Genetic Alliance Annual Conference Award Guidelines
Art of Listening - Honors a health professional who models the importance of caring, receptive professionals in the lives of individuals and families living with genetic conditions. Someone who:
- Takes the time to listen and understand - beyond the medical diagnosis (25 points)
- Understands the importance of listening as an invaluable key to understanding and helping and so a number of families and individuals offer testimony (25 points)
- Eases the difficult, often frustrating journey faced by individuals and families dealing with the uncertainties and ambiguities of a genetic condition (25 points)
- Appreciates the power of advocacy groups (25 points)
Art of Reporting - Honors a reporter or journalist who models the special responsibility to report fairly and impartially about developments in genetics and the impact of these discoveries on people's lives. Someone who has:
- Produced an especially powerful print or broadcast piece that builds public awareness of genetics or genetic conditions. (25 points)
- Worked together with an advocacy organization to produce the piece. (25 points)
- Models excellence in reporting, exemplifying the compassion and caring that is so important in explaining and reporting on genetic conditions. (25 points)
- Contributes to public awareness and understanding about genetic advancements and their impact on real people's lives. (10 points)
- Heightens awareness of the fine line between education and exploitation and of the sensitivities that surround writing about people with genetic conditions. (10 points)
- Was accurate in their representation of the disease and the science (5 points)
Art of Advocacy - Honors a visionary advocate who advances research, information and/or support services to benefit both organizations and health. Someone who has:
- Harnessed his /her knowledge and experience to improve the quality of research, healthcare, information and support services through advocacy (15 points)
- Advocated on behalf of many conditions or a group of conditions through a disease condition organization or for a coalition of grassroots organizations. (25 points)
- Demonstrated the ability to see beyond a single condition to the importance of working together as a coalition. (30 points)
- Has had demonstrable impact on the advocacy community (20 points)
- Has had an impact on the rest of the genetics community (10 points)
Art of Industry Partnership - Honors a biotechnology, pharma or genetics company whose track record models the benefits of creative partnerships between advocates and industry to advance understanding and treatment of genetic conditions, disorders and diseases. Someone who has
- Provided significant support to disease advocacy organizations (25 points)
- Shown insight and vision in the way consumer advisors are involved in their projects (30 points)
- Raised awareness in the corporate community of the need for collaboration with the disease advocacy community (15 points)
- Shows evidence of genuine partnering in planning and execution of project (30 points)
