The Abraham Horwitz Award
for Leadership in Inter-American Health

“I would like to see Health for All become a reality, whatever mechanism, whatever mode of action. I realize that this is not simple. To achieve health for each and every person is a daunting task… Health does not belong exclusively to doctors. Health is a social product that is everyone's responsibility…” Abraham Horwitz, MD, MPH

Overall, the health conditions in the Americas have progressed over the last 50 years, and dedicated public health professionals have played a leadership role in this improvement. Public health leaders throughout the Americas are working diligently to bring about sustainable improvements in the health status of all. Much remains to be done, however.

The Abraham Horwitz Award for Leadership in Inter-American Health, created in 1975, was established to honor creative public health leaders whose commitment to public health stimulates excellence among their peers, staff, and other public health professionals. The leadership demonstrated by award winners has an impact beyond their borders and throughout the Americas.

This award is one of five awards presented by the Pan American Health and Education Foundation through its Awards for Excellence in Inter-American Public Health Program, a partnership between the Foundation and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

The Horwitz Award recognizes committed leaders and their contributions to public health resulting in region-wide improvements in the lives of the peoples of the Americas. Such public health leaders are passionate about protecting the public's health, and inspire excellence in others. They have a clear vision of the future, and understand the broader implications of their decisions on the health of future generations. The steadfast goal of improved public health guides their decisions and actions. They have the ability to recognize and adjust to new and changing conditions affecting public health. They are confident in themselves, and are fully aware that leadership and learning are indispensable to each other. Effective leaders are honorable and trustworthy, and communicate well with superiors, peers, subordinates, detractors, self, and the public. They lead by example, and participate willingly in hands-on public health work, be it examining and treating patients, assessing the environmental health status of a community, analyzing health statistics and studying the distribution of diseases across the region, or controlling the vectors of tropical diseases

Like Dr. Horwitz, past winners have selflessly served the public's health, championed change and managed risks, all for the enhancement of health beyond their own borders. They have demonstrated leadership and dedication to the highest standards of excellence in the field of public health throughout the Americas. Their technical areas of public health expertise have ranged from infectious diseases, to child safety, to the evolutionary process of disease classification, to urban health and the healthy city concept, to epidemiology and statistics, to tropical diseases, to sanitary engineering, and to perinatology.

In addition to the recognition of professional accomplishments, the award calls attention to health concerns throughout the hemisphere, and is intended to inspire continuing achievements in region-wide health by professionals.

A select, international jury of public health professionals reviews nominations, and recommends a candidate to the board of trustees of the Foundation for their final selection. The winner is informed and invited to address and interact with ministers of health of the hemisphere, their delegations and invited guests of PAHO at its annual meeting in Washington DC. The awardee receives US$5,000, a certificate of honor and a paid trip to Washington DC.

A physician who championed health improvements in the Americas, Dr. Horwitz served as director of PAHO from 1958 to 1975 and as president of the Pan American Health and Education Foundation from 1975 to 2000. Dr. Horwitz led PAHO and the Foundation through a time of far-reaching political, technological and social change. During his first years at PAHO as chief of the campaign, he laid the groundwork for eradication of smallpox in the Americas. At the request of his government, he returned later to his native Chile to organize its National Health Service. Six years later, he was elected PAHO Director.

Dr. Horwitz was successful in urging world lending agencies to increase capital investments for both preventive and curative health care programs. He had visionary plans and ideas for securing the future of health for all through persistent and disciplined research. He knew that strengthening the collection of accurate health statistics and refining their analysis would in turn improve epidemiology. He recognized that these steps were needed to bring his forward-thinking plans and ideas to fruition. Further, he had a special interest in the organization of health services. Perhaps what most characterized Dr. Horwitz's years of international collaboration and leadership was his promotion of health as an integral component of economic development.

His professional career spanned six decades, and this career has had a positive impact on health throughout the Americas. During his long career, he accumulated many titles, such as professor, public leader, humanist, scientist, and author. Additionally, Dr. Horwitz received many honors, including, but not limited to, his election for life to the Society of Scholars of the Johns Hopkins University and the Bronfman Prize of the American Public Health Association, and honorary doctorates from Johns Hopkins University and the University of Chile.

Through 15 April 2005, the Foundation is accepting nominations for the Horwitz Award. Nominees must be individuals whose professional achievement in any field of inter-American health stimulates excellence, and has impacted the health of populations across the borders of the Americas. They may be active in their careers, active though in formal retirement or retired having demonstrated an outstanding lifetime career. Nominees are eligible for the award if they are willing to attend the annual meeting of PAHO in Washington DC, and to present a speech at the awards ceremony on a public health topic, a part of this annual meeting.

PAHO/WHO staff members in active service, sitting members of the Foundation's board of trustees, and members of the Abraham Horwitz Award Committee are ineligible to receive the award.

To be considered, the nomination must be completed in its entirety.

To make a nomination, please submit and address a letter of introduction (no longer than one page) on official letterhead and a completed nomination form to the Abraham Horwitz Award Jury. The letter and completed nomination form must be signed and in English or Spanish. If the letter and nomination form are submitted electronically, they must have an electronic signature. Any unsigned documents will not be considered.

If you would like to nominate more than one individual, there must be a letter of introduction and a completed nomination form for each individual.

Submitted items other than the letter and completed nomination form will not be considered by the jury. Nominations must be received no later than 15 April 2005. Nominations received after this date will not be accepted.

Abraham Horwitz Award Jury
c/o Pan American Health and Education Foundation
525 23rd Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
Phone: 202-974-3416
Fax: 202-974-3636
e-mail: info@pahef.org