The Manuel Velasco-Suarez Award in Bioethics

" It is our responsibility as health workers to respect human rights and to regard a person's dignity as foremost in the practice of our profession in order to impart quality to life—from its miraculous dawn to its sunset." Manuel Velasco-Suárez, MD, FACS

Bioethics is an emerging discipline in health with moral implications extending to highly diverse areas. Its principles seek to humanize and mediate the headlong advance of science, technology and global development based on the interaction and dialogue between experts and lay people.

Bioethics, an important dimension of biomedical humanities, has become an aspect of critical importance in the biomedical and social sciences, health care and public health. In May 1994, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) created a regional program in bioethics to meet the demands of the member states for open discussion of many areas that are a continuing source of debate, such as justice and equity in the allocation of health resources, and patients' rights, among others.

The Manuel Velasco-Suárez Award in Bioethics, created in 2002, 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 PAHO.

To stimulate young scholars in the development of their capacities for bioethical analysis, the Secretary of Health in Mexico and the Pan American Health and Education Foundation in cooperation with PAHO created this award to honor Dr. Manuel Velasco-Suárez.

A distinguished jury of specialists in bioethics reviews the candidate's proposed work in bioethics, and recommends a proposal to the board of trustees of the Foundation for 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 a grant of US$10,000, a certificate of honor and a paid trip to Washington DC.

Born in the state of Chiapas, Mexico, Manuel Velasco-Suárez was active in the field of neurosurgery, neurology and bioethics. He was a physician, researcher and scholar. From 1970 to 1976, he served as governor of Chiapas. With more than 50 years dedicated to public health, he helped develop new initiatives, and was a founder of major institutions, such as the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery in Mexico, where he served as director between 1964 and 1970, the Mexican Academy of Bioethics and the Autonomous University of Chiapas.

During his lifetime, Dr. Velasco-Suárez enjoyed worldwide recognition for his achievements in medicine and in the organization of health service associations, courses and symposiums. He served as an expert advisor to the World Health Organization (WHO), and was a member of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies and various other academies of surgery and neurology in the Americas and Europe. He chaired more than 100 international medical congresses and symposiums. In 1994, he organized and was elected president of the International Congress of Bioethics in Mexico.

Dr. Velasco-Suárez was a progressive and visionary thinker who proposed innovative scenarios and preventive actions in response to health challenges. His creative and open-minded approach was embodied in his work as a member of the Organization of Physicians against Nuclear War, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1985.

His life was devoted to advancing the field of neurosciences in Mexico and throughout the world. He was a tireless fighter for peace, justice and health, who promoted the idea that bioethics should be a cornerstone of health care practice.

Through 6 May 2005, the Foundation invites official representatives of scholarly institutions to nominate a scholar in bioethics residing in Latin America or the Caribbean. At the time of the award, the scholar should be 40 years or less in age, and have a doctoral degree or its equivalent. The nomination should be based on a sound proposal in the field of bioethics prepared by the candidate. Particular emphasis in the selection process will be placed on the potential developments that may stem from the proposed work, which is expected to enhance the capacity of the candidate to progress in the field and lead to a demonstrable output. Both empirical and theoretical work can be accepted.

The winning scholar is expected to submit a six-month status report and a final report no later than 1 October 2006, upon completion of the Velasco-Suárez Award project. Any publication resulting from the supported research must include a disclaimer statement. This final report may be used to promote the field of bioethics in Latin America and the Caribbean.

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

The nomination package application must include a letter of support (no longer than one page) addressed to the Manuel Velasco-Suárez Award Jury and signed by the official representative, a completed nomination form and a proposal (no longer than 10 pages) by the candidate describing the activities that will be undertaken during the one-year award period and the relevance of these activities to the field of bioethics in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The letter must be on the institution's letterhead. The letter and completed nomination form must be signed and in English or Spanish. If the nomination package is submitted electronically, the letter and nomination form must have an electronic signature. Any unsigned documents will not be considered.

Staff members of PAHO/WHO or of the Ministry of Health in Mexico in active service, sitting members of the Foundation's board of trustees, and members of the Velasquez-Suárez Award Jury are ineligible to receive the award.

Submitted items other than the letter, completed and signed nomination form and proposal will not be considered by the jury. Nominations must be received no later than 6 May 2005. Nominations received after this date will not be accepted.