Awards
Lifetime Achievement Award
Established in 2008, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellows Lifetime Achievement Award honors and recognizes outstanding alumni for notable and sustained accomplishments in health policy as well as demonstrable commitment to service to others in their public and personal lives.
It is awarded to the person who best demonstrates excellence in his or her dedication to advancing and promoting health and health policy while enhancing the careers of other fellows and alumni.
Submission deadline: August 1, 2025
Submit nominations to: info@healthpolicyfellows.org
Process
The award process will be organized and chaired by an alumnus. Up to four additional alumni volunteers, who are representative of the long history of the program, will serve on the selection committee.
Values and Criteria for Selection
An alumnus who:
- Has made significant contributions in health and health policy as a recognized national or international leader
- Demonstrates an enduring personal commitment to the advancement and promotion of health and health policy over a long period of time
- Actively participates in health policy programs or activities at a local, (e.g. institutional or community), state, national, and/or international level
- Actively mentors, encourages and supports the advancement of others, particularly for other fellows and alumni
Supporting documents for all nominees will include:
- Curriculum Vitae of the nominee
- Letter of nomination from an alumnus and at least two additional alumni co-signers
- Two additional letters of support from those outside the program who are in a position to attest to the nominee’s exceptional contribution to health and health policy
The selection committee will notify the winner by mid-September to assure the winning nominee has sufficient time to plan to attend the Alumni Retreat in October.
Past Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients
Marc B. Hahn, D.O., FAOCA (‘98-‘99)
Dr. Hahn received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022 for his many years of service to the fields of health and health policy. He is an expert and leading authority who continues to create opportunities for improving health through his leadership in the administrative, policy, education, research and clinical arenas, and is dedicated to medicine and committed to furthering its impact on society. Marc has impacted the lives of many and has continued to work towards a healthier, more equitable future for all.
Jeffrey L. Geller, MD, MPH (’93-’94)
Dr. Geller received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021 for his outstanding engagement with policy and dedication to the advancement of public health; his contributions to the field of psychiatry, specifically in the treatment of those with severe mental illness and in the advocacy for their civil rights; and through his many leadership roles, including President of the American Psychiatric Association and Vice President of the World Federation of Mental Health.
Robert A. Crittenden, MD, MPH (’87-’88)
Dr. Crittenden received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020. In his five decades of transformative health policy leadership and medical practice, Bob has built a legacy of health and health equity created by his remarkable multidisciplinary expertise in and unwavering commitments to clinical medicine, health policy, advocacy, and academia -- all of which he has expertly leveraged to create and sustain just and efficient systems of health care. In this time of national reckoning on both public health and racial equality fronts, Bob’s visionary work in these arenas has built both a foundation and a blueprint for action from which inequalities can be reduced and health preparedness enhanced through legislative, advocacy, and policy levers.
Linda Degutis, DrPH, MSN (’96 – ’97)
Dr. Degutis received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019 for her long commitment and extraordinary impact on public health, medicine, and nursing. As an academic, researcher, public servant, leader, and administrator, Linda has brought passion, intellect, and creativity to her work. She has impacted the lives of many and improved the health of the nation.
Charles "Chip" Rice, MD (’91 – ’92)
Dr. Rice received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 for his visionary contributions to the health and healthcare of all Americans; as an expert clinician and researcher; as an administrator and executive branch policymaker in shaping the course of the nation's military health system; and in positively influencing the careers of thousands of military physicians, nurse practitioners, dentists, psychologists, and biomedical researchers.
Marie Michnich, DrPH (’84 – ’85)
Dr. Michnich received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 for her significant contributions as a national leader in health and health policy; through her role as Executive Director for President George W. Bush’s Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors; in leading four of the nation’s most high profile and prestigious health policy Fellowships; and providing legendary mentorship to fellows, alumni, and colleagues.
Rita Redberg, MD, MSc (’03 – ’04)
Dr. Redburg received the 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding health policy leadership in Legislative and Executive Branches of the government and non-profit organizations; her impact on scholarly work in health policy through her role as the Chief Editor of JAMA Internal Medicine; her mentorship of others; and her active role in public education, particular in the areas of heart disease in women.
Jo Ivey Boufford, MD (’79 – ’80)
Dr. Boufford received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014 for her dedication to underserved and marginalized populations; her work at the intersection of primary care, community-based approaches, public health, and population health; her ability to turn ideas into action; and the quality of her leadership and contributions in academia as well as at the state, federal, and global levels.
Karen Hein, MD (’93 – ’94)
Dr. Hein received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012 for exceptional health policy leadership at the federal, state, and local levels, exemplified in her service on the Green Mountain Care Board; developing and implementing ground-breaking health care reform in Vermont; and in her efforts to promote the health of vulnerable populations by creating the first comprehensive HIV/AIDs program for adolescents in the nation. In addition to her outstanding leadership in health policy, Karen is recognized for her dedication and contributions to the RWJF Health Policy Fellows program as an inspiration and mentor to current and past fellows.
