Honors & Awards

ACPA is proud to present awards that recognize dedication to research, care and the community. Association awards are presented at ACPA’s Annual Meeting.

The nominations for 2026 Association Awards are now open. Click on the award names listed below for the link the nominate. The deadline to submit a nomination is October 1, 2025.

Association Awards

Community Leadership Award

The Community Leadership Award (formerly the Family Services Leadership Award) recognizes an individual or group, such as a parent, patient, advocate, or community organization, who has demonstrated exceptional service and leadership on behalf of individuals with cleft or craniofacial differences.

Submit a nomination.

Past Winners

2025 | The Mull Family
2024 | Henry Baddour
2023 | Krista Schrader
2022 | Stephen and Jennifer Len
2020 | Dina Zuckerberg
2019 | Marley Dunnberg
2018 | Drew Davis
2017 | Rick Guidotti
2016 | Cleft India Parents Association (CIPA)
2015 | Timothy and Pamela Baker
2014 | Maria Teresa
2012 | Zeb and Meaghan Carabello
2011 | Paula Miller
2010 | Harriet Fisher
2008 | Claire Crawford
2007 | Paula Goldenberg, MD
2006 | Cheryl Hendrickson
2005 | Debbie Oliver
2004 | Carrie Gruman-Trinkner
2003 | Ginny Patzer
2002 | Julie DeLaurier
2001 | Karen Le Clair
2000 | Arthur and Shelly Green
1999 | William D. Eiserman, PhD
1998 | Hope E. Charkins, MSW
1997 | Joanne Greene
1996 | Rochelle “Rickie” Anderson
1995 | Betsy Wilson
1994 | Peg Bryner, EdD
1993 | Pamela Onyx
1992 | Karen Schudson
1991 | Bernice Bergen
1990 | Donnie Schlereth
1989 | Elisabeth Bednar
1988 | Hyman Gardsbane, DO

Distinguished Service Award

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual, member or non-member, who has demonstrated exceptional service to ACPA.

Submit a nomination.

Past Winners

2025 | Ana M. Mercado, DMD, PhD
2024 | Jack C. Yu, DMD, MD, MS Ed
2023 | John E. Riski, PhD, CCC-SLP
2022 | Earl J. Seaver, PhD
2020 | Helen M. Sharp, PhD
2018 | David Kuehn, PhD
2016 | Jerald B. Moon, PhD
2014 | Don LaRossa, MD
2012 | Judith E. Trost-Cardamone, PhD
2012 | Kim S. Uhrich, MSW
2011 | Marilyn A. Cohen, BA, LSLP
2008 | Katherine Vig, BDS, MS, D.Orth, FDS(RCS)
2007 | Samuel Berkowitz, DDS, MS
2006 | Robert M. Mason, DMD, PhD
2005 | Ross E. Long, Jr. DMD, MS, PhD
2003 | Marilyn C. Jones, MD
2002 | Jeffrey L. Marsh, MD
2001 | Sally Peterson-Falzone, PhD
2000 | James A. Lehman, Jr., MD
1998 | Ronald P. Strauss, DMD, PhD
1997 | Mary Helen Hough
1997 | Beatrice G. Kilwein
1996 | Robert W. Parsons, MD
1995 | Patricia A. Landis, MA
1993 | Betty Jane Philips, EdD
1989 | Ralph L. Shelton, PhD
1987 | William C. Trier, MD
1984 | Albert H. Guay, DMD
1984 | Donald W. Warren, DDS, PhD
1982 | Flora P. Berk
1980 | Herold S. Lillywhite, PhD
1980 | Morton S. Rosen, DDS
1979 | Mohammed Mazaheri, DDS, MSc
1978 | Michael L. Lewin, MD
1978 | Ross H. Musgrave, MD
1977 | Asa J. Berlin, PhD
1977 | Charlotte G. Wells, PhD
1976 | Robert L. Harding, MD, DDS
1975 | Betty Jane McWilliams, PhD
1974 | Kenneth R. Bzoch, PhD
1974 | Peter Randall, MD
1973 | Duane C. Spriestersbach, PhD
1970 | Hughlett L. Morris, PhD

Emerging Leader Award

The Emerging Leader Award is given to an early career professional who is a member of ACPA for at least three years and not more than 15 years, who exhibits exemplary accomplishment and dedication to the issues affecting people with cleft and craniofacial conditions.

Submit a nomination.

Past Winners

2025 | David M. Yates, DMD, MD
2024 | Azeez Butali, DDS, PhD
2023 | Katelyn Kotlarek, PhD, CCC-SLP
2022 | Kazlin N. Mason, PhD
2020 | Albert K. Oh, MD
2019 | Solomon Obiri-Yeboah, MD, DMD
2018 | Thomas J. Sitzman, MD

Honors of the Association

The Honors of the Association represents the highest expression of respect and gratitude ACPA bestows. It is granted to those individuals whose lifetime of research, healthcare delivery, or leadership has advanced, significantly and uniquely, the amelioration of physical, behavioral or social conditions of cleft lip and palate or other craniofacial differences.

