Awards

The Abraham Lilienfeld Award

The College's most prestigious award is given in honor of Abraham Lilienfeld, a founder of the American College of Epidemiology and a renowned teacher and scholar. The Lilienfeld Award is conferred each year at the Annual Meeting. The Lilienfeld Award recipient is invited to address Fellows and Members of the College during the Annual Meeting. Lilienfeld Awardees are recognized as lifetime Honorary Fellows of the College. The awardee will receive a monetary prize and complementary annual meeting registration.

Eligibility Criteria
An eligible nominee should be a senior leader who has made extraordinary contributions to the field of epidemiology over the course of her/his career, through both teaching or mentoring and research or scholarship. Self‐nominations are not accepted.

Nomination Procedure

  • Nominations must be made by an active ACE member (Associate, Member, Fellow, Honorary Fellow, or Emeritus)
  • Nominations consist of a letter highlighting the nominee’s achievements and/or contributions pertinent to the award, and a current curriculum vitae
  • The nominator may include up to two supporting letters
  • Please supply complete nomination packages only

Annual Outstanding Contributions to Epidemiology Award

This award recognizes an active epidemiologist for outstanding contributions to the field in one of three areas: 1) methods development; 2) etiologic research; or 3) applied epidemiology. The award is conferred each year at the Annual Meeting, and the recipient is invited to deliver a platform talk during the Annual Meeting. The awardee will receive a monetary prize and complementary annual meeting registration.

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for each award area are described below:

  • Methods Development: An award for Outstanding Contribution in Methods Development recognizes one epidemiologist for exemplary work in theoretical or applied research methodology that has demonstrably advanced the practice of epidemiology. Eligible nominees should have a strong record of peer‐reviewed publications on methods in epidemiology or related disciplines (e.g., statistics, social sciences, etc.).
  • Etiologic Research: An award for Outstanding Contribution in Etiologic Research recognizes one epidemiologist for research that has led to advances in the general understanding of the etiology of a specific health condition or group of conditions of public health significance. Eligible nominees should have a strong record of peer-reviewed publications on etiologic research in epidemiology or related disciplines (e.g., clinical, basic science, etc.).
  • Applied Epidemiology: An award for Outstanding Contribution in Applied Epidemiology recognizes one active epidemiologist for contributions that resulted in translating epidemiologic evidence to clinical, public health, or health policy applications. A strong record of peer‐reviewed publications is not required to describe the impact of this translational work, but evidence of the meritorious contributions of the nominee should be documented. Documentation should be accessible or provided to the committee for review and may include unpublished reports or gray literature as well as traditional publications.

Nomination Procedure

Active ACE members (Associate, Member, Fellow, Honorary Fellow or Emeritus) are invited to nominate eligible candidates for this award. Nominations should include:

  • A statement of the Award category: Methods Development, Etiologic Research, or Applied Epidemiology
  • A narrative description of the particular contribution or collection of contributions prompting the nomination. For example, a single high‐impact publication could be sufficient for a nomination, as could a collection of work. Regardless, this description should document how the contribution has influenced the field of epidemiology and/or related fields as well as any direct population health impact.
  • Examples of work (e.g., papers, reports, etc.) do not need to be attached to the nomination letter, but a select list of relevant examples that can be accessed by the committee would be helpful.
  • A copy of the nominee’s curriculum vitae should be submitted with the nomination letter.
  • The nominator may include up to two supporting letters
  • Self‐nominations are not accepted.

Annual Student Paper Prize

Award Description

Individuals are invited to submit their unpublished, original research paper, completed during graduate epidemiology training, for consideration for the Student Paper prize. The paper should not be published or accepted for publication at the time of submission for consideration of the award. The awardee will receive a monetary prize and complementary annual meeting registration. The paper can be given an expedited review, if desired, by the Annals of Epidemiology. 

