WSPR Awards
WSPR will sponsor the following awards for 2025:
WSPR Abbott Nutrition Young Investigator Research Award
This award is conferred every year to an outstanding pediatric scientist in the early phase of their career. The nominee must have a junior faculty (assistant professor, instructor, etc.) academic appointment. The winner receives $1,000 and an engraved plaque, which will be presented to them at the annual meeting. The award winner will be asked to present a summary of their work at the WMRC combined plenary session. Nominations can only be submitted by an active or emeritus member of WSPR.
Nominations should include:
- Nomination letter stating the reasons for the nomination of the candidate
- Copy of the nominee’s CV
- Copies of reprints, preprints, or other documents if applicable
- Assurance of attendance at the WMRC
Completed applications/nominations should be submitted electronically through the WSPR Awards Qualtrics form: https://ucdenver.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6Mt46VL2fBvULpY
Deadline for receipt: September 29th, 2024
WSPR Abbott Nutrition David W. Smith Pediatric Trainee Research Award
This award is conferred every year to an outstanding pediatric resident or fellow involved in pediatric research. The criteria for this award include: original, unpublished research by a pediatric resident or fellow, under the auspices of a WSPR member or in a WSPR-affiliated program, during house staff training or within the first three years of the applicant’s pediatric fellowship training program. The award is given during or within one year following the period of training described above. The award winner receives a $1000 honorarium and an engraved plaque, which will be presented to them at the annual meeting. Nominees are expected to submit an abstract to WSPR and present their work at the plenary session of the Annual Meeting. Nominations can only be submitted by an active or emeritus member of WSPR.
Nominations should include:
- Narrative letter describing the research and its significance, the background of the nominee, and assurance (signature) that the nominee will be available to present their work
- Copy of the nominee’s WMRC abstract
- Copy of the nominee’s CV
- Copies of reprints, preprints, or other documents if applicable
Completed applications/nominations should be submitted electronically through the WSPR Awards Qualtrics form: https://ucdenver.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6Mt46VL2fBvULpY
Deadline for receipt: September 29th, 2024
WSPR Joseph W. St. Geme Jr. Education Award
This award is conferred annually by WSPR in recognition of outstanding achievement in pediatric education. Nominees must have demonstrated commitment to pediatric education and mentorship during their career. There are no age requirement for this award. The award is presented to a winner at the plenary session of the Annual Meeting and is accompanied by a $1,000 honorarium and an engraved plaque. Nominations can only be submitted by an active or emeritus member of WSPR. Nominees are encouraged but not required to have WSPR membership.
Nominations should include:
- Narrative letter detailing the reasons why the nominee is deserving of the award
- Copy of the nominee’s CV
- Supportive data on achievements in education (optional)
Completed applications/nominations should be submitted electronically through the WSPR Awards Qualtrics form: https://ucdenver.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6Mt46VL2fBvULpY
Deadline for receipt: September 29th, 2024
Other Travel Awards
WSPR travel awards are conferred annually to individuals who submitted top-scoring abstracts (as ranked by subspeciality reviewers) for WMRC. Awardees must make an oral or poster presentation of the abstract at a subspeciality session or the plenary session of the meeting. Travel awards available for 2025 include:
- WSPR Outstanding Pediatric Resident Research Award ($750): presented to the top scoring abstract submitted by a Pediatric Trainee (PL1, PL2, or PL3).
- WSPR Lowell Glasgow Student Research Award ($750): presented to the top scoring abstract submitted by a student (medical, graduate, and/or undergraduate).
- WSPR Subspeciality Awards ($500): presented to students, residents, fellows, research technicians/assistants, and junior faculty who submitted top-scoring abstracts.
2024 Award Winners
Listed below are the WSPR award winners for 2024! Congratulations to these fantastic researchers.
Application-Based Awards
| David W. Smith Pediatric Trainee Research Award | Paula Dias Maia | University of Colorado |
| Young Investigator Award | Jane Stremming | University of Colorado |
| Joseph W. St. Geme Jr. Award | David Viskochil | University of Utah |
| Award to Enhance Diversity in the Research Workforce | Daniah Beleford | UC Davis |
Abstract-Based Awards (Abbott Nutrition Sponsored)
| Outstanding Pediatric Resident Research Award | Aimee Juan | Stanford |
| Lowell Glasgow Student Research Award | Danielle Liu | Loma Linda University |
| Subspecialty Award -Morphogenesis & Malformations | Emily Dunn | Stanford |
| Subspecialty Award – Genetics | Crystal Tam | University of Washington |
| Subspecialty Award – Neonatal Pulmonary | Evan Giusto | UC Davis |
| Subspecialty Award – Neonatal General | Jingshing Wu | UCSF |
| Subspecialty Award – Perinatal Biology | Ahmed Moutwakil | University of Colorado |
| Subspecialty Award – Adolescent Medicine | Cheri Chambers | University of Washington |
| Subspecialty Award – Behavior, Development and Psychology | Sofia Pesantez | Stanford |
Abstract-Based Awards (Reckitt/Mead Johnson Sponsored)
| Subspecialty Award – Morphogenesis & Malformations | Paige Calvert | Santa Clara Valley Medical Center |
| Subspecialty Award – Genetics | David Blair | UCSF |
| Subspecialty Award – Neonatal Pulmonary | Cadence Seymour | UCSD |
| Subspecialty Award – Neonatal General | Faith Myers | Stanford |
| Subspecialty Award – Perinatal Biology | Andrew Rebentisch | University of Utah |
| Subspecialty Award – Adolescent Medicine | Tasha Wainstein | University of British Columbia |
| Subspecialty Award – Behavior, Development and Psychology | Desiree Starzyk | University of Colorado |
| Junior Faculty Award – Neonatal General | Jonathan Reiss | Stanford |
| Junior Faculty Award – Perinatal Biology | Geoanna Bautista | UC Davis |
| Junior Faculty Award – Behavior, Development, and Psychology | Yair Bannett | Stanford |
| Junior Faculty Award – Genetics | Susan Howell | University of Colorado |
Abstract-Based Awards (Prolacta Sponsored)
| Prolacta Medical Student Research Award | Tessa Gillespie | UCLA |
| Prolacta Medical Student Research Award | Emma Golden | University of Colorado |
| Prolacta Resident Research Award | Sean Wickers | UCSF |
| Prolacta Undergraduate Research Award | Arjun Anumula | Sharp Mary Birch Hospital |
| Prolacta Research Assistant Research Award | Alexandra Carl | Children’s Hospital Colorado |
| Prolacta Fellow Research Award | Juan Ramos | Stanford |
| Prolacta Post-Doctoral Fellow Research Award | Lan Weiss | UC Irvine |
| Prolacta Assistant Professor Research Award | Shiyu Bai-Tong | UCSD |
| Prolacta Assistant Professor Research Award | Mihai Puia-Dumitrescu | Seattle Children’s Hospital |
| Prolacta Undergraduate Research Award | Jakob Van Boerum | UCLA |
| Prolacta Fellow Research Award | Frank Strnad | University of Utah |
2024 WSPR Award Winners: From left, Andie Gonzalez (Abbott Nutrition Representative), Jane Stremming (Young Investigator Awardee), Paula Dias Maia (David W. Smith Awardee), & Danielle Liu (Lowell Glasgow Awardee)