Submit a nomination.

Past Winners

2025 | Kathy L. Chapman, PhD
2024 | Mark P. Mooney, PhD
2023 | Alvaro A. Figueroa, DDS, MS
2022 | Jeffrey L. Marsh, MD
2020 | Barry Grayson, DDS
2019 | Court B. Cutting, MD
2018 | William C. Shaw, PhD, MScD, BDS
2018 | Gunvor Semb, DDS, PhD
2017 | Katherine W. Vig, BDS, MS, D.ORth, FDS(RCS)
2016 | Samuel Berkowitz, DDS, MS
2015 | R. Bruce Ross, DDS, MSc
2014 | Henry K. Kawamoto, Jr., MD
2012 | Ross E. Long, Jr., DMD, MS, PhD
2012 | Karin Vargervik, DDS
2010 | Sheldon W. Rosenstein, DDS, MSD
2009 | Karlind T. Moller, PhD
2007 | Ronald P. Strauss, DMD, PhD
2005 | Rodger M. Dalston, PhD
2004 | Leonard T. Furlow, Jr., MD
2002 | Betty Jane Philips, PhD
2001 | Harold C. Slavkin, DDS, PhD
2000 | M. Samuel Noordhoff, MD
1998 | Ralph L. Shelton, Jr., PhD
1997 | Sylvan Stool, MD
1996 | M. Michael Cohen, Jr., DMD, PhD
1995 | Malcolm Johnston, DDS, MSCD, PhD
1994 | Philip J. Boyne, DMD, MS, DSc
1993 | Robert J. Gorlin, DDS, MS, DSc
1992 | Donald W. Warren, DDS, PhD
1991 | Paul L. Tessier, MD
1989 | Mohammad Mazaheri, DDS, MSc
1987 | Betty Jane McWilliams, PhD
1986 | Peter Randall, MD
1985 | D. Ralph Millard, Jr., MD
1983 | Wilton M. Krogman, PhD
1982 | Hughlett L. Morris, PhD
1980 | Joanne D. Subtelny, PhD
1980 | J. Daniel Subtelny, DDS, MS
1977 | Muriel Morley, DSc, FCST, FACST
1976 | Samuel Pruzansky, DDS, MS
1974 | F. Clarke Fraser, PhD, MD
1973 | Poul Fogh-Andersen, MD
1967 | Herbert Koepp-Baker, PhD
1966 | Josef Warkany, MD
1965 | Herbert K. Cooper, DDS
1963 | Robert H. Ivy, MD, DDS

Young Professional Service Award

The Young Professional Service Award is given to a cleft lip and palate or craniofacial professional who has been in the profession for 10 years or less and demonstrates exceptional service to: 1) cleft lip and palate/craniofacial team, 2) professional society in a manner of serving or promoting cleft lip and palate/craniofacial interests, 3) community in a manner of serving or promoting cleft lip and palate/ craniofacial interests or 4) cleft lip and palate/craniofacial profession. Recipients of the Young Professional Service Award are given a $1,000 award.

The Young Professional Service Award was established by Dr. Ronald Hathaway in honor of the 2015 ACPA Board of Directors.

Submit a nomination.

Past Winners

2025 | Margaret M. Lico, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC
2024 | Jessica L. Williams, MS, CCC-SLP
2023 | Jessica E. Canallatos, DDS, MS
2022 | Aleshia J. Pringle, ARNP

The Cleft Palate Craniofacial Journal Awards

CPCJ Peer Reviewer of the Year Award

This award is given each year to the peer reviewer recommended and selected by the Editorial Board who best exemplifies the core values and missions of The Cleft Palate Craniofacial Journal.

Past Winners

2025 | Kathleen A. Kapp-Simon, PhD
2024 | Rany M. Bous, BDS, MSD
2023 | Chiung-Shing Huang, DDS, PhD
2022 | Sivakumar Chinnadurai, MD
2021 | Kristin Billaud Feragen, PhD
2021 | Dennis M. Ruscello, PhD
2020 | Meredith Albert, PhD
2019 | Emily Gallagher, MD, MPH
2018 | David W. Low, MD
2018 | Rachel M. Roberts, PhD
2017 | Adriane L. Baylis, PhD, CCC-SLP
2016 | Veerasathpurush Allareddy, BDS, MMSc, PhD
2015 | Yusuf M. Albustanji, CCC-SLP, PhD

Stewart Rood CPCJ Section Editor of the Year Award

This award is given each year to a section editor of The Cleft Palate Craniofacial Journal in recognition of their significant and substantive contributions to the journal.

