Meet Robert S. Feder, MD, the 2023 Recipient of the Gary A. Mecklenburg Distinguished Physician Award

Ophthalmologist Robert S. Feder, MD, is the 2023 recipient of the Gary A. Mecklenburg Distinguished Physician Award.

The peer-nominated award is one of Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s most prestigious awards and recognizes a physician who embodies professionalism and humanism. Winners of the award demonstrate a strong commitment to enriching the lives of others through research, teaching, patient care or community outreach.

“This is such an honor for both me and the Department of Ophthalmology,” explains Dr. Feder. “This really is a thank-you to the entire team, not just myself as a physician.”

One of Dr. Feder’s nominators described him as, “a highly caring, humanistic and engaging physician,” who has helped lead Northwestern Memorial Hospital into its position as a leading hospital.

Dr. Feder credits his growth and successes in part to Northwestern Medicine as an organization. He says the leadership and culture here have helped support him in his work.

“Physicians might look like giants to our patients, but we are really standing on the shoulders of the incredible infrastructure of our institution and our teams,” he says. “I’ve been at a lot of different health systems, including those in Chicago, and I’ve been so pleased with the incredible support I’ve received here at Northwestern Medicine. There’s no better job than this, and I feel lucky to have found a career so meaningful to me.”