AcademyHealth announces recipients of Presidential Scholarship for New Health Services Researchers

AcademyHealth announced today the 2013 recipients of its Presidential Scholarship for New Health Services Researchers, which provides early career researchers with financial support to attend the organization's Annual Research Meeting (ARM) and offers exclusive networking and mentoring opportunities with AcademyHealth leadership and staff, and distinguished leaders in the field.

AcademyHealth President and CEO Dr. Lisa Simpson launched the Presidential Scholars Program in 2012 to offer promising new researchers unique access to leaders in the field. It is an opportunity for the scholars to interact with the field's preeminent experts in new ways and to experience the Annual Research Meeting with a new perspective. Through the program, AcademyHealth also learns from them about the challenges facing early career researchers and how AcademyHealth can better serve their needs, and more broadly, the changing needs of the field.

"As the leading national organization for health services research and health policy, AcademyHealth is committed to supporting professional development of our members through every stage of their careers," said AcademyHealth President and CEO Lisa Simpson, M.B., B.Ch., F.A.A.P. "The Presidential Scholarship for New Health Services Researchers creates a two-way learning opportunity that both reflects that commitment and provides a platform for the future."

The 2013 Presidential Scholars are:

• Amber Goedken, PharmD, PhD, University of Iowa College of Pharmacy
• Malachy Nkem, MSPH, University of Texas School of Public Health
• Gordon Sun, MD MS, University of Michigan
• Susan Tavernier, PhD, University of Utah
• David Winchester, MD MS, University of Florida

The recipients of the Presidential Scholarship are either health services researchers within two years of completing a Ph.D. or master's degree, or health professionals within two years of completing health services research training. The selected scholarship winners illustrated a clear connection between their career goals and the benefits of attending the ARM, demonstrated leadership ability among peers and colleagues, and exhibited significant potential to contribute to health services research and/or health policy.