The AAMC presented the 2026 Paul Vick Government Relations Representatives (GRR) Exemplary Service Award to Ross Frommer, JD, Vice President for Government Affairs for Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and Ellen Palmintier, JD, RN, former director of state and federal relations at Tulane University, during the September 2026 convening of GRRs from AAMC-member institutions. This award, named after long-time GRR Paul Vick of Duke University, was developed by AAMC staff and the GRR Steering Committee in 2019 to formally recognize current and former GRRs for outstanding service and engagement.
Pictured from left to right: Ellen Palmintier, JD, RN, former director of state and federal relations at Tulane University and Ross Frommer, JD, vice president for government and community affairs and associate dean for the Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Throughout the awards ceremony, colleagues highlighted Frommer and Palmintier's numerous qualifications for this honor. Several speakers emphasized Frommer's commitment to collegiality and mentorship, noting his role in welcoming new members to the group. Others praised his strong relationships within the New York delegation, highlighting how he has used Columbia's Project Medical Education to bring policymakers and community members to campus to gain a better understanding of the complex missions of academic medicine. Colleagues commended Palmintier's leadership within the GRR group, pointing to her deep expertise on several policy areas critical to academic medicine, including the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
Their work demonstrates how consistent, trusted engagement can help policymakers see the impact of medical schools and teaching hospitals in their communities. The AAMC applauds Frommer and Palmintier for their exceptional contributions on behalf of academic medicine.