The Iams-Tuffli Lectureship is an annual lecture series celebrating the practice of pediatrics and the importance of collaboration, friendship, and lifelong learning. The series honors the late Alexander M. Iams, MD, and Gordon Tuffli, MD, two Madison-based pediatricians and longtime colleagues whose dedication to children’s health and professional camaraderie continues to inspire the pediatric community.
Established in 1984 following Dr. Iams’ passing, the lectureship brings together pediatricians from community and academic settings to explore a diverse range of topics relevant to pediatric care. Through the generosity of the Iams family, the memorial fund covers registration fees for all participants, ensuring continued opportunities for learning, connection, and professional growth.
Honoring Drs. Alexander Iams and Gordon Tuffli
Alexander M. Iams, MD
Dr. Alexander Iams received his undergraduate education at Washington & Jefferson College and earned his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his pediatric residency at the Mayo Clinic before beginning his medical practice in Madison in 1948.
For more than 35 years, Dr. Iams dedicated his career to caring for children and families in the Madison community. While practicing at the clinic located at 20 South Park Street, he developed a close professional partnership and lasting friendship with Dr. Gordon Tuffli. Their shared commitment to compassionate pediatric care and collegiality would eventually become the foundation of the lectureship that bears their names.
Following Dr. Iams’ passing on February 13, 1984, at the age of 66, his family established a memorial fund and annual lectureship to celebrate his contributions to pediatric medicine and carry forward his commitment to education and community.
Gordon Tuffli, MD
Dr. Gordon Tuffli dedicated his career to pediatric medicine, mentorship, and strengthening connections among healthcare professionals. Before entering medicine, he served four years in the United States Coast Guard as a Hospital Corpsman. He earned his medical degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1964 and went on to practice pediatrics at the Jackson Clinic and in Pediatric Endocrinology.
As a longtime colleague and partner of Dr. Alexander Iams at the 20 South Park Street clinic, Dr. Tuffli shared a deep commitment to caring for children and supporting the local pediatric community. Following Dr. Iams’ passing, Dr. Tuffli played an instrumental role in continuing the lectureship, coordinating the Iams-Gephardt Lectureship for many years until his retirement in 1998.
His dedication to education extended beyond clinical practice. From 1999 to 2001, he served as a mentor to University of Wisconsin medical students, sharing his knowledge, experience, and passion for pediatrics with future physicians.
Dr. Tuffli passed away on January 22, 2020, at the age of 85, following a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. In recognition of his longstanding friendship with Dr. Iams and his commitment to sustaining the lectureship, the Iams family renamed the series the Iams-Tuffli Lectureship, ensuring that both physicians’ contributions and shared legacy would be honored for generations to come.
Continuing a Family Legacy: Jay and Pat Iams
The enduring legacy of the Iams-Tuffli Lectureship is a testament to the extraordinary generosity, dedication, and friendship of Jay D. Iams, MD, and his wife, Patricia (Pat) Iams, who have played an instrumental role in preserving and advancing the lectureship for more than four decades.
Jay, the son of Alexander M. Iams, MD, grew up surrounded by the values of compassionate care, service, and dedication to pediatric medicine. A proud double Badger, he earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1968 and his medical degree from the UW School of Medicine in 1972. It was also at UW–Madison that Jay met Pat, beginning a lifelong partnership rooted in family, medicine, and service to others. Pat shared this commitment to healthcare, having worked as a public health nurse in Madison.
Jay went on to build an extraordinary career in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at The Ohio State University, where he became an internationally recognized leader in the study and prevention of preterm birth. As the Frederick P. Zuspan Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, he dedicated more than four decades to advancing research, improving clinical practices, and mentoring future generations of physicians and scientists. His pioneering work helped transform approaches to identifying and preventing premature birth, improving outcomes for mothers and babies. Throughout his career, he authored more than 350 peer-reviewed publications, served as president of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and was widely respected for his scientific contributions, compassionate care, and mentorship.
In 2025, Jay was recognized by the Wisconsin Medical Alumni Association with the Distinguished Alumni Award, honoring his exceptional contributions to medicine and his lasting connection to the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Despite his many professional accomplishments, Jay remained deeply connected to his Madison roots and his father’s legacy. Together, Jay and Pat became devoted champions of the Iams-Tuffli Lectureship, ensuring that the tradition established in honor of Alexander Iams continued to bring pediatricians together in the spirit of education, friendship, and collaboration. Their commitment helped sustain the lectureship across generations, preserving its unique role in connecting community-based and academic pediatricians through meaningful educational experiences.
Through their family’s generosity, the lectureship’s memorial fund continues to cover registration fees for participants, removing financial barriers and making these valuable learning opportunities accessible to the pediatric community. For Jay and Pat, the lectureship represented more than an annual educational event. It was an opportunity to honor family, strengthen professional relationships, and bring people together around a shared commitment to improving the care of children and families.
Their generosity and vision also extended beyond the lectureship. Jay and Pat established a permanent research fund to support collaboration between Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Neonatology, bringing together researchers and clinicians dedicated to improving outcomes for mothers and babies. This lasting investment reflects their belief in the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, scientific discovery, and advancing care across the continuum from pregnancy through infancy.
Following Jay’s passing in 2026, the Department of Pediatrics remains profoundly grateful for the remarkable impact he made as a physician, researcher, mentor, and steadfast supporter of the pediatric community. We extend our deepest appreciation to Pat; their five children, Sara, Molly, Alex, Steve, and Andy; and the entire Iams family for the friendship, generosity, and dedication they have shared with our department over so many years.
Through the continued support of the Iams family, the lectureship and research fund serve as lasting tributes to the values that defined Alexander Iams, Gordon Tuffli, and Jay and Pat Iams: compassion, curiosity, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of children and families. Their legacy will continue to inspire and connect generations of healthcare professionals.
