The American Medical Association is now accepting nominations for three marquee AMA Honors awards to celebrate the people who are shaping the future of healthcare through transformative innovation, strengthening public health and trusted communication.
2027 will mark the inaugural year of this premiere, annual AMA awards program, which will celebrate achievement in these three categories.
The Tech Innovator Award will recognize transformative contributions at the intersection of healthcare and technology. That means meaningful and original advancement in healthcare, with demonstrated impact beyond pilot settings and relevance to patient care delivery or physician workflows, deployed responsibility with a commitment to safety, trust and transparency.
The Public Health Champion Award will honor impactful leadership that advances population health and improves health outcomes. Nominees will have shown measurable improvement in health outcomes at scale, including reduction of disparities for underserved populations, had a durable influence on public health systems, institutions or policy, and built credibility across communities and stakeholders.
The Excellence in Communication Award will celebrate people who elevate public understanding of health and medicine. That entails a demonstrated influence on public understanding, engagement or perception of health and medicine, a commitment to accurate, responsible communication, and an ability to engage broad audiences.
A distinct honor
Founded in 1847, the AMA is the nation’s largest physician organization and has long recognized excellence in medicine. What makes AMA Honors different is that it celebrates achievements in these three areas that are increasingly defining the future of healthcare.
“Medicine is evolving at an extraordinary pace, driven by advances in technology, bold public health leadership and trusted communication that helps patients make informed decisions,” said AMA President Willie Underwood III, MD, MSc, MPH. “The AMA created these awards to recognize the individuals whose work is driving that progress and making a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and communities. By celebrating extraordinary achievement, these awards will shine a national spotlight on the leaders and ideas shaping the future of healthcare.”
And with medicine changing faster than ever, the people driving progress in healthcare are not found in just one profession or one setting. They include physicians, scientists, technologists, public health leaders and communicators working together to improve the nation’s health. Because of that, all individuals are eligible for AMA Honors—not just physicians, medical students or AMA members.
Nominees must be individuals—not organizations—and U.S. citizens whose contributions are primarily relevant to healthcare in the U.S. While nominations can recognize a person’s contributions in the context of their organizational role, the AMA Honors award is conferred on the person, not the institution.
Recipients will be honored at the inaugural AMA Honors ceremony Feb. 23 at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington. The ceremony will be held in conjunction with the AMA National Advocacy Conference. Honorees will receive a $25,000 award, payable to the recipient or the charity of their choice. They also will be recognized across the AMA’s communications channels.
Do you know of someone whose work deserves national recognition? Nominate them today. The deadline for nominations is Nov. 2.
