Awards

ASIA Lifetime Achievement Award

Established in 1987, this award is presented periodically by ASIA to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the world of spinal cord injury care. Criteria include: career dedication; peer recognition; professional competence; and recognized achievement. Each recipient is chosen from a slate of member submitted candidates to the Awards Committee. The committee forwards its recommendation to the ASIA Board for final approval.

Past recipients have been: John M. Young, MD (1987); A. Estin Comarr, MD (1990); R. Edward Carter, MD (1991); Albin T. Jousse, MD (1992); Samuel L. Stover, MD (1993); J. Paul Thomas (1994); Alain Rossier, MD (1996); David F. Apple, Jr., MD (1997); Paul R. Meyer, Jr., MD (1998); Theodore M. Cole, MD (1999); John F. Ditunno, Jr., MD (2000); Henry B. Betts, MD (2001); Kristjan T. Ragnarsson, M.D. (2002); Jerome M. Cotler, M.D. (2003); William H. Donovan, M.D. (2005); Hans Frankel, M.D. (2006); Robert L. Waters, M.D. (2007); Gale G. Whiteneck, Ph.D. (2007).

The Best Research Paper Published by an ASIA Member

In 2001, ASIA established the award: The Best Research Paper Published by an ASIA Member. This award is presented annually for recognition of an exceptional SCI-related research article published by an ASIA member. It includes a plaque and $1000.

Criteria for nominations of The Best Research Paper Published by an ASIA Member Award are:

• The author of the paper must be an ASIA member (any category) in good standing
• The paper must pertain to Spinal Cord Injury Research
• The paper must have been published in a peer-reviewed journal in the year 2007
• Only the First Author of the paper can be nominated for that paper
• The Nomination must have a brief letter explaining why that paper/author should be considered for the award
• A copy of the published paper must accompany the nomination
• ASIA members may make nominations however; an individual may not nominate him/herself.

The nominations for this award must be received no later than January 31, 2008 (via e-mail, fax, or mail). Please send to Suzanne Groah, M.D.,MSPH, National Rehabilitation Hospital, 102 Irving St., NW, Washington, DC 20010; fax (202)829-3487; or email: suzanne.l.groah@medstar.net

Best Poster Awards

Three poster presentations are recognized for excellence at each annual scientific meeting. Selection, by the Research Committee, is based on subject matter, clarity, and visual presentation. Cash prizes are awarded.

Nader Award

The Erica Nader Award was presented for the first time at the 2004 meeting. This award, which will be presented annually, is funded through the generosity of Viscogliosi Brothers, LLC, in the form of an unrestricted grant to an investigator doing breakthrough research in the field of spinal cord regeneration.

Criteria for nominations of The Erica Nader Award are:

• A Candidate must be an individual/investigator who has performed breakthrough research in the field of spinal cord regeneration. (He/she does not have to be an ASIA member.)
• The nomination must have a brief letter explaining why that investigator should be considered for the award.
• The nomination must include representative research publication(s) or a 1-2 page summary of work in progress that illustrates that investigator's field of regeneration research.
• ASIA members may make nominations; however, an individual may not nominate him/herself.

The nominations for this award must be received no later than February 15, 2008 (via e-mail, fax, or mail). Please send to Suzanne Groah, M.D.,MSPH, National Rehabilitation Hospital, 102 Irving St., NW, Washington, DC 20010; fax (202)829-3487; or email: suzanne.l.groah@medstar.net

Synthes Resident Research Award

Since 2002, ASIA and Synthes Spine have presented an award for the most outstanding resident research paper at each annual meeting. Called the "Synthes Award for Resident Research on Spinal Column and Spinal Cord Injury," the award consists of a cash prize, a plaque, and travel expenses to the meeting for the winner.

It is required that an abstract be submitted to the Annual Meeting.

THE APPLE AWARD

ASIA, Shepherd Center, and Thomas Land Publishers, Inc. will sponsor the 2008 Apple Award, for the second consecutive year. The Apple Award is for excellence in publishing in spinal cord injury rehabilitation research. This annual prize is given at the ASIA meeting, for the best published paper by a clinician or researcher in the preceding calendar year (the 2008 award is for articles published in calendar 2007). Nominations will be accepted from the field for articles which address clinical or basic science research in spinal cord medicine. No self-nominations will be accepted. Nominees do not have to be members of ASIA. The editorial board of the journal "Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation," along with the ASIA Research Committee, will review all nominations and select the recipient. Nominations must be received by February 15, 2008. The winner will be notified in March, with announcement of the award in "Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation."

The recipient will: register for and attend the ASIA meeting at which the award will be presented, with an option to present the winning article as a poster; and attend the annual Research Day at Shepherd Center to present a talk based on the winning paper.

The award includes a cash prize of $2,000, complimentary ASIA registration, expenses to attend the ASIA meeting up to a maximum of $1,000 (North America) or $2,000 (outside North America), customary expenses to travel to Shepherd Center Research Day, and an engraved crystal award.

Submit nominations, along with a copy of the article being nominated, to: pat_duncan@shepherd.org.

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