Since 1987, four University of Wisconsin–Madison faculty members have been honored annually for their substantial contributions to research, teaching, and service with the prestigious Hilldale Award. Faculty members representing the arts and humanities, biological sciences, physical sciences, and social sciences are selected from nominations submitted by department chairs. The 2026 winner in the biological sciences is Ellen Wald, MD, professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases. Internationally recognized for her research addressing many areas of pediatric infectious disease, Wald’s work has improved the overall health of children globally. She served as the chair of the Department of Pediatrics for 17 years, the first woman to chair a department in the UW School of Medicine and Public Health. Under her leadership, the department faculty more than doubled in size while research funding more than tripled. Wald is a compassionate educator who considers mentorship a central component of education. She remains actively engaged in research while mentoring and developing educational resources for residents and fellows. Hilldale Award winners were recognized at the April 6 Faculty Senate Meeting. Read the full article.