Under Secretary's Award in Health Services Research

• Guidelines
• Award Instructions
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Call for Nominations

The Under Secretary's Award for Outstanding Achievement in Health Services Research is the highest honor for VA health services researchers. The Award confers funds for supplementing ongoing peer-reviewed research in the amount of $50,000 per year for up to 3 years, plus a one-time cash award of $5,000. In addition, the Awardee and the Director of the VA Medical Center in which the research is performed receive commemorative plaques, presented at an appropriate venue selected by Health Systems Research.

Persons wishing to nominate a candidate should contact the ACOS for Research and Development (R&D) at the candidate’s medical center of employment.  Individual VA scientists or members of the following committees may submit nominations: local R&D committees, the Scientific Merit Review Board, or members of the Career Development review panel.  No more than one nomination may be submitted by each Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center in a given year.  Applications submitted in the previous year, but not selected, are allowed to be re-submitted for consideration.

Completed nomination packets are due by close of business April 19, 2024. These are to be prepared by the ACOS for Research and Development and addressed to the Director, HSR, at VA Central Office.  For details on preparing an application, please refer to the instructions and HSR&D Program Guide 1204.04. All nominations are to be submitted in single PDF and emailed to Eric.Enone@va.gov.

The Awardee is selected by a peer review group, which considers all nominations and forwards one recommendation to the VA Under Secretary for Health for approval. Selection represents exceptional merit with respect to the following criteria:

• The candidate's research has led to a major improvement in the quality of Veterans' health care or has added significantly to the understanding of factors that affect the health of America's Veterans.

• The candidate has made a substantive contribution to the future of VA health services research by inspiring a new generation of investigators and has demonstrated excellence in training and mentorship of young investigators.

• The candidate has enhanced the visibility and reputation of VA research through national leadership in the research community.

Please feel free to contact Eric Enone with any questions at Eric.Enone@va.gov or 202-758-7972.

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