Group on Faculty Affairs Carole J. Bland Phronesis Award

The Group on Faculty Affairs (GFA) established the Carole J. Bland Phronesis Award to commemorate the legacy of service and example of Dr. Bland. This award serves to honor members of the Faculty Affairs community who exemplify the spirit of phronesis through dedicated and selfless promotion of faculty vitality.

Phronesis (fro-NEE-sis):
Acting for the welfare of others without thought for the self; seeking and enabling heroically the development and success of others.

Guidelines

Individuals working in the area of faculty affairs or faculty development, who are current or retired members of the Group on Faculty Affairs (GFA), are eligible for nomination. Members of the seated GFA Steering Committee, GFA Committees, or GFA ad hoc bodies are not eligible to be nominated until at least one year after their active service has concluded.

Nominees for the annual Carole J. Bland Phronesis Award should be individuals with at least 10 years of history contributing to the field of faculty affairs or faculty development in academic medicine. The GFA Steering Committee will evaluate nominees for evidence of excellence in the following areas:

• Innovator/Leader

• Nurturer/Mentor

• GFA Engagement/Impact

• Educator/Scholar

Selection

Online submissions will be reviewed and discussed by the GFA Steering Committee. Upon the GFA Steering Committee selecting a recipient, the Chair will notify the recipient. The award is presented at the annual GFA Professional Development Conference.

Nominations

Nominations may be submitted by GFA faculty and professional staff members, Medical School Deans or Health System Executives within the AAMC membership, or any member of AAMC leadership, including the chairs or steering committee members of other AAMC Groups or Councils. 

The complete nomination package must include the following items:

• Letter of nomination outlining the rationale and justification for the nomination. The letter should address each of the evaluation areas—Innovator/Leader, Nurturer/Mentor, GFA Engagement/Impact, and Educator/Scholar—in a brief narrative not to exceed three (3) pages and must be double-spaced. 

• GFA Engagement and Impact Statement presented in an itemized or bulleted format. The statement should outline the nominee’s roles, contributions, length of involvement, and outcomes related to their engagement with the Group on Faculty Affairs (GFA). 

• Nominee’s narrative biographical sketch (maximum 500 words).

• Current curriculum vitae. 

• Color headshot. 

• Completed nomination form, submitted by the nominator. 

The GFA Steering Committee will not review additional materials. Incomplete or late nominations will not be accepted. An acknowledgement receipt for the nomination will be sent to the submitter.

Nominate a colleague

Timeline

• January 2026: Call for nominations announced.

• February 2026: Award nominations deadline.

• March 2026: Award recipient selected and notified.

• April 2026: GFA Carole J. Bland Phronesis Award recipient announced and award presented.

Award Presentation

The award will be presented at the 2026 GBA–GIP–GFA Joint Spring Meeting, taking place April 22–24, 2026. The award recipient will be invited to offer remarks at the meeting.

Past Honorees