Leape Ahead Award Nomination
Award Background
Established in 2011, the Leape Ahead Award recognizes institutions and their leaders dedicated to improving the quality of healthcare by developing medical students and residents into future healthcare leaders.
The Leape Award honors the extraordinary dedication and commitment of Lucian Leape, MD, a former pediatric surgeon. His emphasis on establishing a respectful, professional training environment for med students and residents was an important step in the pursuit of patient safety and reinforcing the well-recognized concept of "first do no harm."
Leape Ahead Award Previous Winners
Cahaba + UAB Family Medicine Residency Program; Birmingham, AL (2024)
Helen DeVos Children's Hospital; Grand Rapids, Michigan
Brigham and Women's Hospital; Boston, Massachusetts
Christiana Care Health System; Delaware
Northwestern Medicine Academy for Quality and Safety Improvement; Illinois
Advocate Health Care's Resident Leadership Development Institute; Park Ridge, Illinois
MUSC Health at the Medical University of South Carolina; Charleston, South Carolina
New York City Health & Hospitals/Lincoln; New York
Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY
Selection Criteria and Nomination Requirement
Applicants may include any combination of faculty, students, residents, or staff at a medical school or teaching hospital.
One individual from the institution must be an MD or DO, or international equivalent.
One individual from the institution must be a member of the Association.
The institution's project exhibits dedication and commitment toward advancing medical students and/or residents into future healthcare leaders.
The institution's project/program demonstrates efficient, effective and caring delivery of medicine.
Individuals from the institution may not be current board members of the Association.
Application Process
Only electronic applications submitted through this site will be accepted. The nomination period opens Friday, August 1, 2025, and runs through Friday, October 31, 2025.
All applicants are reviewed by the CCMM Council of Fellows between November and December, the Council then meets in January to review and nominate recipients. The nomination then goes to the AAPL Board for ratification in February and notification to recipients is sent in February/March 2026.
Award recipients will be celebrated at the AAPL Annual Leadership Conference on Friday, October 23, 2026, in Scottsdale, AZ. A project team member must be present at the meeting to receive the award.
The winner will be featured in the Physician Leadership Journal and digital member newsletter. The project will also be featured on the Association's website as a resource for members.
Questions regarding the application should be directed to customerservice@physicianleaders.org.
Leape Award Application