Distinguished Service Award

Annual Award to recognize an individual who has given a major contribution to the development of paediatric gastroenterology, hepatology or nutrition. It can be recognized as a whole life accomplishment, or celebrate a major recent achievement. The field may be basic science or clinical work.

Eligibility and Standards

The recipient should be an ESPGHAN member at the time of nomination. The award will be given every year. There is no obligation to alternate the award between the three sub-specialities.

Criteria for selection include:
1/ Outstanding scientific achievements related to paediatric gastroenterology and/or hepatology, and/or nutrition, usually documented by the candidate’s publication and citation record
2/ Outstanding contributions to the standards, practice and training in the fields of paediatric gastroenterology and/or hepatology and/or nutrition
3/ Outstanding contributions to ESPGHAN as a society Personal integrity

Nominees should be put forward by 5 ESPGHAN members through a letter of recommendation signed each supporting member.

Nomination

A call for nominations will be advertised on the website and in the ESPGHAN Newsletter by November each year. The following documents should be sent to the ESPGHAN Office:

  • Letter(s) of recommendation (maximum 2 pages) with support from five ESPGHAN members outside of the Council and the Selection Committee, including the reasons for nomination and the specific achievements of the nominee in another format accompanied by the nominee’s bibliography and preferably also the citation record. (However a CV is not required).

Deadline: Nominations of potential awardees will be made by ESPGHAN members and sent to ESPGHAN office by December 31st each year

Selection Process
  • The selection Committee consists of 9 members, including the following: 

1. President (Chair of Selection Committee)

2. Secretary

3. Education Secretary

4. Chairs of the three Committees of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, or deputies nominated by the respective chairs

5. Three members, outside of the Council and the Committees, one selected by each Committee for three years Members will not participate in the evaluation of an applicant if they work at the same institution as an applicant or have an obvious conflict of interest.

  • The nominations will be reviewed by this Selection Committee.
  • Each member of the Selection Committee is asked to score all applications and to submit the scores to the ESPGHAN Office (unless otherwise decided).
  • Scores will be compiled, and the results be made available to all members of the Selection Committee prior to a phone conference of the Selection Committee where the strengths and weaknesses of applications considered worthy for the award will be discussed, and consensus on the selection will be sought. If consensus cannot be achieved, a majority decision will be taken. The selection should commence after to the winter Council meeting, where the nominees will be discussed and approved.
  • Deadline for finalisation of scoring will be March 31st

 
Those nominations considered worthy but not selected will be retained for consideration in the successive award selection procedures for three years, inclusive of the year of submission (three years of consideration in total). 
 
Selection criteria:

  • The followings will be reviewed for all nominations:
  • Outstanding scientific achievements related to paediatric gastroenterology and/or hepatology, and/or nutrition, usually documented by the candidate’s publication and citation record.
  • Outstanding contributions to the standards, practice and training in the fields of paediatric gastroenterology and/or hepatology and/or nutrition.
  • Outstanding contributions to ESPGHAN as a society
  • Personal integrity
Award Recognition
  • The recipient will be honoured by the President during the Presidents Dinner at the AM with a medal, certificate, and recognition in JPGN.
  • Expenses will be provided to assist with attending the AM, including accommodation, complimentary registration and economy travel costs. 
Selection Criteria

Criteria for selection may include:

  1. Outstanding scientific achievements related to paediatric gastroenterology and/or hepatology, and/or nutrition, usually documented by the candidate’s publication and citation record,
  2. Outstanding contributions to the standards, practice and training in the fields of paediatric gastroenterology or hepatology or nutrition,
  3. Outstanding contributions to ESPGHAN as a society,
  4. Personal integrity.

Previous Winners

2023 - Annamaria Staiano 
2022 - Jorge Amil Dias
2021 - Michael Lentze
2020 - Sibylle Koletzko
2019 - Stefano Guandalini
2018 - Markku Maki
2017 - Olivier Goulet
2016 - Deirdre Kelly
2015 - Olle Hernell
2014 - Peter Milla
2013 - David Branski
2012 - Martin Burdelski
2011 - Salvatore Aurrichio
2010 - John Walker Smith