ASBH Annual Awards Programs

Lifetime Achievement Award

The ASBH Lifetime Achievement Award is the Society's highest honor. It recognizes a distinguished individual for excellence in bioethics and/or the health humanities. It is given in recognition of longstanding achievement in bioethics and/or the health humanities.

Criteria for selection include but are not limited to influential scholarship; research, artistic or literary works; significant scholarly, institutional, or organizational efforts that have enhanced the ethics of clinical practice; and/or meaningful contributions to undergraduate, graduate, professional, or public education in bioethics and/or the health humanities. The awardee is expected to make a 10-15 minute presentation at the ASBH Annual Meeting. Nominees need not be a member of the Society.  

Distinguished Service Award

The ASBH Distinguished Service Award may be given to a current and longstanding member of ASBH who has demonstrated exemplary leadership in advancing the goals of the Society.

In making this award, the committee will consider such contributions to ASBH as consistent volunteer activity; extraordinary service on the board of directors, committee, or task force; advancement of a significant publication or program or other creative work; mentorship of other leaders; or other service that had a lasting impact.

Cornerstone Award

The ASBH Cornerstone Award is the Society's highest honor given to an institution. The Cornerstone Award recognizes outstanding, enduring contribution(s) by an institution that has deeply enriched and/or helped shape the direction of the fields of bioethics and/or the health humanities.

"Institution" is defined broadly and may include entities such as program, center, journal, or other publication, task force, blog, listserv, forum, long-running conference or course, or a single event or meeting that have made significant, wide-reaching contributions with lasting impact on the fields of bioethics and/or the health humanities.

Criteria for selection include but are not limited to: (1) influential and significant contributions to scholarship; (2) efforts or work that have greatly enhanced or furthered the fields of bioethics and/or the health humanities; (3) significant service to the public; and/or (4) national or international appreciation and recognition.

Nominations may be submitted by an individual or institution. Self-nominations will be considered and should include supporting documentation such as letters of support, awards, or other recognition of the institution's contributions from external sources. The Cornerstone Award is awarded at the discretion of the ASBH Board of Directors and may not be awarded annually. In addition, a presentation will be made to a representation of the Cornerstone Award winner at the discretion of the Awards Committee and the Board. 

Student Paper Award

The ASBH Student Paper Award recognizes up to three papers for writing clarity and quality, development of the argument, integration of the literature, and novelty/insight of the contribution.

Undergraduates, students enrolled in a Master's degree program who do not hold an advanced degree (MD, PhD, JD, or equivalent) and students who are actively pursuing, but have not yet achieved, an advanced degree (MD, PhD, JD, or equivalent) may submit papers of no more than 3,500 words (not including footnotes and appendices) in length for consideration for the prestigious ASBH Student Paper Award. All papers are assessed anonymously for writing clarity and quality, development of the argument, integration of the literature, and novelty or insight of the contribution. Papers must be written by a single student author, and the selection of topics is open. Previous winners are not eligible for consideration. Information about the 2024 submission period will be available soon.