Past Winners

2025 | James J. Cray, PhD
2024 | Anand R. Kumar, MD, FACS, FAAP
2023 | Seth Weinberg, PhD
2022 | Jean-Charles Doucet, DMD, MD, MSc, FRCDC
2022 | Alexis L. Johns, PhD, ABPP
2021 | Alexis L. Johns, PhD, ABPP
2020 | Justine C. Lee, MD, PhD, FACS
2019 | Justine C. Lee, MD, PhD, FACS
2018 | Tim Bressmann, PhD
2017 | Christos Katsaros, DDS, DMD, Odont Dr/PhD
2016 | Christos Katsaros, DDS, DMD, Odont Dr/PhD

Samuel Berkowitz, DDS, MS Long-Term Outcomes Study Award

The Berkowitz Award is made annually to the primary author of the article judged to be the best long-term outcomes study published in The Cleft Palate Craniofacial Journal. The author may be from any discipline represented in the American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association, and the article may cover any cleft/craniofacial subject area.

Past Winners

2025 | “Effect of Orthognathic Surgery on Breathing in Patients with Cleft lip and Palate: 20-Year Experience at a Tertiary Hospital in Brazil” Déborah Rocha Seixas, DDS, MS, and co-authors
2024 | “Long-term Outcome for Two-Stage Palatal Closure With Different Timings for Hard Palate Surgery: Craniofacial Growth and Dental Arch Relation”
Midia Najar Chalien, DDS, MS, and co-authors
2023 | “Risk of Malocclusion Among Patients Undergoing Single-Stage Versus Two-Stage Cleft Palate Repair”
Hilary McCrary, MD, MPH and co-authors
2022 | “The Method of Surgical Lip Repair Affects Speech Outcomes in Children With Bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate”
Holly Peryer, MSc and co-authors
2021 | “Increased Risk of VPI in Patients Undergoing Staged Palate Repair”
Hilary McCrary, MD, MPH and co-authors
2020 | “Facial Growth of Patients With Complete Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Treated With Alveolar Bone Grafting at 6 Years”
Jean-Charles Doucet, DMD, MD, MSc, FRCDC and co-authors
2019 | “Secondary Alveolar Bone Grafting in Patients Born With Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate: A 20-Year Follow-up”
Fatemeh Jabbari, DDS, PhD and co-authors
2018 | “Oral Clefts and Academic Performance in Adolescence: The Impact of Anesthesia-Related Neurotoxicity, Timing of Surgery, and Type of Oral Clefts”
Nicola G. Clausen, MD and co-authors
2017 | “A Multicenter Study Using the SWAG Scale to Compare Secondary Alveolar Bone Graft Outcomes for Patients with Cleft Lip and Palate”
Kathleen Russell, DDS, MSc
2016| “It Doesn’t All Just Stop at 18: Psychological Adjustment and Support Needs of Adults Born With Cleft Lip and/or Palate”
Nicola Marie Stock, MSc and co-authors
2015 | “Speech and Phonology in Swedish-Speaking 3-Year-Olds with Unilateral Complete Cleft Lip and Palate Following Different Methods for Primary Palatal Surgery”
Kristina Klinto, MS and co-authors
2014 | “Factors Related to Quality of Life and Satisfaction with Nasal Appearance in Patients Treated for Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate”
Maria Marni, MD, PhD and co-authors
2013 | “Long-Term, Longitudinal Follow-Up of Individuals With Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate After the Gothenburg Primary Early Veloplasty and Delayed Hard Palate Closure Protocol: Speech Outcome”
Anette Lohmander, PhD and co-authors
2013 | “Long-Term, Longitudinal Follow-Up of Individuals With UCLP After the Gothenburg Primary Early Veloplasty and Delayed Hard Palate Closure Protocol: Maxillofacial Growth Outcome”
Hans Friede, DDS, ODr
2012 | “The Americleft Study: An Inter‐Center Study of Treatment Outcomes for Patients With Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Parts 1-5”
The Americleft Team

Junior Investigator Award

Subtelny Junior Investigator Award

ACPA’s Junior Investigator Award recognizes outstanding presentations from investigators either recently graduated or currently enrolled in a training program dealing with cleft and craniofacial evaluation and treatment. The Junior Investigator Session is held at ACPA’s Annual Meeting and encourages and supports multidisciplinary research in cleft and craniofacial care.

Platform papers presented by Student or Early Career Members in their first year of practice may be considered for the Junior Investigator Award. The highest-rated eligible papers are selected to compete in the Junior Investigator session for recognition and a $1,000 award. Two winners are selected annually based on demonstrated excellence in structure, impact, validity and delivery of their basic science or clinical work.