AAA Awards for Scientific and Leadership Contributions

Ebony Thomas-Blackmon
AAA Awards Nominations
9650 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-634-7910 (phone)
301-634-7965 (fax)
etblackmon@anatomy.org

Award Nomination Requirements
While you must be an AAA member to make a nomination, you may nominate a non-member for several of these awards.  Only complete nominations can be considered by the individual award committee.

Basmajian Award - Click here for Basmajian Award criteria.

Henry Gray/Elsevier Distinguished Educator Award - Click here for Henry Gray/Elsevier Distinguished Educator Award criteria.

AAA Fellow Program - Click here for AAA Fellow Program.

Requirements for all other awards:

1. Completed Award Nomination Form from an AAA member (click on the award name below for the appropriate nomination form)
2. Detailed letter of nomination
3. Curriculum vitae of the nominee (NIH biosketch format)
4. Up to three representative papers (electronic files or photocopies on plain paper)
5. A suggested award citation (on nomination form)

Nominations should be specific about the achievements for which the award is proposed. Clear, concise information about the accomplishments of the nominee is more useful than extensive materials.

Selection Process
Each year, the AAA President or incoming President nominates and the Board of Directors approves committee members for each award committee. Each committee carefully considers the eligible nominations and selects the award recipient. Committees are not obligated to make an award each year.

Renomination
Any nominee not chosen for an award is automatically considered for the award by the next two consecutive award committees. It is the nominator’s responsibility to update or augment the nomination materials, if appropriate, prior to the next year’s deadline.

AWARD DESCRIPTIONS

Basmajian Award
Nomination deadline: December 1st  
This award recognizes health science faculty who are in the formative stages of their career, teach human or veterinary gross anatomy, can document excellence in their contribution to the teaching of gross anatomy, and have outstanding accomplishments in biomedical research or scholarship in education. Past winners
The recipient receives:
- A plaque
- A $1,000 honorarium
- Travel reimbursement (2 nights)
- Two years free membership in the American Association of Anatomists
- Two years of registration at the EB meeting will be waived including the year of the award
- Invitation to serve on AAA's Educational Affairs Committee

R.R. Bensley Award in Cell Biology
Nomination deadline: September 15th
This award, first given in 1979, recognizes a cell biologist and is presented to someone who has made a distinguished contribution to the advancement of anatomy through discovery, ingenuity, and publications in the field of cell biology. Eligibility is open to investigators below the rank of professor. The successful candidate will be an independent cell biologist whose publications have had substantial impact on his/her field. Past winners
The recipient presents a lecture at the AAA Annual Meeting and receives:
- A plaque
- A $1000 honorarium
- Travel reimbursement (2 nights)
- Two years free membership in the American Association of Anatomists
- Two years free registration at the AAA Annual Meeting/EB meeting will be waived including the year of the award
- Invitation to serve on the Bensley Award Committee

C.J. Herrick Award in Neuroanatomy
Nomination deadline: September 15th
Established in 1962, this award recognizes investigators who have made important contributions to the field of comparative neuroanatomy and have demonstrated remarkable promise of future accomplishments. Eligibility is open to investigators below the rank of professor. The area of comparative neurology is defined broadly; previous awardees are outstanding scientists who have made contributions to areas of neuroscience, including neurochemistry, development, neurocytology, neuroendocrinology, neurophysiology, and molecular neurobiology. Past winners
The recipient presents a lecture at the AAA Annual Meeting and receives:
- A plaque
- A $1000 honorarium
- Travel reimbursement (2 nights)
- Two years free membership in the American Association of Anatomists
- Two years free registration at the AAA Annual Meeting/EB meeting will be waived including the year of the award
- Invitation to serve on the Herrick Award Committee

Fellow of the American Association of Anatomists
Nomination deadline: December 1st  
The rank of Fellow of the American Association of Anatomists is designed to honor distinguished members who have demonstrated excellence in science and in their overall contributions to the anatomical sciences.
AAA Fellows receive:
- A certificate
- A lapel pin

Henry Gray/Elsevier Distinguished Educator Award
Nomination deadline: September 15th
Materials deadline: December 1st
AAA's highest education award is for human anatomy education in the anatomical sciences as broadly defined—including gross anatomy, embryology, histology, and neuroanatomy—at the medical/dental, graduate, or undergraduate level of teaching. Only AAA members may submit a nomination. Nominees must be full-time or emeritus faculty members of accredited colleges or universities and members of the American Association of Anatomists. The award is provided by Elsevier. The recipient organizes an education symposium or presents a lecture at the AAA Annual Meeting and receives:
- A plaque
- A $4000 honorarium
- Travel reimbursement (2 nights)

Henry Gray Award/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Scientific Achievement Award
Nomination deadline: December 1st
AAA's highest scientific honor recognizes unique and meritorious contributions to and achievements in anatomical sciences by a distinguished AAA member. This award is provided by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Past winners
The recipient receives:
- A plaque
- A $1500 honorarium
- Travel reimbursement (2 nights)

H.W. Mossman Developmental Biologist Award
Nomination deadline: September 15th
This award was established in 2001 to recognize investigators in the early stages of their careers who have made important contributions to the field of developmental biology and have demonstrated remarkable promise of future accomplishments. The area of developmental biology is defined broadly. Eligibility is open to individuals who have completed their doctorate within the past 15 years. Past winners
The recipient presents a lecture at the AAA Annual Meeting and receives:
- A plaque
- A $1000 honorarium
- Travel reimbursement (2 nights)
- Two years free membership in the American Association of Anatomists
- Two years free registration at the AAA Annual Meeting/EB meeting will be waived including the year of the award
- Invitation to serve on the Mossman Award Committee

AAA/Wiley A.J. Ladman Exemplary Service Award
Nomination deadline: December 1st
Presented to an AAA member distinguished in the field of anatomical sciences who has provided exceptional service to the Society. This award is provided by John Wiley & Sons. Past winners
The recipient receives:
- A plaque
- A $1,000 honorarium
- Travel reimbursement (2 nights)

AAA Honorary Membership
Nomination deadline: December 1st
Periodically, the Society grants honorary membership to recognize exceptional accomplishments in the field of anatomical sciences. AAA Honorary Members