WESTMONT, IL, December 03, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present James H. Lawton, DPM, with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Dr. Lawton celebrates many years' experience in his professional network and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Dr. Lawton has dedicated more than 45 years to the advancement of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery, culminating in a distinguished career marked by leadership, innovation and a steadfast commitment to medical education. In recent years, following his retirement from daily clinical practice, he has continued to serve the profession through online consultations, providing remote expertise to both patients and peers. This ongoing engagement reflects Dr. Lawton's enduring dedication to patient care and medical education, even as he transitions into new modes of professional service.

Before his current activities, Dr. Lawton served as a Residency Director at Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago, a role he held for several years during which he was instrumental in shaping the next generation of Podiatric Surgeons. His leadership extended beyond administrative duties, having developed comprehensive curricula and mentored postgraduate residents in hands-on surgical practice, ensuring rigorous training grounded in the latest techniques and best practices.

Dr. Lawton's influence as an educator was solidified during his tenure as a Professor of Surgery at the Dr. William Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine. Over the course of his academic career, he delivered hundreds of lectures across the U.S. and internationally, including presentations in Italy. Dr. Lawton considers his extensive contributions to medical education, particularly his mentorship of students and residents, as his most distinguished professional accomplishment.

For nearly three decades, Dr. Lawton contributed to Family Practice post-graduate education as a member of the clinical teaching faculty at MacNeal Hospital's Family Practice Residency Program in Berwyn, Illinois. Within that program he also served as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Abraham Lincoln School of Medicine at the University of Illinois, where he played a key role in interdisciplinary medical training. Additionally, Dr. Lawton enriched post-graduate Family Practice medical education at LaGrange Memorial Hospital for 20 years, fostering collaborative approaches to patient care for individuals with complex conditions.

Dr. Lawton's academic journey began in his hometown of Chicago, where he graduated from St. Mel High School, an all-boys Catholic institution, in 1963. His passion for medicine was sparked by an early interest in biology during high school, which led him to work as a surgical technician throughout his academic years, a formative experience that cemented his fascination with surgery and helping others. In 1967, Dr. Lawton earned a Bachelor of Science degree in pre-Medicine from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, followed by a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine at the Illinois College of Podiatric Medicine in 1971. After graduation, he completed a two (2) year surgical residency at Franklin Boulevard Community Hospital in Chicago, where he benefited from mentorship from several highly skilled physicians and leaders in the field. Dr. Lawton held licensure as a Podiatric Surgeon in Illinois, Wisconsin and California.

Throughout his career, Dr. Lawton has been recognized for his leadership within professional organizations. He is a Fellow and past President of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, and he is a Diplomate and past President of the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. Dr. Lawton is one (1) of only six (6) Podiatric Surgeons who have been honored to be elected as President of both of these Surgical organizations within his profession.

Dr. Lawton's achievements have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Henry L. DeVries MD Award for Excellence in Clinical Surgery; a Special Recognition Award from the Pennsylvania Podiatric Medical Association; a Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville; and a Service Achievement Award from the John Barth Foundation at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. He attributes much of his success to the exceptional educators who guided him throughout his academic and medical journey.

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Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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