David Michaels, PhD, MPH (’93 – ’94)
Dr. Michaels received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010 for his contributions in protecting the health and safety of nuclear weapons workers as the Department of Energy's Assistant Secretary for Environment, Safety and Health (1998-2001); promoting scientific integrity to safeguard the public’s health and environment; and promoting transparent decision-making as director of The Project on Scientific Knowledge and Public Policy at the George Washington University.
Oliver Fein, MD (’93 – ’94)
Dr. Fein was selected as the first recipient for the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008 for his efforts to promote patient-centered, community-oriented care and his commitment to encouraging the next generation of health care providers to engage in the larger issues of health policy and health care reform in America. Among other initiatives, he helped lead the efforts of health policy leaders interested in improving care for the most vulnerable populations in New York City and played key roles in the development and expansion of the Society of General Internal Medicine and Physicians for a National Health Plan.
Susie Nanney Culture of Health Champion Award
Established in 2018, in honor of Susie Nanney, PhD, MPH, RD, this award recognizes a RWJF Health Policy Fellow alumnus for his/her commitment to advancing and promoting a culture of health for all. Dr. Nanney, a nutritionist and scholar at the University of Minnesota, was a beloved member of the RWJF Health Policy Fellowship Class of 2016-17. She lost her life in 2018 in a tragic vehicular crash. Susie was the first recipient of the Culture of Health Champion award, in recognition of her life’s work, transformed and invigorated by her fellowship experience.
Submission deadline: August 1, 2023
Submit nominations to: info@healthpolicyfellows.org
Process
- The award will be overseen (and the recipient selected by) a selection committee comprised of Susie’s fellow-fellows, the RWJF HPF Class of 2016-17.
- Note: If a selection committee member nominates an alumnus or if one of the committee members is nominated for the award, that member will recuse him or herself from the selection committee
- One award will be presented annually at the RWJF HPF fall retreat. If no nominations are received or if no awardee is identified, then no award will be presented that year.
- The selection committee will notify the awardee by mid-September so that the alumnus has sufficient time to plan to attend the RWJF HPF Alumni retreat in October.
Values and Criteria for Selection
An alumnus who:
- Has made significant contributions to promoting a culture of health for all. Contributions may include (but are not limited to) promoting health equity in action areas such as:
- Making health a shared value within communities
- Fostering cross-sector collaborations to improve well being
- Creating healthier, more equitable communities
- Strengthening integration of health services and systems
- Leads health policy initiatives at a local, (e.g. institutional or community), state, national, and/or international level
- Actively mentors, encourages and supports the advancement of others
Supporting documents for all nominees will include:
- Curriculum Vitae of the nominee
- Letter of nomination from an alumnus to include the following:
- How the nominee meets the criteria established for the award
- The nominee’s post-fellowship impact on the culture of health
- Nominee statement encouraged (but not required)
- Letter of support from the community being impacted by their work also encouraged (but not required)
Past Susie Nanney Culture of Health Champion Award Recipients
Wendi Gosliner, Ph.D., R.D. (‘13-‘14)
Dr. Gosliner is the 2022 recipient of the Susie Nanney Culture of Health Champion Award in recognition of her work on improving nutrition for marginalized populations and promoting a culture of health in the design and implementation of food assistance programs. Dr. Gosliner’s work is an exemplar of conducting impactful, strategic science with intentional translation of research findings to actionable policies.
Michael Painter, MD, JD ('03 - '04)
Dr. Painter is the 2021 recipient of the Susie Nanney Culture of Health Champion Award for his dedication to improving the culture of health through advocating for and with Indigenous Peoples. His contributions range from direct patient care to global involvement in improving environmental health, and his drive to confront unacceptable racial and social inequities and disparities in our communities and nation.
Debra Haire-Joshu, PhD, RN ('03 - '04)
Dr. Haire-Joshu is the 2019 recipient of the Susie Nanney Culture of Health Champion Award for her work with underserved women and children and other diverse populations to create healthier, more equitable communities. The primary focus of Dr. Haire-Joshu's research is to reduce obesity and prevent diabetes in underserved youth populations.
Susie Nanney, PhD, MPH, RD ('16 - '17)
Susie was the first recipient of the Culture of Health Award in recognition of her extraordinary contributions to health equity and population health—focused on food insecurity.
For any questions, please contact the NPO at (202) 334-1506 or info@healthpolicyfellows.org
- If you wish to serve on the selection committee, contact the national program office (NPO) at (202) 334-1506 or info@healthpolicyfellows.org.
- If you wish to submit a nomination, read about the award details as well as the required nomination materials.