Annual AAGP Awards

Awards are presented at the AAGP Plenary Session during the AAGP Annual Meeting in March. Award Nominations for the following year open in September.

A description of each award is below. A list of all award winners is available on AAGP Award Winners.

Mission

The American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP) is a national association representing and serving its members and the field of geriatric psychiatry.

AAGP promotes the mental health and well-being of older people through professional education, public advocacy, and support of career development for clinicians, educators, and researchers in geriatric psychiatry and mental health.

The AAGP Annual Awards are as follows:

Nomination Process

For all Awards:
Please submit the name of the individual, their CV, 1 letter of recommendation, brief bio, head shot picture and a signed statement that if awarded, the nominee will be present at the Awards Ceremony at the 2025 AAGP Plenary Session in March 2025, no later than the deadline. Self-nomination is accepted with the needed criteria and 2 letters of recommendation.

For the Barry Lebowitz Early Career Scientist Award and Member-in-Training Research Award:
Please also submit an example of the individual scientific work no later than the deadline.

For more information, please contact: 
Email: info@aagponline.org
Phone: 629-216-2013

AAGP Distinguished Scientist Award

The AAGP Distinguished Scientist Award is given to an AAGP member each year at the AAGP Annual Meeting. The Award Selection will be made by the AAGP Research Committee.

Award Criteria 
All AAGP members, except for previous awardees and current AAGP Board of Directors, are eligible for the award.

The following criteria will guide selection:

  1. Selection is based on the body of original scientific works accomplished during the course of a career as well as mentorship of the careers of successful contributing junior researchers in the field of geriatric psychiatry.
  2. Contributions of the nominee should be evaluated based on relevance to the field of geriatric psychiatry as well as recognition across the broader community of medical researchers.
  3. This award should focus on scientific contributions as opposed to other leadership activities within the field.

AAGP Barry Lebowitz Early Career Scientist Award

AAGP shall present an award for the most promising early career scientist. The Award Selection will be made by the AAGP Research Committee.

Award Criteria
To be eligible, an applicant must:

  • Be in a fellowship or hold an academic rank no higher than assistant professor.
  • Be an AAGP member.
  • Submit an example of her/his scientific work. Some examples include a new unpublished paper to be submitted to a journal, a recently published paper, a recently presented poster, or an extended abstract submission.

Applicants must have an academic track record in the field of geriatric psychiatry evidenced by one or more of the following:

  • Publications in the area of geriatric psychiatry in peer-reviewed journals.
  • Research presentations at national or international meetings.
    Evidence of early career funding from federal or private grant agencies.

AAGP Member-in-Training Research Award

AAGP shall present an award for the most promising member-in-training. The Award Selection will be made by the AAGP Research Committee.

To be eligible, an applicant must:

  • Be a medical student, resident, or fellow.
  • Be an AAGP member-in-training or student member.
  • Submit an example of her/his scientific work. Some examples include: a new unpublished paper to be submitted to a journal, a recently published paper, a recently presented poster, or an extended abstract submission.

Award Criteria 
Applicants should demonstrate a scholarly interest in research in geriatric psychiatry through one or more of the following activities:

  • Participation in an ongoing research program under the guidance of a mentor.
  • Scholarly work in geriatric psychiatry through presentations or manuscript preparation.
  • Involvement in research training or activities outside the scope of clinical training.

AAGP Educator of the Year Award

AAGP will honor a member for demonstrated excellence in the field of geriatric psychiatry education. The award is designed to recognize extraordinary efforts, innovations, and accomplishments that have a direct impact on the quality of geriatric psychiatry education. The Award Selection will be made by the AAGP Teaching and Training Committee.

To be eligible, a nominee must:

  • Be a member of AAGP.
  • Have a primary academic appointment in a U.S. or Canadian institution.

Award Criteria

The individual will have demonstrated commitment to education with evidence of excellence and innovation in one or more of the following areas:

  • Curriculum development
  • Teaching
  • Leadership
  • Mentoring
  • Program development
  • Student and faculty development
  • Educational publications

AAGP Member-in-Training Future Clinician-Educator Award

The AAGP is proud to sponsor an award for a trainee who demonstrates a compassionate, humanistic approach to the care of older adults and excels in educational initiatives. The award selection will be made by the AAGP Teaching and Training Committee.

To be eligible an applicant must:

  • Be a medical student, psychiatry resident, or geriatric psychiatry fellow.
  • Be an AAGP member in training or student member.
  • Submit two letters of reference (one must be written by an AAGP member).
  • Submit a CV and a short essay highlighting experience(s) within geriatric psychiatry education.

Award Criteria:

Applicants should demonstrate the following:

  • Outstanding clinical care of older adults,
  • A passion for teaching, and/or
  • Participation in educational initiatives related to psychiatry or geriatric psychiatry at their home institution.