Past Iams-Tuffli Lectures
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
2026 Iams-Tuffli Lecturer
David J Schonfeld, MD, FAAP – director, National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, USC Keck School of Medicine
Title: Supporting Children, Families, and Professionals in the Aftermath of Crisis
2025 Iams-Tuffli Lecturer
Speaker: Kenneth R. Ginsburg, MD, MSEd
Title: Building on the Strengths of Youth Who Have Endured Hardships
2024 Iams-Tuffli Lecturer
Speaker: Joseph McBride, MD
Title: Pediatric and Adolescent HIV Prevention and Management in 2024 – Cases and Care in Wisconsin and Beyond”
2023 Iams-Tuffli Lecturer
Speaker: Matthew Rysavy, MD, PhD
Title: Precision, Prognosis, and Presumption: Improving the Lifetime of Care for the Most Premature Patients
2022 Iams-Tuffli Lecturer
Speaker: Claudette Adegboro, MD
Title: The Age of Viability: A New Era in the Care of Extremely Preterm Infants
2021 Iams-Tuffli Lecturer
Speaker: Tina Iyama-Kurtycz, MD
Title: Autism Spectrum Disorder: Stories from a Parent-Pediatrician
2019 Iams-Tuffli Lecturer
Speakers:
- David T. Bernhardt, MD
- Nicholas A. Kuehnel, MD
- James E. Svenson, MD
Title: Is there a Doctor in the House?
2018 Iams-Tuffli Lecturer
Speaker: Eric Post, PhD, ATC
Title: The Who, What, and Why of Sport Specialization
2016 Iams-Tuffli Lecturer
Speaker: Norman C. Fost, MD, MPH
Title: Current Controversies in Newborn Screening
2015 Iams-Tuffli Lecturer
Speaker: Gregory Landry, MD
Title: 30 Pearls for 30 Years
2014 Iams-Tuffli Lecturer
Speaker: Maria A. Stanley, MD
Title: Caring for the Child with Down Syndrome: Health Guidelines and Beyond
2013 Iams-Tuffli Lecturer
Speaker: Hermine Brunner, MD, MSc, MBA, FAAP, FACR
Title: Meet the Professor: Answering Questions about Careers in Clinical Research
2012 Iams-Tuffli Lecturer
Speaker: David Allen, MD
Title: All Fat in Children is Not Created Equal: Epigenetics, Ethnicity, and Ethics
2011 Iams-Tuffli Lecturer
Speaker: Sharon M. Bartosh, MD
Title: Updates in Pediatric Nephrology
and
Speaker: Larry A Greenbaum, MD, PhD
Title: Three Children with Electrolyte problems
2010 Iams-Tuffli Lecturer
Speaker: Carl Stafstrom, MD, PhD
Title: Headaches in Children: Letting Patients Draw Their Diagnosis
and
Speaker: N. Paul Rosman, MD
Title: Neurofibromatosis: The Most Protean Phakomatosis – From Von Reckinghausen (1882) to the “Elephant Man” (1886) to Madison, Wisconsin (2010)
2009 Iams-Tuffli Lecturer
Speaker: Frederick P. Zuspan, MD
Title: Disparity in Preterm Birth
and
Speaker: De-Ann M. Pillers, MD
Title: The Late Preterm Infant: The Newest Frontier in Neonatal Medicine
2008 Iams-Tuffli Lecturer
Speaker: Jeffrey A. Towbin, MD
Title: The Genetics of Cardiomyopathy
and
Speaker: J. Carter Ralphe, MD
Title: Metabolic Syndrome during Childhood: Can Pediatricians Prevent Adult Cardiovascular Disease?
2007 Iams-Tuffli Lecturer
Speaker: Joyce M.C. Teng, MD, PhD
Title: Non-Vascular Birthmarks: When and What to Worry
and
Speaker: Gary P. Williams MD
Title: Uncommon and Confounding Presentations of Common Dermatologic Conditions
2006 Iams-Tuffli Lecturer
Speaker: Dana E. Johnson, MD, PhD
Title: Orphanage Delays and Disabilities: Deprivation, Disease, Drink/Drugs, Diet or DNA?” and James H. Conway, MD “Infectious Issues in Intercountry Adoption: Evaluating the International Adoptee
and
Speaker: James H. Conway, MD
Title: Infectious Issues in Intercountry Adoption: Evaluating the International Adoptee
2005 Iams-Tuffli Lecturer
Speaker: Diane J. Nugent, MD
Title: Immune Thrombocytopenia: Current Concepts and Novel Therapies
and
Speaker: Carol A. Diamond, MD
Title: What’s New in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Hemophilia and Von Willebrand Disease
2004 Iams-Tuffli Lecturer
Speaker: Greg Redding, MD
Title: Bronchitis and Bronchiectasis in Children: Considerations of Productive Cough
and
Speaker: Marzana E. Krawiec, MD
Title: Common Etiologies of Interstitial Lung Disease in Children
2003 Iams-Tuffli Lecturer
Speaker: Stephen F. Kemp, MD, PhD
Title: Bone Age Determination: What Can A Bone Age Tell Us?
and
Speaker: Gordon A. Tuffli, MD
Title: Safety and Side Effect Concerns Associated with Growth Hormone Therapy
2002 Iams-Tuffli Lecturer
Speaker: B. Li, MD
Title: Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome: Light Emerging from the Black Box
and
Speaker: Robert H. Judd, MD
Title: Recurrent Abdominal Pain in Children
2000 Iams-Tuffli Lecturer
Speaker: Dr. Jay Iams, MD
Title: Prenatal Management at the Margins of Viability
and
Speaker: Julie Kessel, MD
Title: The Role of the Fetal Immune System in Pre-Term Delivery