Awards & Grants

Alan Ross Award

Established in 1976, the Alan Ross Award is the most prestigious honour given by the Canadian Paediatric Society. The award recognizes lifelong excellence in the fields of paediatric research, education, healthcare and advocacy.

• About Alan Ross
• Nomination requirements
• Submission requirements
• Presentation
• Past recipients

About Dr. Alan Ross
Alan Ross was a distinguished and recognized leader in Montreal paediatrics for over 40 years. As Physician-in-Chief for 15 years at the Montreal Children’s Hospital and Chair of the Department of Paediatrics at McGill University, Dr. Ross earned an international reputation for his work in child health. His very special qualities along with his many talents made him an outstanding and well-respected physician, leader and teacher.  

In 1968, Dr. Ross became the founding Professor of Paediatrics at the University College Medical School in Nairobi, Kenya. There, he encouraged a new approach to medical education, encouraging paediatricians from the western world to come to Africa and share their knowledge. As a result, many African paediatricians have stayed in their homeland to provide desperately needed medical care rather than move to more developed countries. To this day, many paediatricians inspired by Dr. Ross continue his important work the world over.

Nomination requirements
Nominees should be individuals who have made outstanding lifetime contributions in the field of child and youth health throughout their careers. The recipient must be a Canadian resident but need not be a member of the CPS.  

The Awards Committee will evaluate candidates based on:

• The extent of the candidate’s contribution to child and youth health.
• The significance of the candidate’s contribution to the welfare of children and youth.
• The candidate’s local, national and/or international influence on child and youth health matters.
• The candidate’s sustained contribution to child and youth health through involvement in research, education, clinical care and advocacy (in at least three of the four areas) over a period of time.

Nominations must be formally resubmitted each year to be reconsidered. Current CPS board and Awards Committee members are not eligible for nomination and cannot nominate candidates while serving their terms. 

Submission instructions
Submissions must include:

• Letters from both the nominator and seconder, both of whom are CPS members, describing the candidate’s contribution to paediatrics and its significance to the welfare of children and youth. Maximum three pages.
• A biography of the candidate. Maximum two pages.
• Submit your nominations using the online form or by mail.

Presentation
The award is presented during the CPS Annual Conference. The recipient is awarded a commemorative plaque and a gift of $5,000. The recipient will also be invited to write an article for Paediatrics & Child Health, the journal of the Canadian Paediatric Society.

This award is made possible through an unrestricted grant from Abbott Nutrition.

Last updated: March 2012