American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM) AACPDM Awards

AACPDM/UCP Transformative Practice Award

Description and Terms of the Award

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The intent of the Transformative Practice Award is to enhance capacity of service providers to apply evidence-based clinical strategies/service delivery approaches into practice. Funding is available to support AACPDM members to implement evidence-based interventions into practice. The award requires pairing with an expert AACPDM member who has direct experience with the proposed intervention/service delivery approach. The funding can be used to support a variety of implementation science strategies but applicants are encouraged to consider active approaches (e.g., expert visits local center and assists with problem solving barriers to implementation) instead of more passive strategies (generic presentation about an intervention or service delivery model). Use of implementation science principles such as root cause analysis, identification of local facilitators and barriers to practice change and the use of evidence-based behavior change strategies are highly encouraged.

For guidance on evidence-based implementation strategies, applicants may find the following resources useful: Resources for Implementation Science Researchers

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

  • Applicants and identified experts must be current AACPDM members located within the U.S. or Canada.
  • Applicants must not have received an AACPDM Transformative Practice Grant within the past five years.
  • Proposed intervention strategies/service delivery approaches must be a) evidence-based and 2) relevant to individuals with cerebral palsy and/or other childhood acquired disabilities. Priority will be given to proposals that support implementation of the AACPDM Care Pathways.

APPLICATION REVIEW

Applications will be forwarded to the appropriate AACPDM Committee for review. Applications will be evaluated on six criteria outlined below using a 5-point scale. The AACPDM Awards committee will share the top two applications with the AACPDM board of directors who will present them to UCP Research Committee for final selection of the top applicant.

  1. Effectiveness of the proposed intervention strategy/service delivery approach is supported by research evidence and is clearly articulated in the application.
  2. Evidence that the expert has had previous success with implementation of the intervention/strategy and that the application was completed in collaboration with the expert. Please provide evidence of expertise (e.g., journal articles, documentation of successful implementation, etc.)
  3. The extent to which proposed activities represent active approaches to implementation. Examples of active strategies include on-site observation of current practice, meetings focused on identifying and overcoming local barriers to implementation, and post-meeting follow-up with the expert. It should be noted that while more passive strategies for changing practice (e.g., the expert presenting at grand rounds) can be included in the application, the emphasis should be on activities that are more active and emphasize overcoming local barriers to changing practice.
  4. The evaluation plan is feasible and will provide an indication regarding the extent the intervention/strategy was implemented.
  5. The budget is reasonable and aligned with the proposed activities.
  6. The degree of readiness of the host institution for change. The application must include a letter from a senior administrator at the host institution indicating a commitment to implementing and supporting the change in clinical practice proposed in the application.

TERMS OF THE AWARD

AACPDM members are invited to submit applications describing planned implementation of interventions/service delivery approaches relevant to individuals with cerebral palsy and/or other childhood onset disabilities. Potential activities for implementation include but are not limited to:

  • Formalized implementation science project including root cause analysis, key driver diagram, run charts, etc.
  • On-site coaching and feedback from an expert in the relevant clinical area who has demonstrated knowledge and successful implementation of the intervention strategy/service delivery approach.
  • Expert attendance at meetings with key stakeholders to identify and overcome local barriers to implementation.
  • Follow-up meeting(s) or teleconferences with the expert to allow for ongoing support and guidance. Evaluation of implementation of strategies related to practice change (i.e., how did practice change after implementation of activities outlined in this application?)

Activities related to the Transformative Practice Award must be completed within one year of receipt of the award. The grant amount is up to $8,000 per award. A final report will be required within 6 months of the end of the term of the award. The final report must include a description of activities supported by the award, the results of the implementation project and a line-by-line description of how funds were spent. Awardees are encouraged to submit an abstract for consideration at the AACPDM Annual Meeting.

Eligible expenses include:

  • Travel expenses for the expert
  • On-site meeting related expenses
  • Knowledge translation activity expenses
  • Clinician time to conduct Implementation Science activities
  • Data retrieval/data analysis

Personal remuneration, administrative costs (i.e., standard office equipment and supplies), and activities unrelated to the implementation of the intervention/service delivery approach outlined in the proposal are ineligible expenses.

Deadline: February 16, 2024.


The Mentorship Award recognizes an individual who is an active member of the AACPDM and who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in mentoring trainees and colleagues in the field of childhood-onset disabilities.  Particular focus is placed on the contribution and impact of mentoring to improve services/care, promote professional education, and/or promote research for children with disabilities.

