We are pleased to announce ACAIM Leadership Award recipients for 2026. Each year ACAIM awards two prestigious recognitions – Emerging Leader Award and Distinguished Leader Award. Similar to last year, the ACAIM Awards Committee decided to confer two Emerging Leader Awards, recognizing both the extraordinary contributions and outstanding leadership qualities by each recipient.
2026 ACAIM Emerging Leader Award
Dr. Pia Daniel (SUNY Downstate, New York)
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2026 ACAIM Emerging Leader Award
Dr. Tamara Worlton (USUHS, Bethesda, Maryland)
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2026 ACAIM Distinguished Leader Award
Dr. Rafael Barrera (Professor of Medicine and Surgery; Director, Surgical Intensive Care, Northwell Health, New York). Of note, Prof. Barrera is also ACAIM's Past President (2023-2024 Academic Year)
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Leadership Award Nominees are reviewed by an independently operating ACAIM Awards Committee, in unbiased fashion, utilizing a standardized evaluation process. The following criteria are utilized to identify Leadership Award Recipients:
The ACAIM Distinguished Leader Award – To be selected by the Awards Committee, the candidate must:
- Demonstrate a long-term, deep commitment to international medicine;
- Have made exceptional contributions to improving health internationally, through research, education and/or service;
- Demonstrate outstanding leadership skills;
- Be well published in academic journals;
- Be well-recognized in the international medicine community nationally and internationally;
- Have played a key role in advocating for, implementing or advancing international medicine policies and/or programs.
The ACAIM Emerging Leader Award – To be selected by the Awards Committee, the candidate must:
- Have shown outstanding achievement in education, research, advocacy and/or service in international medicine;
- Have collaborated with colleagues in limited resource settings;
- Have published in academic journals; and
- Have demonstrated leadership in international medicine organizations.
