentoring and preserving medical history has left a lasting impact on SSVMS and the broader community.

Dr. José Arévalo, Community Impact Award

This award honors a member whose work has made a significant contribution to community health.

Dr. Arévalo has dedicated his career to improving health care access for underserved communities and increasing diversity in medicine. Raised in San Antonio, Texas in a family of healers, Dr. Arévalo initially pursued a different path. However, his service as a U.S. Navy hospital corpsman during the Vietnam era and volunteer work at the Guadalupe Health Center in San Francisco ignited his passion for addressing health disparities.

While earning his medical degree at Stanford University, he co-founded La Raza Medical Association, a precursor to the Latino Medical Student Association, to help address the shortage of Latino physicians. Later, as faculty at UC Davis, he launched the Minority Initiative Program to recruit underrepresented students into Family Medicine and served as an instructor for Clinica Tepati, a student-run clinic for Sacramento’s uninsured.

To further support Latinx physicians and health equity, he founded the Sacramento Latino Medical Association and Latinx Physicians of California, which have advanced policy changes and increased access to care. His colleagues praise his decades-long leadership in diversity, equity, and inclusion at both Sutter Independent Physicians and Sutter Health.

Dr. Arévalo’s tireless advocacy has improved the medical profession and health outcomes for underserved populations.

Dr. Laurie Gregg, Golden Stethoscope Award

The Golden Stethoscope Award honors a physician devoted to patient care, unselfishness, and compassion.

Dr. Gregg has demonstrated the qualities that define a Golden Sthehoscope honoree throughout her career in obstetrics and gynecology. After earning her medical degree at UCLA, she moved to Sacramento in 1998 and joined what is now Sacramento Women’s Health, where she has provided exceptional care and mentorship.

Beyond clinical excellence, Dr. Gregg is a leader in physician wellness. As a past SSVMS Board member and longtime Joy of Medicine Advisory Committee member, she has helped provide mental health resources to more than 350 physicians. As chief wellness officer at Sutter Independent Physicians, she has spearheaded initiatives combating physician burnout, fostering peer support, and ensuring professional sustainability. Her work helped Sutter Independent Physicians earn its first AMA Silver Level award for physician wellbeing.

Her contributions extend far; she co-leads the Sutter Wellness Program, helped launch a national peer support network for OB-GYNs, and has presented at international conferences. She was also recognized with the 2023 CMA Gary S. Nye Award for Physician Health and Wellbeing.

Dr. Gregg’s compassionate leadership and commitment to wellness have profoundly shaped the medical community.

Congratulations to Dr. Eric Williams, Dr. José Arévalo, and Dr. Laurie Gregg, whose dedication to medicine, mentorship, and community impact make them truly deserving of these honors.