Robert Raszkowski, MD, PhD, who passed away in November at the age of 64, was highly regarded in the CME community. He was an active member of the Alliance for CME for 20 years, served as dean of CME at the University of South Dakota School of Medicine in Sioux Falls, and took many leadership roles in the CME community and beyond.

His accomplishments included serving as president of the South Dakota State Medical Association, chairman of the Accreditation Review Committee for the Accreditation Council for CME, and as a member of the Advisory Committee for the American Medical Association and the Professional Educational Committee of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

At the time of his death, he had just been appointed to the State Board of Medical Examiners, a challenge he was looking forward to, according to his obituary in the Argus Leader. For his many accomplishments, he was slated to be honored with the Alliance's Distinguished Service Award at the 2006 annual meeting in San Francisco. His family will receive the award on his behalf.

Lynn Marie Thomason, MLS, director of CME with the University of South Dakota School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, sums up how many CME professionals who knew him feel about Raszkowski: “He displayed the absolute best traits of a friend, boss, physician, and mentor. I am blessed beyond words to have had the privilege of working with him.”

Donations in his memory can be made through the USD Foundation to the Robert R. Raszkowski MD Memorial Scholarship Fund at the University of South Dakota School of Medicine.