From February 24 to March 3, 2018, Professor Zurab Vadachkoria, Rector of Tbilisi State Medical University paid an official visit to Atlanta to attend the award ceremony of the Emory Alumni Association in Atlanta, (USA). The 2018 Emory Medal – Emory’s highest alumni award announced by the Emory University Alumni Association was awarded to H. Kenneth Walker, and to  three (3) nursing alumni for contribution made to the treatment of patients suffering from Ebola. It is noteworthy to emphasize that first the treatment and cure of these patients in the Emory by these nurses was possible. They have demonstrated a selfless commitment to saving lives and preventing disease.  The Emory Medal was awarded to Prof. Kenneth Walker for great contribution made to the Emory University and the global health community. Prof. Ken Walcker was nominated as pretender to honorary award still prior to his death. Several days before passing away Professor of Internal Medicine was specially preparing for the event planned. Ken Walker has had a great impact on global health care outreach – is said in the Open Letter by the Emory Alumni Association. On March 1, the highest award was given after Kenneth Walker’s death. Professor Zurab Vadachkoria, Rector of Tbilisi State Medical University, was invited to attend the Emory Alumni Award, where he was accompanied by his wife - Professor Marina Mamaladze, invited to the Emory University School of Medicine to introduce the OSCE and Clinical Skills Center activities. Instead of Prof. Kenneth Walker the gold medal has been handed to his main partner Archil Undilashvili by Prof. Dr. Vikas P. Sukhatme, Dean of Emory University School of Medicine.  Archil Undilashvili, Director of Educational Programs at the Emory University School of Medicine and Head of US MD Program at TSMU addressed the honorable guests: “This is a great honor and responsibility for me. Just like every one of you, I am so sorry Professor Walker could not attend this ceremony. I would like to express thankfulness and congratulate the nurses on deserved award and recognition. I am sure that today he would be very, very proud of you. He has always argued that if the country has strong and qualified nurses and nursing service, it will automatically followed by the development of the whole health care system.We are all proud of what Emory University School of Medicine has done for Georgia.  Within the post-soviet space, for the first time, the continuous educational programs in nursing were launched in Georgia as a result of the direct efforts made by Prof. Kenneth Walker. He established the Nursing School in Georgia. On behalf of Ken Walker, his family, friends and colleagues I would like to thank you all for this honorary award! Special thanks to Emory University President Mrs. N. Sterk, Dean of the School of Medicine, Prof. Dr. Vikas P. Sukhatme, the leadership of the School of Medicine, colleagues and friends. Thank you very much for appreciation!"

Prof. Ken Walker’s passing away was a deep sadness and emotional experience for everyone in both Georgia and the USA. While academic and administrative staff, students and honorary guests of TSMU gathered on a farewell ceremony dedicated to Prof. Kennett Walker at Tbilisi State Medical University, the colleagues and relatives were attending a funeral of a great personality in Washington, one of the oldest towns in Georgia (USA). Professor Zurab Vadachkoria, Rector of Tbilisi State Medical University, gave a farewell speech at the funeral ceremony: „I would like to express my gratefulness to Professor Walker for his contribution and efforts made to the development of our country and university. Prof. Walker not only contributed greatly to the development of medical education in Georgia but thanks to his refined personal features made a big impression on everyone who had a happiness of close relationship with him.  Professor Walker not only made a great contribution to the development of medical education in Georgia, but thanks to his refined personal characteristics made a great impression on everyone who at least once had the happiness of a close relationship with him. Prof. Kennett Walker was remarkable not only with advanced professionalism but his spiritual nature as well ... a lot of Georgian students, physicians and academic staff can tell you about this, and this can serve as a proof of their sincere love and great pain for Prof. Ken's death. Not just today but in the future - a big army of Georgian doctors will be grateful to him forever. Professor Walker will remain in our memories with his kind smile forever". Prof. Zurab Vadachkoria Rector of Tbilisi State Medical University together with Archil Undilashvili, Director of Educational Programs at the Emory University School of Medicine met with the leadership of the Emory University School of Medicine: Dean of the School of Medicine, Prof. Dr. Vikas Sukhatme,J. William Eley, M.D., M.P.H. - EXECUTIVE ASSOCIATE DEAN of Emory School of Medicine, Assistant Dean Dr.Gordon Churchword,  Thomas Lawley - Emeritus Dean of Emory School of Medicine Former  Deputy Dean Dr. Claudia Atkinson and Georgian Professors, physicians and students working and studying in the Emory University School of Medicine. Prof. Zurab Vadachkoria Rector of Tbilisi State Medical University and Dean of the School of Medicine, Prof. Dr. Vikas Sukhatme talked about, on the one hand, the development of further collaboration between the Emory University School of Medicine and TSMU within the frames of US MD Program of Tbilisi State Medical University, and on the other hand, the development of the other directions of medical education and  health care system as a whole, including implementation of physical rehabilitation project in Georgia: in 2017, the winner of the competition announced by USAID - the Emory University School of Medicine, together with the academic staff of TSMU Faculty of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Georgian Office of the Corporation “Partners for International Development”  and “Coalition for Independent Living” started  development of the field of rehabilitation in Georgia. The project implementation was successfully started by Professor Kenneth Walker with his team in October 2017. It should be emphasized that Tbilisi State Medical University has long-standing and fruitful partnership with Emory University School of Medicine. The collaboration between these higher medical schools started in 1992 when the first time Professor Kennett Walker visited Georgia within the frames of USAID program "Georgia to Georgia". Under his support and supervision, the exchange programs for students, clinical personnel, young specialists and academic staff between Tbilisi State Medical University and Emory University School of Medicine have been conducted for more than 25 years. On the initiative of Professor Kennett Walker, the project of American MD program has been developed and implemented, as a result of successful cooperation of the Tbilisi State Medical University (TSMU) and Emory University (U.S. Atlanta) School of Medicine (ESOM).