Assistant Professor, Department of Health Law, Policy & Management
-
Boston University School of Public Health
Kevin H. Nguyen, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Law, Policy & Management at Bosto... Read Bio
Overview
The Alice S. Hersh Emerging Leader Award commemorates the dedication of Alice Hersh, the founding executive director of the Association for Health Services Research, and her commitment to supporting professional development in the field of health services research. This award therefore recognizes professionals early in their career who show exceptional promise for contributions in research and leadership to the field. The award will be presented at the 2026 Annual Research Meeting, and the winner will receive one complimentary registration and one night lodging to the conference.
Nomination Timeline
Nominations open: January 12, 2026 Nomination deadline: February 18, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Selected awardees notified: Week of March 30, 2026 ARM 2026: May 30-June 2, 2026
Eligibility and Nomination Criteria
Nominees' first research appointment was no earlier than January 1, 2021. For the purposes of this award, a “first research appointment” includes the first year of: (a) a post-doctoral fellowship in health services research, or (b) a research-focused position (in an academic or non-academic setting). Postdoctoral or other positions in unrelated fields do not count toward this timeline unless they provided direct training relevant to entering the field of health services research. The eligibility period may be extended for nominees who have taken a formal leave of absence.
Nominees from a diverse range of institutions (e.g. academic, delivery systems, government, contract research, corporate) and leadership experiences (professional service, mentoring, community service and engagement, etc) are encouraged to apply.
Nominees from minority-serving institutions and individuals from minoritized and historically excluded groups are encouraged to apply.
Nominations must include one letter of nomination (no more than two pages) that reviews the nominee's contributions to the field and how the nominee is emerging but not yet fully established in their career.
Self-nominations will be accepted but must include one letter of nomination (no more than two pages) from someone other than the nominee that addresses the same items.
Nominations must include the nominee's curriculum vitae.
Nominees and nominators must be members of AcademyHealth.
Review Criteria
Exhibits strong potential for intellectual leadership through a track record of success in identifying novel research questions, developing new research methods, advancing research dissemination that can inform policy and practice. Early career success includes a demonstrated track-record of success.
Demonstrates promising leadership in health services research through service, advocacy, and mentorship, including fostering collaboration and support for early-career scholars.
Shows a strong commitment to translating evidence into policy and practice by engaging policymakers, practitioners, and communities throughout the research-to-policy process to strengthen the use of evidence in decision-making and improve health outcomes.
