ISPOR Avedis Donabedian Outcomes Research Lifetime Achievement Award

Background: The ISPOR Avedis Donabedian Outcomes Research Lifetime Achievement Award is established in honor of the late Avedis Donabedian MD, MPH to acknowledge those individuals who have made a major contribution to the improvement of health outcomes.  Dr. Donabedian was a renowned faculty member of the University of Michigan School of Public Health, multiple Award-winner, author of eight books, more than 50 peer-reviewed articles, and countless lectures on the subject of outcomes research.  He dedicated his life to improving the quality of health care and health care systems, and directed such research towards health outcomes as the measure of quality.  He has been called the “Father of Outcomes Research”.  

Description: The ISPOR Avedis Donabedian Outcomes Research Lifetime Achievement Award is international in scope and stature. The Award recognizes an individual’s outstanding, life-long achievement in the area of improving health outcomes.  It will be presented on a frequency determined by the ISPOR Lifetime Achievement Awards Committee, but not more than one time per year. 

Criteria: The Award is open to any person who through his or her life’s endeavors has demonstrated a significant and lasting contribution towards better health outcomes in a population or sub-population, as defined by the Lifetime Achievement Awards Task Force. The Award is targeted towards demonstrated value delivered in health outcomes, rather than purely academic achievement.   Therefore, nominees will be expected to have demonstrated tangible and persistent contributions that led towards improved health outcomes in an identifiable group of individuals.  Academicians, industry professionals, economists, researchers and others who meet these criteria are eligible, including ISPOR members.  Self-nominations are discouraged.  Deceased persons are not eligible for the Award.  However, should the recipient die prior to receiving the Award, it may be presented posthumously.  

Nomination Process:  The Call for Nominations will be advertised in the ISPOR CONNECTIONS, on the ISPOR website, and any other appropriate journal/newsletter.  Anyone who meets the criteria above may be nominated.  Nominations may be made by any ISPOR member.  Members may nominate more than one person; however a completed application must accompany each nomination.  Nominators are responsible for ensuring that all necessary documentation is forwarded with the application. 

Selection Process:  The Lifetime Achievement Awards Task Force selects the recipient by reviewing the materials submitted for each nominee and determining the overall impact of his or her contributions towards improving health outcomes.  The Donabedian Award is targeted towards demonstrated value delivered in health outcomes rather than purely academic achievement. The Task Force will then recommend the recipient of the Award to the Board of Directors.   

1. ISPOR members may nominate more than one person.  All nominations must include:

• a completed application for each nomination

• a brief essay indicating the reason for your nomination

• the nominee’s curriculum vitae

• supporting documentation including publication citations and any other notable achievements of the nominee in the area of outcomes research. 

2. ISPOR members will be asked to volunteer for the Lifetime Achievement Award Task Force (LAATF).  The ISPOR Awards Committee Chair will select a Chair for the LAATF.  The LAATF will select several volunteers for the LAATF Core Group. All other volunteers will constitute the LAATF Reference Group.

3. After all nominations have been received, the Chair of the LAATF will prepare a brief description of each nominee and will send it to the Core Group. 

4. The Core Group will provide a commentary and a ranking for each nominee.  The top 3 or 4 nominees will be sent to the Reference Group for ranking. 

5. Using the results of the Reference Group ranking, the Chair of the LAATF, with the LAATF Core Group, selects the recipient.

6. The selected recipient, along with supporting documentation, and a list of the other top ranking nominees, with documentation, will be sent to the Board of Directors for approval of the selected candidate.

Nature of the Award:  The Award will be announced and presented to the chosen individual at either the ISPOR International Meeting or the ISPOR European Congress, as appropriate.  The Award recipient will receive a complimentary registration and travel expenses to the next ISPOR Annual International Meeting or ISPOR European Congress that convenes immediately following the Award selection process.  The recipient will also have the opportunity to address the general assembly at either of these meetings, or alternatively address the membership of ISPOR through a commentary in Value in Health.   

Nominations for the Avedis Donabedian Outcomes Research Lifetime Achievement Award require a letter of support for the nominee and a current edition of the nominee's CV, and sent to: awards@ispor.org.

George W. Torrance, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus at McMaster University, Canada Principal Consultant for i3 Innovus		David Eddy MS, PhD Archimedes, Inc.		Bryan R. Luce, PhD, MBA Senior Vice President Science Policy for United BioSource Corporation
John E. Ware, Jr., Ph.D Chief Executive Officer, Chief Science Officer and Chairman of the Board QualityMetric Incorporated		Michael F. Drummond, PhD Professor of Economics and Director of the Centre for Health economics at the University of York, UK		Kathleen N. Lohr, PhD RTI Distinguished Fellow, Research Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill