AAES Awards
AAES has three awards that may be bestowed at the Annual Meeting: the Distinguished Service Award, the Award of Distinction, and the Oliver Cope Meritorious Achievement Award. A member may be under consideration for more than one award at any given time. All three awards may not be given out in a single year. Criteria and requirements for each award are found below. All nominations must be submitted by a current AAES member in good standing.
Nominations for all three awards will open in early September 2025 and close on December 1, 2025. Awards will be announced at the 2026 Annual Meeting in Lexington, KY in April 2026.
Submit a nomination for a deserving candidate today!
Distinguished Service Award
The AAES initiated a Distinguished Service Award in 2025. This award is designed to recognize individuals who maintain Active or Senior membership types.
Award Criteria:
1. The nominee should have had a notable career in Endocrine Surgery with significant contributions ‘dedicated to advancing the science and art of endocrine surgery’. This may be demonstrated through a number of mechanisms including but not limited to:
- Advancement of the care of patients with endocrine surgical disorders which may include performing scientifically rigorous research leading to significant improvements in our understanding and treatment of endocrine surgical disorders.
- Demonstrated excellence in the mentorship and training of multiple endocrine surgeons who have gone on to become clinical, education, or scientific leaders in the field.
- Development of programs that enhance and build the professional careers of AAES members.
- Expansion of partnerships and other relationships with key stakeholders and like-minded organizations or entities that further the awareness and value of the AAES and the field of endocrine surgery.
- Significant promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the organization, in endocrine surgery, and for patients.
2. The nominee should have evidence of dedicated service to the AAES, including a strong history of prior active engagement with the organization (Committee work, Councilor, Liaison, Task Force, Officer, other).
Nomination process:
- Nominations may be put forth by any member of the AAES.
- Nominations should include a primary letter of recommendation summarizing the nominee’s qualifications and highlighting the above criteria. Up to two additional letters of recommendation from colleagues are allowed.
- The nominee must be alive at the time the award is bestowed at the Annual Meeting.
- Awards will be in the form of recognition only and without monetary value.
- An unsuccessful nomination (does not result in the award being given) will stay active for three years and will be reconsidered annually. Supplemental information may be provided by the nominator during the period of continued review.
- Should a nomination fail to be approved in the first 3 years, a new nomination may be submitted in the future for re-consideration.
Award of Distinction
This award is designed to recognize individuals who maintain a Corresponding or Allied Specialist member type, as well as non-members.
Award Criteria:
1. The nominee should have had a notable career in Endocrine Surgery or a related field (Endocrinology, Pathology, Research, etc.) with significant contributions to the advancement of the science and art of endocrine surgery and the field of endocrine disorders. This may be demonstrated through a number of mechanisms including but not limited to:
- Advancement of the care of patients with endocrine surgical disorders which may include performing scientifically rigorous research leading to significant improvements in our understanding and treatment of endocrine surgical disorders.
- Demonstrated excellence in the mentorship and training of clinicians and/or researchers who have gone on to become clinical, educational, or scientific leaders in their field.
- Development of educational programs, partnerships, and other relationships with key stakeholders and like-minded organizations or entities that further the awareness and value of the AAES and the field of endocrine surgery.
- Significant promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion endocrine surgery and patient advocacy.
2. The nominee should have evidence of dedicated service to the AAES, including a strong history of prior engagement (collaboration on research, guidelines, active participation in the annual meeting, etc.).
Nomination process:
- Nominations may be put forth by any Active or Senior member of the AAES.
- Nominations should include a primary letter of recommendation summarizing the nominee’s qualifications and highlighting the above criteria. Up to two additional letters of recommendation from colleagues including at least 1 from a member of the AAES in any membership category are allowed.
- The nominee must be alive at the time the award is bestowed at the Annual Meeting.
- Awards will be in the form of recognition only and without monetary value.
- An unsuccessful nomination (does not result in the award being given) will stay active for three years and will be reconsidered annually. Supplemental information may be provided by the nominator during the period of continued review.
- Should a nomination fail to be approved in the first 3 years, a new nomination may be submitted in the future for re-consideration.
Olive Cope Meritorious Achievement Award
The Oliver Cope Award was first awarded in 1985 and is designed to recognize exceptional individuals who have made impactful and durable contributions to the field of Endocrine Surgery over their lifetime. This is the premier award the AAES can bestow upon an Active or Senior member. Few will rise to the level needed to receive this award.
Award Criteria:
1. The award recognizes individuals who meet and surpass the requirements of the Distinguished Service Award. Recipients may have previously been awarded the Distinguished Service Award.
2. Recipients are easily recognized by the AAES membership as a result of their prominence in the field of endocrine surgery and their dedication and service to the AAES.
3. Recipients have had meaningful and longstanding influence on the field of endocrine surgery as an investigator, teacher, and clinical surgeon.
4. Recipients have taken on multiple leadership roles within the AAES and have served with distinction.
5. Recipients routinely attend and actively participate in the Annual Meeting, and also promote the AAES outside the organization through other activities.
6. The award is not an annual award but is bestowed rarely upon those very few members who are deserving of the prestigious nature of the award.
Nomination process:
- Nominations may be put forth by any member of the AAES.
- Nominations should include a primary letter of recommendation summarizing the nominee’s qualifications and highlighting the above criteria. Up to two additional letters of recommendation from colleagues (breadth outside a single organization is looked upon favorably) are allowed.
- The nominee must be alive at the time the award is bestowed at the Annual Meeting.
- Awards will be in the form of recognition only and without monetary value.
- An unsuccessful nomination (does not result in the award being given) will stay active for three years and will be reconsidered annually. Supplemental information may be provided by the nominator during the period of continued review.
- Should a nomination fail to be approved in the first 3 years, a new nomination may be submitted in the future for re-consideration.
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