Distinguished Educator Award

Established in 1988, the Distinguished Educator Award recognizes an individual for his or her achievements as an outstanding educator over a lifelong career.

Eligibility

The recipient should be an individual who has made outstanding contributions as an educator in gastroenterology on both local and national levels. Contributions may include longtime efforts dedicated to training fellows publishing educational documents and/or teaching seminars and classes. The nominee will have a long record of major contributions to education in the field of gastroenterology and/or hepatology. AGA membership is required at the time of nomination.

Essential Criteria (all candidates must have this to be considered)

  1. A distinguished record of education in one or more of:
    1. Medical students and residents.
    2. Fellows and other trainees.
    3. Education of other specialists.

Additional Criteria

  1. The formulation of broad educational policy and/or writings on the same in the field of gastroenterology and hepatology.
  2. The establishment of innovative educational programs that have served as models elsewhere.
  3. Contributions to the literature through:
    1. Extensively quoted review articles, editorials and like.
    2. Textbooks or textbook chapters relevant to the field of gastroenterology and hepatology.
    3. Other forms of enduring material (slides etc.).

Process of Nomination

Nominations are solicited by the AGA Chair via a call for nominations letter in July to the following constituencies: AGA Institute Governing Board, council section chairs, committee chairs, task force chairs and membership-at-large; deans of U.S. medical schools and academic-based chiefs of medicine; GI division chiefs and training directors of major academic institutions; editors of major medical journals; and presidents of international GI societies. Announcements of the award are posted on the AGA website. The nomination package will consist of a letter from the primary sponsor and two letters from secondary sponsors.

The letter from the primary sponsor will contain the following elements:

  1.  Professional information on candidate:
    1. Name of candidate.
    2. Date of birth.
    3. Education and training.
    4. Professional positions held.
    5. Teaching responsibilities.
  2. A 300-word description of the nominee’s work, innovations and major accomplishments as an educator.
  3. Awards, honors, citations, testimonials and other objective measures of recognition of the candidate’s abilities as an educator.
  4. Service on educational panels, committees and task forces:
    1. National level.
    2. Regional/local level.
  5. Policies, white papers, position statements on training and education.
  6. Review articles, editorials, book chapters and books, with evidence, if available, of their impact on the field (e.g. citations by other papers, book sales and book reviews).
  7. Course directorships, lectures and symposia at major national meetings.
  8. Course directorships, lectures and symposia at regional/local meetings.
  9. Mentoring experience including a list of nominee’s trainees and their current positions.

The total length of the letter from the primary sponsor should not exceed three pages (12-point font). Secondary sponsors will provide a letter of support limited to 500 words or less. Nominations are not carried over from year to year.

Process of Selection

The selection committee is comprised of members of the AGA Institute Education and Training Committee. Nomination packages and ballots are sent to the chair of education and training committee for review. The committee members rank the candidates. The candidate with the highest average rank is selected as the recipient. If a tie occurs, a conference call is held to determine the recipient of the award. The chair of the committee presents the recommendation at the February AGA Institute Governing Board meeting.

Award Recognition

The recipient will receive a $1,000 award and will be appropriately recognized by AGA during DDW.

Nomination Submission Process

The deadline for receipt of nominations is midnight on Nov. 11. The nomination package must contain the following: curriculum vitae, letter(s) of recommendation (maximum two pages, per letter) that identify the specific accomplishments of the nominee, a bibliography and other documentation, as applicable. The above noted documents must be combined into one PDF file and e-mailed to awards@gastro.org. The nomination file must be titled by the nominee’s last name and first initial. Nomination submissions that do not include all required documentatation will not be reviewed. Hard copies will not be accepted. Please forward all questions about this and other AGA Recognition Awards to (301) 222-4012 or via e-mail to wvailor@gastro.org.

Revised: Approved by the AGA Governing Board June 2005, (4) VOTED

Past Recipients (1994-2011)

2011 Helen M. Shields, MD, AGAF

2010 Lawrence S. Friedman, MD, AGAF

2009 William F. Balistreri, MD

2008 Francis M. Giardiello, MD

2007 Satish S. C. Rao, MD, PhD, FRCP

2006 Ray E. Clouse, MD

2005 John P. Cello, MD

2004 Douglas A. Drossman, MD

2003 Sanjiv Chopra, MD

2002 David A. Peura, MD

2001 Donald O. Castell, MD

2000 Peter A. Banks, MD

1999 Joseph B. Kirsner, MD, PhD

1998 Willis C. Maddrey, MD

1997 Edward W. Moore,

1996 David B. Sachar, MD

1995 Norton J. Greenberger, MD

1994 Marvin H. Sleisenger, MD