Geraldine “Polly” Bednash Lectureship Award Recipients

2026 Recipient

Dr. Holly Humphrey

Former President of the Josiah Macy Foundation

Dr. Holly Humphrey, President of the Josiah Macy Foundation, is the 2026 recipient of the Geraldine "Polly" Bednash Lectureship Award. During her tenure as president of the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation beginning in 2018, Dr. Humphrey (who passed away last April), helped shape national priorities in health professions education grounded in equity, collaboration, and ethical leadership. Guided by a deep belief in dignity and belonging for all who teach, learn, and seek care, her life’s work reflected an enduring commitment to justice, compassion, and the humane values that continue to inspire academic nursing and health education.

Dr. Terry Fulmer

Former President of the John A. Hartford Foundation

AACN welcomed Dr. Terry Fulmer, former president of the John A. Hartford Foundation, who accepted the award on behalf of Dr. Humphrey, to honor her legacy and their shared work supporting caregivers and improving serious illness and end-of-life care.

2025 Recipient

Dr. Kathleen Reeves

Dr. Kathleen Reeves

President and CEO
Arnold P. Gold Foundation

An accomplished leader with a passion for optimizing interprofessional alliances, Dr. Kathleen Reeves will share insights gained while leading a national nonprofit organization dedicated to championing humanism in healthcare and discuss opportunities for incorporating the human connection into nursing education and healthcare.

2024 Recipient

From left to right: AACN Board Chair Dr. Cynthia McCurren, Award Winner Dr. Cynda Rushton, and AACN President and CEO Dr. Deborah Trautman

Dr. Cynda Rushton

Johns Hopkins School of Nursing

From left to right: AACN Board Chair Dr. Cynthia McCurren, Award Winner Dr. Cynda Rushton, and AACN President and CEO Dr. Deborah Trautman

2023 Recipient

From left to right: AACN Board Chair Dr. Cynthia McCurren, Award Winner Dr. Richard Levin, and AACN President and CEO Dr. Deborah Trautman

Richard Levin, MD

President and CEO
The Arnold P. Gold Foundation

From left to right: AACN Board Chair Dr. Cynthia McCurren, Award Winner Dr. Richard Levin, and AACN President and CEO Dr. Deborah Trautman

2022 Recipient

From left to right: AACN Past Chair Dr. Susan Bakewell-Sachs, Award Winner Dr. George E. Thibault, Dr. Polly Bednash, and AACN President and CEO Dr. Deborah Trautman

George E. Thibault, MD

Former President
The Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation

From left to right: AACN Past Chair Dr. Susan Bakewell-Sachs, Award Winner Dr. George E. Thibault, Dr. Polly Bednash, and AACN President and CEO Dr. Deborah Trautman

2021 Recipient

  • Donald Berwick

    Donald M. Berwick, MD, MPP, FRCP, KBE

    President Emeritus and Senior Fellow
    Institute for Healthcare Improvement 

2020 Recipient

  • Darrell Kirch

    Dr. Darrell Kirch

    President Emeritus, Association of American Medical Colleges
    Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine

2019 Recipient

Dr. Brenda Zierler

Dr. Brenda Zierler

Professor and Interprofessional Education Scholar
School of Nursing
University of Washington Health Sciences Center

2018 Recipient

From left to right: AACN Past Chair Dr. Juliann Sebastian, Award Winner Dr. David Garr, and AACN President and CEO Dr. Deborah Trautman

Dr. David Garr

Associate Dean for Community Medicine, Professor of Family Medicine, and Executive Director
South Carolina AHEC
Medical University of South Carolina

From left to right: AACN Past Chair Dr. Juliann Sebastian, Award Winner Dr. David Garr, and AACN President and CEO Dr. Deborah Trautman

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2017 Recipient

From left to right: AACN Past Chair Dr. Juliann Sebastian, Dr. Joanne Disch, and AACN President and CEO Dr. Deborah Trautman

Dr. Joanne Disch

Professor
School of Nursing
University of Minnesota

From left to right: AACN Past Chair Dr. Juliann Sebastian, Dr. Joanne Disch, and AACN President and CEO Dr. Deborah Trautman

2016 Recipients

  • J. Randall (Randy) Curtis, MD

    Professor
    School of Medicine and Director
    Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence

From left to right: AACN Past Chair Dr. Eileen Breslin, Award Winner Dr. Sarah E. Shannon, and AACN President and CEO Dr. Deborah Trautman

Sarah E. Shannon, PhD

Associate Professor, Biobehavioral Nursing & Health Systems
School of Nursing, and Adjunct, Bioethics & Humanities
School of Medicine
University of Washington

From left to right: AACN Past Chair Dr. Eileen Breslin, Award Winner Dr. Sarah E. Shannon, and AACN President and CEO Dr. Deborah Trautman

2015 Recipients

From left to right: Dr. Stephen C. Shannon, Dr. Carol A. Aschenbrener, Dr. Lucinda L. Maine and Dr. Richard W. Valachovic

Founding Members of Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC)

Carol A. Aschenbrener, MD, Chief Medical Education Officer, Association of American Medical Colleges
Geraldine “Polly” Bednash, PhD, Former CEO, American Association of Colleges of Nursing 
Lucinda L. Maine, PhD, Executive Vice President and CEO, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
Stephen C. Shannon, DO, President and CEO, American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
Harrison C. Spencer, MD, President and CEO, Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health
Richard W. Valachovic, DMD, President and CEO, American Dental Education Association

From left to right: Dr. Stephen C. Shannon, Dr. Carol A. Aschenbrener, Dr. Lucinda L. Maine and Dr. Richard W. Valachovic