The American Society for Clinical Investigation is pleased to recognize Consuelo H. Wilkins, MD, MSCI, as recipient of the 2025 ASCI/Louis W. Sullivan, MD, Award, for her groundbreaking contributions in community engagement and health equity, including large-cohort imaging studies suggesting that amyloid-directed therapies are less likely to benefit Black, Hispanic, and Asian individuals with memory loss. Dr. Wilkins receives an honorarium of $10,000 and delivers a scientific talk at the 2026 AAP/ASCI/APSA Joint Meeting.
As part of her work in Alzheimer’s disease, Dr. Wilkins used amyloid PET imaging on large cohorts of individuals with memory loss and found that the odds of having a positive scan were lower among Black, Latino, and Asian populations. The results indicate that fewer people in these groups will be eligible for recently approved anti-amyloid therapies compared with White individuals.
Dr. Wilkins’ research has transformed efforts to increase clinical research engagement and improve health outcomes for all. Her team established the Community Engagement Studio (CES), a formalized approach to incorporating the voice of community stakeholders at all stages of clinical research — a model adopted by numerous studies and many academic health centers in the US, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Dr. Wilkins has developed and validated instruments to measure trust in research and standards for compensating community partners. She has created frameworks that serve as a blueprint for academic medical centers to personalize care based on the needs of their populations.
Dr. Sullivan’s transformational work has been an inspiration for me. My work spans clinical research, policy-focused systems change, and advocacy for health equity – all of which are areas where Dr. Sullivan is an icon. In my current roles, I have the unique opportunity to leverage my research to build new programs and develop institutional policies that ensure everyone has an opportunity to achieve optimal health.
– Dr. Wilkins
Dr. Jeffrey R. Balser, President and CEO, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) and Dean, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, nominated Dr. Wilkins for this recognition. He wrote, “Dr. Wilkins embodies the spirit of the Award through her groundbreaking work. Her research, particularly in Alzheimer’s disease, has reshaped the field. She leads initiatives that measurably enhance participation from all communities and promote institutional change.”
Dr. Wilkins received her MD from Howard University College of Medicine, completed a residency at Duke University Medical Center and fellowship in geriatric medicine at Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University School of Medicine; and received her MSCI from Washington University School of Medicine. She is currently Senior Vice President and Senior Associate Dean for Community Health and Engagement, Mildred Thornton Stahlman Chair in Rural Health, and Professor of Medicine, VUMC; and Associate Director, Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research. She was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2020 and to the ASCI in 2022.
