The purpose of this award is to recognize an individual or organization that has made outstanding contributions to physician-scientist training on the national level for a sustained period of time.  The award is named in honor of Dr. Bert Shapiro, the longtime NIH MSTP Director who encouraged collaboration among MD-PhD programs and ceaselessly advocated for their support.  

Frequency: The award may be given annually at the meeting of MD-PhD programs.

Eligibility: Any MD-PhD program administrator or director, or any other individual or organization that has made significant, sustained contributions to MD-PhD and/or physician-scientist training. Nominees should be actively engaged in MD-PhD / physician-scientist training, or should be no more than 2 years removed from such a role.

Process:  The Chair-elect of the Association will form a subcommittee of equal numbers of administrators and directors currently serving on the Association steering committee to consider nominations.  The subcommittee may solicit nominations from Association members, or may devise some other means to develop a slate of nominees. The subcommittee will choose one individual to receive the award.

Criteria: The honoree will be an individual or organization that has made a significant contribution to physician-scientist training on the national level for a sustained period of time. Among the criteria considered should be leadership, innovation, collegiality, participation at the national level, commitment, and duration of service.  The subcommittee should recognize the unique roles played by administrators and directors in supporting physician-scientist training, and it is anticipated that both administrators and directors will be honored.

Award: The honoree will receive a suitable plaque, and their program will receive a $500 award in the honoree’s name.  The Association will fund the plaque and award.