APS Awards

The 2015 APS Annual Award Nominations is now open.  

Each year, the American Pain Society presents eight prestigious awards at its Annual Scientific Meeting. Nominations for the following awards are now open.

To make one or more award nominations, click on the "nominate now" button to complete the nomination form. Letters of Support should clearly indicate how the accomplishments of the nominee qualify him/her to be recognized, according to the specific purpose of the award. Please contact Amanda Pairitz at the APS office with any questions.

Deadline: Friday, July 25

The APS Awards Committment solicits nominations for the following awards:

John and Emma Bonica Public Service Award

Recognizes distinguished contributions by an individual or an organization to the field of pain through public education, dissemination of information, public service, or other efforts that further knowledge about pain.

The nominee must have produced a body of outstanding achievements through direct public service, dissemination of information and public education, or activities that have enhanced the field of pain and pain scholarship and have had a direct impact on the public.

  • Nominations must have a supporting letter submitted by the individual(s) making the nomination.
  • Nominees do not have to be a member of APS.
  • The award may be given to either an individual or a group.

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Wilbert E. Fordyce Clinical Investigator Award

Recognizes individual excellence and achievements in clinical pain scholarship and is presented to a professional whose career achievements have made outstanding contributions to the field of clinical pain research and/or practice.

  • Nominations must have a supporting letter submitted by the individual(s) making the nomination.
  • Nominees must be APS members.

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F. W. L. Kerr Basic Science Research Award

Recognizes individual excellence and achievements in pain research and is presented to a pain professional whose total career achievements make outstanding contributions to the field.

  • Nominations must have a supporting letter submitted by the individual(s) making the nomination.
  • Nominees must be APS members.

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Jeffrey Lawson Award for Advocacy in Children's Pain Relief

This award was established in memory of Jeffrey Lawson, whose mother, Jill, brought to the attention of professional organizations the practice of performing surgery and other procedures on children without the benefit of analgesia. The award recognizes advocacy efforts to improve management of pain in children.

  • The award may be given to a patient, parent, professional, other individual, or a group of individuals or an organization. 
  • Nominations must have a supporting letter submitted by the individual(s) making the nomination.
  • Nominees do not have to be a member of APS.

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John C. Liebeskind Early Career Scholar Award

Recognizes early career achievements of individuals who have made outstanding contributions to pain scholarship or show substantial promise of doing so. For example, nominees must have made a series of distinguished empirical contributions to the field of pain or contributed substantially to the development of new theories or methods.

  • Typically, nominees will be at the assistant professor level or its equivalent.
  • Nominations must have a supporting letter submitted by the individual(s) making the nomination.
  • The nominees must be APS members and must have received their terminal degree within the last 7 years.

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Elizabeth Narcessian Award for Outstanding Educational Achievements in the Field of Pain

Recognizes outstanding educational achievements in the field of pain. The award is given in memory of Elizabeth Narcessian, who lectured tirelessly on the mechanics of the appropriate use of opioids, patient assessment, and the various approaches to the rehabilitation of patients who have been devastated by chronic pain.

  • Nominations must have a supporting letter submitted by the individual(s) making the nomination.
  • Nominees must be APS members and must have made outstanding contributions or innovations in education in the field of pain.

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Distinguished Service Award

Honors outstanding and dedicated service to the American Pain Society and is presented to an individual or a group that has advanced the mission of the society in a significant and lasting way. Emphasis is given to a body of contributions, which have been made within the context of APS and on behalf of the Society.

  • Nominations must have a supporting letter submitted by the individual(s) making the nomination.
  • Nominees must be APS members.

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2015 Awards Committee

Roger B. Fillingim, PhD, Chair
Dennis C. Turk, PhD
Robert H. Dworkin, PhD
Mark P. Jensen, PhD
Michael J. Iadarola, PhD
Anna Taddio
Claudia M. Campbell, PhD
Joanna Girard Katzman, MD MSPH
David A. Williams, PhD