The Student Prize Award recognizes an outstanding scientific contribution by a student of epidemiology. The Student Prize consists of:
  • Financial assistance to attend the Annual Meeting of the American College of Epidemiology
  • Presentation of the paper at the annual meeting
  • Consideration for publication in the Annals of Epidemiology, with expedited review

The award is conferred each year at the Annual Meeting and the recipient has the opportunity to deliver a platform talk to the College. 

Eligibility Criteria
  • The first author of the submitted paper must be eligible for ACE Associate Member status and enrolled in a master’s or doctoral epidemiology training program, or have completed training not sooner than January of the calendar year of the annual meeting.
  • Work must have been completed during the student’s training program, contain original research, and be suitable for publication.
  • The paper may be under review but cannot be published at the time of submission.

Early Career Epidemiologist Methodology Track Award

This award recognizes an early career epidemiologist for contributions to the field in one of three areas: 1) methods development; 2) etiologic research; or 3) applied epidemiology. The award is conferred each year at the Annual Meeting. The Awardee is given a mentorship opportunity to meet with a senior epidemiologist on the ACE board. The awardee will receive a monetary prize and complementary annual meeting registration.

Early Career Epidemiologist Etiology Track Award

This award recognizes an early career epidemiologist for contributions to the field in one of three areas: 1) methods development; 2) etiologic research; or 3) applied epidemiology. The award is conferred each year at the Annual Meeting. The Awardee is given a mentorship opportunity to meet with a senior epidemiologist on the ACE board. The awardee will receive a monetary prize and complementary annual meeting registration.

Annals of Epidemiology Award: Overall Best Paper

The American College of Epidemiology is pleased to present the Annals of Epidemiology Outstanding Article Award winners. In the spirit of supporting high quality epidemiologic research that is carefully reported and addresses questions of substantial public health or methodological significance, the American College of Epidemiology awards this annual prize to the first author of the manuscript chosen by the Publications committee as the best article in the journal that year. This award accentuates the close affiliation of the College with the Annals of Epidemiology.

Outstanding Mentorship Award

The Outstanding Mentorship Award is presented to:

  • Faculty mentors of graduate students (master's and/or doctoral level) who have shown an outstanding commitment to mentoring, developing and supporting postgraduate students; OR
  • Mentors who work in nonacademic/public health agencies/wider public health practices, but have a significant impact in public health education or mentorship. 

Effective mentoring involves getting to know a mentee's personal strengths and future goals, then providing tailored advice and encouragement and being able to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds and levels of experience. 

This nomination should be done by one, or a group of post graduate students/mentees, who have been mentored by the nominee. In the nomination letter, the nominator has to briefly describe the relationship with the mentor and provide brief, but specific examples, of how the mentor has demonstrated some or all of the following criteria:

  • Excellence in mentorship.
  • Willingness to share their knowledge, skills, and expertise with their mentees.
  • Ability to provide guidance and constructive feedback while encouraging the mentee to gain confidence in their own skills and intellectual independence.
  • Showing care for their mentees and treating them with respect, despite their race, religion or cultural background.
  • Ability to foster a comfortable but challenging work environment, in which mentees pursue and achieve their goals.
  • Gives mentees a voice and empowers them to participate in intellectual conversations, and provides a safe environment for them to share their concerns and difficulties.

Distinguished Service Award

The Distinguished Service Award may be given annually to an individual who has given extraordinary service to the College. The President makes this award after consultation with the Executive Committee. Normally, the award is presented at the Awards luncheon, at the annual meeting.

Honorary Fellows

The Admissions Committee deems Honorary Fellows individuals who have satisfied the following criteria

  • Eligible to be a Fellow
  • Clear evidence of significant and sustained academic and/or other professional contributions to the field of epidemiology

Candidates can be also chosen by a committee consisting of the President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and two other members of the Board of Directors appointed by the President annually. Honorary Fellows are entitled to all the privileges of Fellows except voting and serving as officers or directors and are exempt from the payment of dues.