Initial nominations should include the following:

  • Nominee's name, professional degree(s), institution(s), current position, academic rank, and contact information;
  • Nominator's name, professional degree(s), institution(s), current position, academic rank, and contact information;
  • Confirmation that the nominator has notified the nominee that they are being nominated;
  • Letter from the nominator (see guidelines for nomination letters); and
  • Nominee's CV.

The top three nominees will move to a second round, where two additional letters will be required. Nominators whose nominee is selected for the second round will receive additional details.

Submit completed application forms, letters, and CVs here.

Deadline: May 19, 2023.

Congratulations to Kathleen M. Friel, Ph.D., on receiving the 2023 Mentorship Award!

PAST WINNERS:
2022: Stacey C. Dusing, PT, Ph.D., FAPTA

2021: Bernadette Gilick, PT, MSPT, PhD 
2020: Mauricio R. Delgado, MD
2019: Garey Noritz, MD
2018: Ros Boyd, PhD, MSc(PT)
2017: Michael Sussman, MD
2016: Michael Msall, MD
2015: Kerr Graham, MD
2014: David Price Roye Jr., MD
2013: Freeman Miller, MD


Nomination Deadline: May 19, 2023.

Nominees should be persons representing excellence while pursuing their interests, dreams, and a high quality of life who also live with personal physical challenges. Nominees will be evaluated in terms of the following:

  • Motivation and achievement in pursuing and accomplishing personal and vocational/professional goals;
  • Demonstration of a creative approach to their pursuit of education and participation in their vocation/profession;
  • Example of a positive approach to life; and 
  • Service as a role model to persons in their sphere of influence, demonstrating sensitivity to others and respect for self.

Individuals should be nominated by someone close to them-physician, therapist, parent, mentor, teacher, friend, or colleague. Nominators should notify the individual that they are being nominated. There is no age restriction for this award.

Congratulations to Allison Kessler Vear, MD, MSc on receiving the 2023 Corbett Ryan Pathways Pioneer Award!

PAST WINNERS:
2022: Jerron Herman

2021: Rachel A. Wobschall, Ed.D
2020: Chris Hendricks
2019: Jason Benetti
2018: David W. Pruitt, MD
2017: Kathleen Friel, PhD
2016: Justin Herbst
2015: Andrew McAleavey
2014: Paul Tudisco
2013: Rich Donovan


The Sage Award is given to the best multimedia submission presenting clinical, research, or educational material in a digital format. The Award is named after Fred P. Sage, MD, past president (1981) and Chairman of the A/V Committee of the AACPDM. Dr. Sage envisioned the great potential of audio-visual use in the Academy. He advocated for ways to popularize this method of teaching, and this interest eventually led to the Sage Audio-Visual Award for the best program submitted each year.

Completed application forms should be emailed to info@aacpdm.org.

Deadline: May 19, 2023.

Congratulations to Veronica Schiariti, MD, MHSC, Ph.D. on receiving the 2023 Fred P. Sage Award!

PAST WINNERS:
2022Tracy Pickar

2021: Dana Anaby, PhD
2020: Kathleen Huth, MD, MMSC
2019: Jan Willem Gorter, MD, PhD, FRCP(C)
2018: Rachel Byrne, PT
2017: Stacey D. Miller, MRSc, BScPT
2016: Vedant Kulkarni, MD
2015: Veronica Schiariti, MD MHSc PhD
2014: Wendelin Burdo-Hartman, MD, and Garey Nortiz, MD
2013: Sebastian Schroeder, MD


The Gayle G. Arnold Award is the most prestigious award of the Academy.  This award is named in honor of Dr. Arnold, a self-taught developmental pediatrician and President of the Academy (1989-90). The award is presented annually to the authors of the best scientific paper.  The award includes a plaque, a certificate, recognition during the Annual Meeting, as well as airfare, two nights of lodging, and complimentary registration.

Congratulations to Stephanie DeLuca, PhD, for receiving the 2023 Gayle G. Arnold Award for Excellence! 

PAST WINNERS:
2022: Karl Jancart, MSEd

2021: Jessica Sun, MD
2020: Emma Bohn
2019: Regina Harbourne, Ph.D., PT
2018: Brian Hoare, OT, Ph.D.
2017: Alicia Spittle, Ph.D.
2016: Pamela Thomason, PT, MPT
2015: Alicia Spittle, Ph.D.
2014: Sarah James, OT
2013: Richard Lieber, Ph.D. and Sudarshan Dayanidhi, PT, Ph.D.


This award is presented to a special presidential guest lecturer selected by the First Vice President. During their lifetime, the recipient of this award has made creative contributions of outstanding significance to the field of medicine and for the benefit of patients with cerebral palsy and other childhood-onset disabilities.

