IDEA Champion Award Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility Requirements 

This award is open to health law professionals who actively:

• Create welcoming and accessible professional environments where individuals can participate fully based on their qualifications, skills, and contributions.
• Foster professional excellence and belonging in AHLA, their own organization, and the greater health law community through merit-based initiatives.
• Build a health law community that supports professional development opportunities for all individuals.
• Demonstrate measurable positive change through concrete actions that advance professional opportunities and drive performance.

Eligible nominees must demonstrate tangible impact through their advocacy efforts, regardless of their specific role within the health law community. AHLA welcomes nominations representing the full spectrum of our membership across various career stages, practice settings, and professional backgrounds. Current judging panel members, past award recipients, and sitting Board members are not eligible for consideration.

+IDEA Champion Award Recipient

Nomination Criteria 

Advances Professional Excellence - Demonstrates measurable advocacy that creates professional environments where all qualified individuals can participate fully, contribute their expertise, and advance based on their skills, qualifications, and performance.

Removes Professional Barriers - Contributes to improved outcomes by establishing transparent, qualification-focused processes and removing barriers that prevent qualified professionals from accessing opportunities within the health law community.

Champions Innovative Professional Development - Develops and implements innovative approaches and best practices that create inclusive professional environments focused on qualifications, competence, and contributions.

Creates Sustainable Institutional Change - Inspires organizational leaders to adopt excellence-focused policies and transparent processes that ensure health law professionals have opportunities to contribute and advance within their institutions.

Fosters Broad Professional Participation - Actively encourages and supports the professional development of individuals from varied backgrounds, career stages, practice settings, and geographic locations through mentorship and advancement opportunities.

Nomination Process 

This award requires nomination by a member; self-nominations are not accepted. Members are encouraged to identify and nominate colleagues who exemplify outstanding commitment to professional excellence and inclusive merit-based practices. Members currently serving on the Board of Directors are not eligible for consideration.

Nominations are accepted year-round. The Review Period occurs in October each year. Nominations submitted during the Review Period will automatically be considered for the following year's award cycle.

+IDEA Champion (nominations close September 30 for 2025 cycle) – Nominate Here

Selection Process 

A dedicated judging panel evaluates all submissions using a rubric based on the established criteria. Panel members commit to thoroughly reviewing applications, participating in virtual consensus meetings, and maintaining objectivity by disclosing any potential conflicts of interest. This structured review process ensures consistent and fair assessment of each candidate's contributions to both AHLA and the health law profession. 

An individual appointed to serve on the judging panel is not eligible to be considered for the Award while they serve on the panel. To ensure focused attention, members may serve on only one judging panel at a time. The recipient is honored during the Association’s Health Law Week in January.