2026 Awards Nomination Process

We are soliciting nominations for the Ben Qurrah Awards (Local and International) Rising Star Award, and Clinical Excellence Award to be presented at the NAAMA Houston biennial gala in September 2026.  These awards are given to physicians with high achievements in their specialty who also have a record of service to the Arab American community and the people of the Arab world.  

Application Requirements:

  • Nomination Letter, by a current NAAMA member, highlighting the specific achievements of the candidates. For example, for those seeking nomination based on scientific achievements, the number of publications, H-index, etc., must be indicated to facilitate the review process
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Current NAAMA membership
  • Deadline: All application materials must be received by June 15, 2026.  Please submit your nominations to admin@aama-houston.org.   
  • Decisions will be released by July 1, 2026
  • The awards will be presented at the NAAMA Houston Gala on 09/06/2026

Ben Qurrah Award

The Ben Qurrah Award is the most prestigious award given by the NAAMA Houston Chapter. The award is named after the famous Thabit Ben Qurrah, Arab mathematician, astronomer, physician, and philosopher, a representative of the flourishing 9th century Arab culture. Two awards are given: One Local and one International. 

Rising Star Award

This award recognizes early career individuals who have made impressive contributions in the field of medicine and in their leadership in the Arab-American community. This award is meant for assistant or associate professor level or within 8 years since the completing the last training. Candidates must identify as an Arab locally, nationally, or internationally. Current NAAMA membership is required.

Clinical Excellence Award

This award recognizes achievements in the following five areas – quality of patient care, leadership, teaching and training, service development, and professionalism and ethics. Candidates must identify as an Arab locally, nationally, or internationally.  Current NAAMA membership is required.

Selection Criteria

Local and International BQ Awards:

  • Achievements: Academic and scholarly (e.g., professional awards, professional excellence, national recognition) or in the public sphere (e.g., holding a prestigious public office), related to healthcare.
  • Impact of scholarly work (e.g., publications, citation index, grants, patents, curriculum, guidelines)
  • Mentoring (track record of mentoring early career Arab healthcare professionals)
  • Community achievement (e.g., trained Arab health care professionals, held educational or clinical activities in Arab countries, held charitable events locally or internationally)
  • Identification as an Arab locally, nationally, or internationally

Applicable to local awardees only:

  • Current Membership in NAAMA
  • Commitment to serve on the selection committee for at least one cycle

 Rising Star Award:

  • Early career stage, defined as within 8 years since the last training completed
  • Assistant or associate professor level
  • Contributions to the field of medicine/healthcare or to the Arab-American community
  • Identification as an Arab locally, nationally, or internationally
  • Current Membership in NAAMA

 

Clinical Excellence Award: An awardee is selected based on achievements in any of the following 5 areas.

  • Quality of Patient Care: Demonstrating exceptional contributions to patient care, including innovative practices and improvements in treatment outcomes
  • Leadership: Showing strong leadership skills and effective administrative management within clinical settings
  • Teaching and Training: Providing high-quality education and training to learners or junior practitioners in a healthcare related field
  • Service Development: Contributing to the development and implementation of new healthcare related services or improvements to existing ones
  • Professionalism and Ethics: Upholding high standards of professionalism and ethical behavior in all aspects of clinical practice
  • Identification as an Arab locally, nationally, or internationally
  • Current Membership in NAAMA

Selection Committee

NAAMA-Houston Chapter is grateful for the dedication of the healthcare professionals who have graciously agreed to serve on the Ben Qurrah Award selection committee. In order to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest, the following conditions will be required:

 

The selection committee will include at least 7 members + the Chapter president (to break a tie if needed).

The number of members from the same academic institution cannot exceed 40% of the total number of committee members.

No member of the executive committee or selection committee can nominate themselves or others for any of the awards.

The identity of the members of the selection committee will not be disclosed until the names of the awardees are released.