Robert D. Adams, Ed.D., CMD is the recipient of the 2009 AAMD Award of Excellence, the highest honor that the AAMD awards. This award recognizes distinguished accomplishments and contributions in the field of Medical Dosimetry.

Dr. Adams became a Radiologic Technologist in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He then attended the University of North Carolina's Radiation Therapy program and became a registered radiation therapist in 1985. He was appointed Program Director of the UNC - Chapel Hill Radiation Therapy and Medical Dosimetry Programs in 1990. He continued his educational journey and received his Master's in Public Health in 1995 from UNC. In 1999, he was awarded a Doctorate degree from North Carolina State University in Higher Education Administration. Dr. Adams has continued his successful career as Program Director at UNC - Chapel Hill for Radiation Therapy and Medical Dosimetry.

Dr Adams sits on many Editorial Review Boards for Journals including the Medical Dosimetry Journal. He sits on the MDCB Board of Directors and Chairs the MDCB National Testing Committee. Dr Adams has written over 20 articles in Peer Reviewed Journals including such publications as The International Journal of Radiation Oncology " Biology " and Physics, Medical Dosimetry Journal, and the Radiation Therapist Journal. He has been a lecturer/presenter at numerous national conferences including ASTRO, AAMD, and ASRT in addition to lecturing throughout the State of North Carolina.

Dr. Adams outstanding achievements have made an exceptional contribution to the medical dosimetry profession. His nearly 30 year journey of educational advancement and legacy of publications and lectures make him a most worthy recipient of the 2009 AAMD Award of Excellence.

History

Varian has long been, and continues to be, a supporter of the AAMD. In 2007 Varian informed the AAMD of a change in their corporate policy. They were no longer making individual monetary awards which did not have a direct educational association. This change in underwriting the honorarium compelled the AAMD Board to change the name of the award to the AAMD Award of Excellence as well as fully fund the standing honorarium.

AAMD Award of Excellence (Process)

The AAMD Award of Excellence and its predecessor, the "Varian/AAMD Award of Excellence", were established to recognize individuals and their significant accomplishments in the field of Medical Dosimetry. One winner each year will be selected from a field of nominees for this award. The award will be presented to the selected individual at the AAMD Annual Meeting. The award is for $2500 and a crystal trophy.

Nomination:

Nominations for this award are to be submitted no later than November 1st for the coming Annual Meeting. Nominations can be made by any member of the AAMD. Nominations are sent to the Selection Committee Chairperson via a written nomination received by email or letter. Nominated individuals will be asked to submit a CV by December 1st of that year. The addresses to submit a nomination are posted on the AAMD website and published in the AAMD Journal. A nominee will remain a candidate for the award for the next 2 years. The nominations will then be forwarded to the Selection Committee for review. The Selection Committee members will communicate their individual selections to the Awards Chairperson for counting by January 15th to select a winner. The Award Chairperson will then notify the award winner which will be followed by a letter from the AAMD President. Nominated individuals who are not selected to receive the award will be notified by the Committee Chairperson by January 30th.

Selection Committee:

The Selection Committee is comprised of all former award winners as well as a MDCB liaison to the AAMD, an AAPM liaison to the AAMD, and a JRCERT representative to the AAMD. Previous award recipients can nominate a candidate but will be disqualified from the Selection Committee that year.

Criteria for Recognition:

AAMD member in good standing for at least the last 10 years. The candidate must be living at the cutoff date for curriculum vitae submission (December 1st) for a nomination to proceed for an award presentation at the next Annual Meeting.

Significant contribution to the field of Medical Dosimetry as demonstrated by any/all of the following:

• AAMD Committee Service
• AAMD Board of Director position
• Publication of articles pertaining to the field
• Legislative efforts on behalf of the profession
• Lectures at local/regional/national meetings
• Research activities within the profession
• Outstanding years of clinical service - 10 years or more
• An educator in a recognized Dosimetry Program
• Significant professional accomplishments in the Radiation Oncology field

Post Selection Process:

Once the recipient is selected, the Award Chairperson will write an announcement for the AAMD Journal. The Award Committee Chairperson and the award recipient will verify this announcement for accuracy. The announcement is due to the publisher by April 10th for publication in the summer issue of the AAMD Journal. In addition, notification will be sent to the Awards Committee (for crystal order and engraving), to the Annual Meeting Chairpersons, and the AAMD President/Treasurer to disperse the award monies.

Award Presentation:

The AAMD Award of Excellence will be presented during the membership luncheon at the AAMD Annual Meeting. The recipient will provide the Award Chairperson/AAMD President with biographical information that will be used during the award presentation. If the recipient is unable to attend, their designated representative will accept the award.

To submit AAMD Award of Excellence nominations or if you have questions or comments, please contact:

Christopher Moore
cjmaamd@comcast.net