Planning and Operations Group Awards

The Distinguished Service Award honors Planning and Operations Group members (current or former) whose exceptional effort and service have significantly advanced the mission of the group.

Award criteria include:

• Group Leadership. This may include serving as a Steering Committee member and/or leader, as well as supporting and mentoring fellow group members;
• Active Participation in the Group. This may include presenting at AAMC professional development conferences and webinars and helping to develop programming and resources;
• Involvement in special initiatives and/or work groups, and other areas of service or leadership as deemed appropriate.

Every fall, the Steering Committee will serve as the Nominating Committee for the award. In this capacity, the Steering Committee will review current and/or former group members and consider recommendations from all Steering Committee members. Recognition will be limited to one awardee per year. The Steering Committee is not required to select an individual for recognition each year. The Steering Committee will determine the nominee and compile the necessary supporting information by the early spring in order to honor the selected award winner at that year's spring conference.

Recognition for the Distinguished Service Award will include the following:

• Engraved plaque or other commemorative gift to be presented to the awardee at the annual conference.
• Waiver for conference registration fee for awardee.
• The awardee will be asked if they would like the opportunity to prepare a speech to the group membership as part of the award. If the awardee chooses to do so, then the Steering Committee will allow sufficient time as part of the annual conference programming.

Below is a list of past award winners.

2026: Rock Morille
2025: Linda Reimann
2024: Toni Ganzel
2023: Walter Douglas
2022: Pam Bounelis
2019: Rhonice Burnett
2018: Donna Gissen
2017: Rama Iyengar
2016: David Browdy
2015: Nancy Tierney
2014: Robert Marriott
2013: Eric Vermillion
2011: James Bardsley
2010: David O'Brien
2009: Tom Higerd
2008: Ann Schwind
2007: Diana Carmichael
2006: David Perry
2004: Susan Vogt
2003: Gus Stefani
2002: Victor Crown