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The Abraham Horwitz Award for Leadership in Inter-American Health
The 2007 Call for nominations is closed
"I would like to see Health for All become a reality, whatever mechanism, whatever mode of action. I realize that this is not simple. To achieve health for each and every person is a daunting task… Health does not belong exclusively to doctors. Health is a social product that is everyone's responsibility..." - Abraham Horwitz, MD, MPH
Overall, the health conditions in the Americas have progressed over the last 50 years, and dedicated public health professionals have played a leadership role in this improvement. Public health leaders throughout the Americas are working diligently to bring about sustainable improvements in the health status of all. Much remains to be done, however.
The Abraham Horwitz Award for Leadership in Inter-American Health, created in 1975, was established to honor creative public health leaders whose commitment to public health stimulates excellence among their peers, staff, and other public health professionals. The leadership demonstrated by award winners has an impact beyond their borders and throughout the Americas.
This award is one of five awards presented by the Pan American Health and Education Foundation through its Awards for Excellence in Inter-American Public Health Program, a partnership between the Foundation and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
The Horwitz Award recognizes committed leaders and their contributions to public health resulting in region-wide improvements in the lives of the peoples of the Americas. Such public health leaders are passionate about protecting the public's health, and inspire excellence in others. They have a clear vision of the future, and understand the broader implications of their decisions on the health of future generations. The steadfast goal of improved public health guides their decisions and actions. They have the ability to recognize and adjust to new and changing conditions affecting public health. They are confident in themselves, and are fully aware that leadership and learning are indispensable to each other. Effective leaders are honorable and trustworthy, and communicate well with superiors, peers, subordinates, detractors, self, and the public. They lead by example, and participate willingly in hands-on public health work, be it examining and treating patients, assessing the environmental health status of a community, analyzing health statistics and studying the distribution of diseases across the region, or controlling the vectors of tropical diseases.
Like Dr. Horwitz, past winners have selflessly served the public's health, championed change and managed risks, all for the enhancement of health beyond their own borders. They have demonstrated leadership and dedication to the highest standards of excellence in the field of public health throughout the Americas. Their technical areas of public health expertise have ranged from international nutricion to infectious diseases, to child safety, to the evolutionary process of disease classification, to urban health and the healthy city concept, to epidemiology and statistics, to tropical diseases, to sanitary engineering, and to perinatology.
In addition to the recognition of professional accomplishments, the award calls attention to health concerns throughout the hemisphere, and is intended to inspire continuing achievements in region-wide health by professionals.
A select, international jury of public health professionals reviews nominations, and recommends a candidate to the board of trustees of the Foundation for their final selection. The winner is informed and invited to address and interact with ministers of health of the hemisphere, their delegations and invited guests of PAHO at its annual meeting in Washington DC. The awardee receives US$5,000, a certificate of honor and a paid trip to Washington DC.
