The Michael S. Burnhill Lectureship
In honor of Michael Burnhill (1928-2000), the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) together with the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals established the Michael S. Burnhill Memorial Lectureship.
During his final years as a tireless supporter of women’s reproductive rights, Dr. Burnhill served as the Vice President of Medical Affairs at Planned Parenthood. He was a charter member of ARHP having joined the organization in 1964. He served on the ARHP Board of Directors from 1983 and he was board chair from 1987-1988. With a keen interest in training and mentoring clinicians, he was drawn to the position of chair of ARHP’s education committee—a position he held for many years.
Dr. Burnhill was instrumental in linking ARHP with the PPFA National Medical Committee and promoted their collaboration of joint sessions at this annual meeting. The Michael S. Burnhill Memorial Lectureship honors his legacy with a presentation emphasizing innovation and leadership in the field of women’s reproductive health.
Previous honorees
Irvin M. Cushner Lectureship
In honor of Irvin M. Cushner, MD, MPH (1924-1986), the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals created the annual Cushner Lectureship that is awarded to a layperson, public figure, or health care professional. The lecture addresses a pressing current issue in the field of health care, especially as it may pertain to reproductive health and related public welfare issues. The presenter is someone who has raised public awareness of the issue and inspired public policy debate.
Dr. Cushner was an influential leader in the fields of modern reproductive health care and public health and a true champion of reproductive rights and social welfare in the United States. As a director of the Center for Social Studies in Human Reproduction in Baltimore, he helped develop the field of social obstetrics. The social aspects of reproductive health had previously been left out of the study of traditional obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Cushner helped develop guidelines for the legalization of abortion in the state of Maryland and was active with many public welfare and health care institutions. He taught at Johns Hopkins University and UCLA, and served as deputy assistant secretary for population affairs for the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.
Previous honorees
Alan F. Guttmacher Lectureship
Alan F. Guttmacher, MD (1898-1974), a champion of voluntary control of contraception and abortion rights, devoted his career to the social and medical welfare of women and minorities. An obstetrician/gynecologist, Dr. Guttmacher authorized the first paperback on birth control in 1961 and over the course of 40 years, wrote and revised a series of books demystifying pregnancy and childbirth. He was director of the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City, and served as president of the Planned Parenthood® Federation of America and chairman of International Planned Parenthood® Federation of America's Medical Committee. With his strong leadership and conviction, he was able to exert considerable influence on public policy decision-makers in Washington. Known as a humanist with a strong social consciousness, Dr. Guttmacher saw medicine as a profession that should contribute to the solution of society’s problems.
In his honor, ARHP has created the annual Alan F. Guttmacher Lectureship, which is awarded to a health care provider or scientist who has been a major contributor to the field of reproductive health. The lecture addresses a major scientific advancement that has significant reproductive health resonance in both the scientific and medical communities.
Previous honorees
Gary Stewart Scholarship for Research in Public Health
Gary Stewart, MD, MPH (1940-1999), was a leading international public health educator who was instrumental in promoting the concept that basic health and family planning are fundamental rights for everyone. He was a mentor to many public health professionals, particularly students, and strongly encouraged their growth in the field while nurturing their passion for family planning and reproductive health. Dr. Stewart was also a long-term member of the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP) and a former member of its board of directors.
In his honor, the ARHP board created the annual Gary Stewart Scholarship for Research in Public Health. This award goes to an outstanding public health graduate student who proposes a significant research project that addresses a pressing current issue in the field of public health, especially as it may pertain to reproductive health, and related public welfare issues.
Previous recipients
Preserving Core Values in Science Award Description
Concerned about the negative consequences of politicizing science, many in the scientific and health communities, including ARHP, are working to promote scientific independence and integrity and evidence-based public policy. ARHP established its Preserving Core Values in Science initiative is to raise awareness about the interference of ideology in what should be science-based decision-making by government agencies and representatives. In 2005, the organization awarded the first Preserving Core Values in Science Award at ARHP’s annual meeting as part of this initiative.
When politics intersects with science, objectivity can be difficult to maintain. The challenge has only become greater as more areas of science have been turned into political battlegrounds. In the past two years, politicization of science has increased in three areas: the scientific information provided by the federal government, selection of scientific experts, and research supported by government.
The Preserving Core Values in Science Award honors an individual who has raised public awareness about scientific integrity in policy decision making. A committee composed of the ARHP Executive Committee selects the Preserving Core Values in Science Award recipient. The award is provided based on merit; the Executive Committee may, at its discretion, elect not to make an award each year.
Previous recipients
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