Congratulations to Freeman Miller, MD on receiving the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award!

PAST WINNERS:
2022Johanna Darrah, PT, Ph.D

2021: Richard L. Lieber, PhD 
2020: Michael Sussman, MD
2019: Barry S. Russman, MD
2018: Deb Gaebler-Spira, MD
2017: Marshalyn Yeargin-Allsopp, MD
2016: James Gage, MD
2015: William Oppenheim, MD
2014: Peter Rosenbaum, MD FRCPC
2013: John McLaughlin, MD


This award is presented to an individual who demonstrates outstanding participation in or promotion of sports and recreation and serves as a role model for people with disabilities. The award is named after Mr. Duncan Wyeth for his passion for life and for encouraging people with disabilities of all ages to pursue interests and dreams based on their abilities and not to be limited by their disabilities. Duncan is an active advocate in his local community, nationally and internationally. His enthusiasm for life, sports, and recreation is contagious and inspirational.

Congratulations to Anjali J. Forber-Pratt, Ph.D on receiving the 2023 Duncan Wyeth Award!

PAST WINNERS:
2022: Sarah Albus
2021: Bradley Heaven
2020: Clayton Frech
2019: Kyle Pease
2018: Deborah MacFadden
2017: Luca Patuelli
2016: Ronnie Dickson
2015: Wendy Fryke
2014: Ryan Chalmers
2013: Jeremy Lade


Cathleen Lyle Murray had severe cerebral palsy, and her family established this award in her memory. The specific purpose of this award is to recognize outstanding individuals in non-medical professions based on their impact on society through their humanitarian efforts to enhance the lives of persons with disabilities.

PAST WINNERS:
2019: Judith E. Heumann
2018: Pete Zeidner
2017: Jason Benetti
2016: Tom Chau, PhD PEng
2015: Zach Anner
2014: Michael Bortolotto
2013: Rick Guidotti
2012: Michael Kutcher


Sponsored by The Southern Family Cerebral Palsy Center at Rady Children’s Hospital, this award is given to the highest-ranked free paper involving adult participants with CP or other childhood-onset disabilities. The winner receives a certificate and $1,000.

Past Winners:
2023: 
Jacinta Quartermaine, BS
2022: Michael Trevarrow PhD
2021: Harold Moore, BS
2020: Elizabeth Boyer, PhD


The highest-scoring Scientific Poster abstracts are reviewed in their final poster form by the Awards Committee during the Annual Meeting. The Scientific Poster that scores the highest in the Awards Committee review is announced at a Saturday plenary session during the Annual Meeting. The winner receives a certificate and $500.

PAST WINNERS:
2023: 
Shri Harini Ramesh
2022: Brigette M. Romero Carpio, MS
2021: Steffen Berweck, MD
2020: Dominique Laron, MD
2019: Stephanie K. Lee, MS
2018: Kamaldeep Gill, OTR/L
2017: Alex M. Pagnozzi
2016: Heather Roberts, OTR/L, PhD
2015: Nancy Lennon, MS PT
2014: Susan Sienko, PhD
2013: Joseph Domino, BS
2012: Carol Boliek, PhD


The top-rated Demonstration Posters are reviewed and voted on by the attendees at the Annual Meeting. The Demonstration Poster receiving the most votes is announced at a Saturday plenary session during the Annual Meeting. The winner receives a certificate and a complimentary Instructional Course at the following Annual Meeting.

PAST WINNERS
2023: 
Karli Bourque, TR
2022: Jessica Lewis, PT, DPT
2021: Egmar Longo, PT, PhD
2020: Heather Shearer, DC, MSc
2019: Dennis Chen, OTR/L, BCP
2018: Jennifer Carlisle, MD
2017: Marilyn Wright, PT
2016: Anne Kawamura, MD
2015: Jonathan M. Greenwood, DPT MS PCS c/NDT


This award is given to an Academy member within four years of completion of training.  The winner is selected based on the Awards Committee rating of the presented work and is announced shortly after the Annual Meeting.  Mac Keith Press, the publisher of the Academy's journal, Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, supports the award.

PAST WINNERS:
2023: 
Katherine N. Benfer, PhD
2022: Patrick Curran, MD
2021: Jacinta Quartermaine, Bachelor of SpPath
2020: Kelsey Davidson, MD
2019: Ellen Armstrong, MPthy
2018: Joanne George, MD
2017: Rachel Thompson, MD
2016: Vedant Kulkarni, MD
2015: Mark Peterson, PhD MS
2014: Lee Barber, PhD MPT
2013: Elegast Monbaliu, PhD, PT
2012: Kathleen M. Friel, PhD

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