Please send in your nominations for NSPA awards.
Nomination packages for NSPA awards are due NLT 15JUL26 to be considered.
All nominations should be sent to LT Patrick Goldsmith, NSPA's Secretary, at
Complete packages will include:
- Cover letter (1-2 pages and must include a command endorsement [DH/OIC])
- Nomination for award
- Curriculum vitae
- Biography
Please see the NSPA website for details, examples of LOR, endorsement and nominee letters: https://navypa.com/awards
Selection will be based upon a weighted evaluation of information provided in the nomination package. The NSPA Awards Chair will head the selection committee, which will be composed of the NSPA Board of Directors. Those selected will be recognized at the annual SAPA/NSPA Symposium in Aug 2026 and will be posted on our NSPA website. All awardees will receive an engraved commemorative plaque.
AWARD CATEGORIES:
- NSPA Leadership Award -This award honors an outstanding Navy Physician Assistant during the current year. Nominees must be 0-3 or above, active duty, reserve or retiree. Current NAPA BOD Officers are not eligible. The award nomination should include a 1-2 page cover letter introducing the candidate and an accompanying document titled "Nomination for Award" with the following headings:
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- LEADERSHIP, PROFESSIONALISM, DEDICATION TO QUALITY MEDICAL CARE, ENHANCEMENT OF THE IMAGE OF PAs, INVOLVEMENT IN NAPA, AAPA, LOCAL/STATE/REGIONAL PA AFFAIRS, and OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS.
- NSPA Excellence Award -This award honors an outstanding Navy Physician Assistant during the current year with less than four years commissioned service. Nominees must be on active duty or in the reserves. Current NAPA BOD Officers are not eligible. The award nomination should include a 1-2 page cover letter introducing the candidate and an accompanying document entitled "Nomination for Award" with the following headings:
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- LEADERSHIP, PROFESSIONALISM, DEDICATION TO QUALITY MEDICAL CARE, ENHANCEMENT OF THE IMAGE OF PAs, INVOLVEMENT IN NAPA, AAPA, LOCAL/STATE/REGIONAL PA AFFAIRS, and OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS.
- NSPA Admiral Zimble Award -This award will honor two outstanding PA Preceptors, one in medicine and one in surgery. Nominees must be DoD physicians that support and help advance the PA profession and the PA-Physician Team approach to medical delivery. The award nomination should include a 1-2 page cover letter introducing the physician for the award and an accompanying document entitled "Nomination For Award" outlining the nominee’s distinguishing support for the PA-Physician Team concept through: direct professional involvement and preceptorship of PAs; contributions to PA professional growth through formal and informal tutelage in current medical practices, leadership qualities, professionalism, and dedication to quality care.
- NSPA Lifetime Achievement Award -This award honors an outstanding Navy Physician Assistant who has made a significant impact on the Navy Physician Assistant community. Nominees must have been on active duty (retired or currently active) or in the reserves. Current NAPA BOD officers are not eligible; but prior involvement in the NAPA BOD is a plus. The award nomination should include a 1-2 page cover letter introducing the candidate and an accompanying document entitled "Nomination for Award" with the following headings:
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- STATEMENT OF WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY AND NAPA. HOW WERE THEY INSTRUMENTAL IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SPECIALTY? (SHOW A TRACK RECORD OF MENTORSHIP).
- Ensign Jerry "Buck" Pope Research Award -This award is for the best publication or ongoing research by an active duty, reserve or retired Navy Physician Assistant who has had an article published in a regional or national medical periodical either as the sole author or one of a team of authors or is a named researcher in an approved research project. The award is intended to recognize the efforts put forth by that PA which are above and beyond the normal scope of our professional endeavors and are of a quality to be published for the education and betterment of our profession as a whole. This is an award, not a grant nor a scholarship. The recipient must complete the work for which the award is given within three years of the award and provide the Naval Association of Physician Assistants with a bound and electronic copy of the completed work. The award nomination should include a 1-2 page cover letter introducing the candidate and an accompanying document entitled "Nomination for Award" with the following headings:
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- LEADERSHIP, PROFESSIONALISM, DEDICATION TO QUALITY MEDICAL CARE, ENHANCEMENT OF THE IMAGE OF PAs, INVOLVEMENT IN NAPA, AAPA, LOCAL/STATE/REGIONAL PA AFFAIRS, and COMPLETE DOCUMENTATION OF PUBLISHED WORK OR RESEARCH.
Please forward to your command leaders.
Naval PAs work hard, and we should honor one another for the excellent work that we do. Please consider nominating your peers or yourself as candidates. We look forward to your submissions and learning about the great accomplishments of leaders within our incredible community.
Very Respectfully,
LT Patrick Goldsmith
NSPA Secretary, Awards & Elections Chair