Mission
Promote and celebrate excellence in different areas of professional activity amongst physicians of Indian origin.

Vision
Promote pride amongst our constituency by recognizing excellence amongst our colleagues while encouraging members, especially the younger physicians, to strive for excellence in clinical care, teaching, research, and community activity.

Values
Selecting and promoting excellence through a transparent system to identify qualities of dedication, integrity, service, and making a difference.

Goals
Cast a wide net of inclusiveness by active solicitation, select by identifiable and clear criteria, publicize the process, and celebrate the awardees and their service.

Policy & Procedures
The chair of the Awards Committee is a voting member of the Awards Committee and should submit an evaluation form, as should all the other members.

July: The Awards Committee Chair sends out a welcome and orientation letter to all of the committee members describing the awards, members' roles and the committee mission, goals and process. The committee prepares the call for award nominations for release. The call for nominations for awards should occur by August 1 through the AAPI Journal, the web and print or electronic newsletter. Consideration should be given to announcing in ethnic and other media. The committee members and the AAPI leadership, especially the regional directors, should be encouraged to announce at regional meetings and in regional organization media.

August: The committee studies, evaluates and modifies, as needed, selection criteria and methods.

January 31 - Last date for nominations (post marked by January 31). No corrections, additions, supplements, or new applications will be accepted after this date.

February 1-10: Acknowledgement letters are sent to nominators and candidates as nominations are received. If selected, candidates would need to submit very concise material for producing a Power Point presentation or video of 3 minutes duration highlighting their achievement.

February 15: The Awards Committee members receive the entire material submitted on all of the nominees, along with the criteria for evaluating the nominees as well as the evaluation forms (with the deadline for return). The Chair of the Awards Committee schedules a teleconference call to reiterate the rules and regulations of the evaluation process.

Each award will have 5 categories; each category will be rated from 1 to 5 (1 being poor, 5 being excellent) for each candidate. Thus, each candidate will get a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 25 points by each evaluator. Null numbers or missing numbers (or forms not submitted in time) will be considered invalid (missing data), therefore, will not be calculated in the average score. In order to keep the award selection limited to members with the highest achievements only, only members attaining an average score of 20 or higher will be considered for the award (very good to excellent range).

Candidates may be nominated for more than one award, however, they will receive an award only in one category. If a candidate scores highest in more than one award category, the chairperson of the award committee, along with the committee members, would have the option to select the category most appropriate.

Awards Committee members shall independently evaluate the candidates, and shall not influence other members according to their bias. Any questionable issues shall be discussed during the teleconference.

Awards Committee members shall refrain from voting if there is an issue with conflict of interest.

March 1: (Or two weeks prior to the Spring Governing Body Meeting, whichever is earlier). The awards Committee members send in their evaluations of the nominees to the AAPI Executive Office. The AAPI Executive Office would average the score and submit the scoring sheet to both the Chair of the Awards Committee as well as the AAPI President by March 15.

Those selected are notified of the award process, the results, and will be asked to submit within 7 days material for producing a presentation of 3 minutes highlighting their achievement. These materials shall be received at the AAPI office by March 31.

AAPI AWARDS
The Most Distinguished Physician Award (Outstanding contribution to the medical profession)
The Most Distinguished AAPI Service Award (Outstanding service to AAPI)
Most Distinguished Service Award (Outstanding service to the community/Humanity)
The Most Distinguished Young Physician Award
The Most Distinguished Medical Student / Resident Physician Award

General Criteria for all Awards
Nominees are restricted to Physicians of Indian ethnic background and heritage.Nominees should be actively involved in the area for which they are being considered.Supporting materials should demonstrate a substantial commitment, innovativeness, and national or international impact.
Physician must have held or hold an unrestricted medical license to practice in the USA (except Medical Students and Residents)

Specific Criteria for each award:
Most Distinguished Physician Award
1. Physician has made outstanding and exceptional contributions to medical profession.
2. AAPI membership is not a requirement for nominating a physician for this award.

Most Distinguished AAPI Physician Service Award
1. Physician has to be a member of AAPI.
2. Physician has performed outstanding service to AAPI over many years.

Most Distinguished Service Award
1. Physician has performed outstanding service to humanity over many years.
2. AAPI membership is not a requirement for nominating a physician for this award.

Most Distinguished Young Physician Award
1. Should have outstanding performance in patient care, research, and community service.
2. AAPI membership is not a requirement for nominating a physician for this award

Most Distinguished Medical Student / Resident Physician Award
1. Medical Student / Resident or Fellow in the USA.
2. Should have outstanding performance in patient care, research, and community service.
3. AAPI membership is not a requirement for nominating a physician for this award.

Requirements for Nominees:
CV their achievements as evidenced by documents Letters of recommendation Other recognitions and awards. Nominators will act as coordinators for their nominees, submitting a complete nomination form, supporting letters, curriculum vitae, and relevant materials. Award winners will be invited to the Annual AAPI convention to accept the award in person.
Deadline for submitting nominations is January 31. No nominations will be accepted after that date.

Please contact for application form and information:
AAPI
Executive Office
Telephone: 630-990-2277
Fax: 630-990-2281
Email:info@aapiusa.net

Suggestions for Awards Selection
Awards selection process should occur in an open and unbiased fashion. A representative selection committee should review and select the recipients.

Candidates for all awards should:
1. Advance the profession through volunteerism, government or public service.
2. Offer better access to quality health care for an underserved patient population.
3. Practice medicine in areas of challenge or crisis.
4. Serve in remarkable or innovative ways.
5. Be compassionate and sensitive.
6. Mentor peers and others (not applicable to Most distinguished Medical Student Award).
7. Embody the AAPI values and the values of the medical profession through leadership, service, excellence, integrity and ethical behavior.
8. Enrich patients, colleagues and the community through dedicated medical practice.
9. Promote the betterment of the public health.

Guidelines for evaluation for AAPI Awards candidates
A. MOST DISTINGUISHED PHYSICIAN AWARD
      a. Qualifications
            i. Academic
            ii. Non-Academic
      b. Contributions to the field of Medicine
      c. Contribution to Society in General
      d. National and International Recognition

B. MOST DISTINGUISHED AAPI PHYSICIAN SERVICE AWARD
      a. Qualifications
      b. Service to AAPI
      c. Positions held in AAPI (State & National Level)
      d. State and National Recognition

C. MOST DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
      a. Qualifications
      b. Service to Humanity in Medicine
      c. National & International Recognition

D. MOST DISTINGUISHED YOUNG PHYSICIAN AWARD
      a. Qualifications
            i. Academic
            ii. Non-Academic
      b. Contributions
            i. Patient care & Community service
            ii. Research
      c. State and National Recognition

E. MOST DISTINGUISHED MEDICAL STUDENT / RESIDENT PHYSICIAN AWARD
      a. Qualifications
            i. Academic
            ii. Non-Academic
      b. Contributions
            i. Excellence in patient care and community service
            ii. Excellence in research
      c. Recognition in the form of awards

Click here for the Cover Sheet of AAPI Award Nominations Form.