AAGP Jeanne Jackson-Siegal Clinician of the Year Award

The Jeanne Jackson-Siegal Clinician of the Year Award recognizes an AAGP member who has demonstrated a profound commitment to the field of clinical geriatric psychiatry by providing, promoting and/or ensuring access to quality mental health care for older adults. The Award Selection will be made by the AAGP Clinical Practice Committee.

To be eligible, a nominee must:

  • Be a current psychiatrist member of AAGP in good standing for a minimum of three consecutive years.
  • Be a geriatric psychiatrist whose primary focus is the delivery of clinical psychiatric care to older adults in an office, hospital, long-term-care facility or community. Nominees may have adjunct, part-time academic appointments; however, the majority of their activities must be in the delivery of clinical psychiatric care to older adults.

Award Criteria
Nominees should be dedicated to:

  • Being available and accessible to patients.
  • Communicating clearly and carefully with patients and their families.
  • Maintaining a high-level of professional competence.
  • Adhering to the ethical and social standards inherent in the practice of geriatric psychiatry.
  • Contributing to community health efforts focused on the delivery of quality psychiatric care to older adults.
  • Demonstrating service to the field of geriatric psychiatry and/or AAGP.

AAGP Images of Aging Award

The American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry will recognize an author, artist, or media professionals, or other professionals for their compassionate, informative coverage mental health in aging adults and their families and caregivers. As older Americans are the fastest-growing segment of the population, and mental illness that is not a normal part of aging affects one in five individuals age 55 and older, it is imperative that more resources be devoted to understanding, treating, diagnosing and preventing late-life mental illnesses. The media, writers and artists' role in helping to bring these issues to the forefront is vital. The Award Selection will be made by the AAGP Board of Directors.

Award Criteria 

  • The association will consider articles published in a general-audience newspaper, magazine or online publication; novels, stories, poetry and essays; and radio and television programs, as well as works of art and programs promoting mental health and wellbeing in aging as well as works of art and programs promoting mental health and wellbeing in aging.
  • In addition to thoughtful discussion of late-life mental health, preference will be given to written works or programs that address the role of the geriatric mental health providers.
  • Preference will also be given to material with the greatest reach, i.e., national versus regional.
  • Material will be judged on educational value and scientific accuracy.

Material published/produced between September 2021 and August 2025, is eligible.

AAGP Diversity Award in Honor of Dr. Iqbal “Ike” Ahmed

The AAGP Diversity Award in Honor of Dr. Iqbal "Ike" Ahmed recognizes an individual or
organization for service to the mental healthcare needs of older adults who are members of
historically marginalized communities. This award is open to all geriatric mental healthcare
professionals involved in research, education, advocacy/policy, or clinical care and
organizational entities that provide geriatric mental healthcare.

Award Criteria:

  • The award will recognize and individual or organization that has made sustained contributions to improving the care of older adults who are members of historically marginalized communities. The contributions should demonstrate:
    • Innovation, e.g., novel clinical services or unique educational format/content
    • Impact, e.g., number of people who received a training or evidence of quality of the project
    • Collaboration, e.g., interprofessional endeavors or inter-institutional efforts
    • Sustainment, e.g., how the contributions have continued to be implemented
  • Individual nominees do not have to be members of AAGP.

Nomination Process:

  • A nomination letter should address how the nominee's accomplishments relate to the purpose of the award and how the criteria of the award are met.
    • If the nominee is an individual, the letter of nomination should be accompanied by the individual’s resume or curriculum vitae.
    • If the nominee is an organization, the nomination letter should be accompanied by a company bio with a description of the specific program or activities to be considered, along with a name, email address, and phone number for the organization's point of contact.
  • At least two additional letters of support (but no more than four)
  • The recipient of the award will be announced at the AAGP Annual Meeting where they will also be presented the award.

There may be no more than two recipients of the award each year.

Past Recipients:

  1. 2025 - Kirsten Wilkins, MD
  2. 2024 - Daniel Jimenez, PhD & Rajesh Tampi, MD, MS, DFAPA
  3. 2023 - Indiana Alzheimer's Disease Research Center Community Advisory Board

Elliott M. Stein Award for Lifetime Service to AAGP and the Field of Geriatric Psychiatry

The American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry will recognize individuals who have made long-standing and impactful contributions to AAGP and to the field of Geriatric Psychiatry. This award will recognize AAGP members whose service has been sustained, distinguished, and meaningful across at least two decades of involvement.

Award Criteria: 

Nominees must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a member in good standing of AAGP for more than 20 years
  • Have demonstrated a significant and consistent record of service to AAGP
  • Have made unique, creative, and meaningful contributions to both AAGP and the broader field of Geriatric Psychiatry

Nomination Process:

  • A letter of nomination should be submitted to specifically address how the nominee’s accomplishments relate to the purpose of the award.
  • Nominations will be selected by the AAGP Past Presidents’ Council, with input from the Board of Directors and the general membership of AAGP. Final approval rests with the Board of Directors.

Questions?

Call AAGP at 629.216.2013 or email info@aagponline.org for more information.