The Health Care Technical Group (HCTG) is pleased to announce a call for the 2025 Robert L. Wears Early Career Award. Each year an HCTG committee grants this prestigious award to one academic and one practitioner that has unique achievements in their early career. Nominations are accepted until July 1, 2025, and the two awardees will be announced during the HFES Annual Meeting.
This Award is named in honor of Robert L. "Bob" Wears for his pioneer work in the integration of human factors in healthcare. Dr. Wears was an emergency medicine physician who transformed the way investigators conduct patient safety research through theories and methods of human factors. Described as both humble and brilliant, Dr. Wears provided mentorship and guidance to both clinicians and human factors specialists. Dr. Wears was part of the Health Care Technical Group from its early days.
Eligibility criteria:
● Six years or less from terminal degree (Degree awarded no earlier than May 2019)
Application Packet (submit documents below as a single PDF file):
- A nomination letter* detailing the academic or practical contribution to healthcare human factors and ergonomics. The letter should indicate whether the applicant is nominated for the academic or practical track.
- CV (max. 10 pages)
- One letter of recommendation (from someone else besides the nominator)
*self-nomination is also possible. Those wishing to self-nominate will be required to submit two letters of recommendation.
Evaluation criteria:
- Evidence of excellence in scholarly or practical contribution to healthcare human factors and ergonomics
- Research or practical impact
- Involvement with HFES National Society and local chapters
Awards are presented during the annual HCTG business meeting during the 2025 HFES Annual Meeting.
Please e-mail any questions and the application/nomination packet to Dr. Megan Salwei (megan.salwei@vumc.org).
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Megan Salwei, PhD
Assistant Professor
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
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