Doctor and tablet
On Brian Abel-Smith’s death in 1996, his colleague Julian LeGrand said: “There are few academics who have changed the world – and fewer who have changed it for the better. He was one.”
LSE’s Department of Health Policy is proud to announce the creation of the Brian Abel-Smith Lifetime Achievement Award to honour the work of the influential social welfare pioneer.
The award will recognise individuals who, like Abel-Smith, have during their lifetime made a significant intellectual contribution to the field of health policy and social welfare and achieved notable policy impact. In line with Abel-Smith’s own approach and achievements, award criteria place equal weight on research excellence and policy impact.
Recipients of the biennial award will receive a prize of £10,000 and deliver an award lecture at the LSE.
LSE Pro-Director for Research Professor Simon Hix also welcomed the award as: “An exciting opportunity to highlight the contribution of health and social policy pioneers past, present and future. Brian Abel-Smith’s work resonates with the LSE’s distinctive commitment to intellectual excellence together with the advancement of human welfare.”
Professor Elias Mossialos, Head of LSE’s Department of Health Policy said: “Brian was a great economist and public intellectual, a unique and disarmingly powerful voice in health policy, with a remarkable ability to communicate complex messages in a simple and witty way. He made us think. He made us better. ”
Nominations will be reviewed by a Selection Committee of LSE academics and eminent experts in the field including: Chief Executive of the Health Foundation, Dr Jennifer Dixon; former Chief Medical Officer, Dame Sally Davies; Deputy Editor of the Lancet, Dr Astrid James; Chair of UCL Partners and the Kings Fund, Rt Hon Professor Lord Kakkar; former Permanent Secretary to the Department of Health, Dame Una O’Brien and current Chief Executive of the NHS, Simon Stevens. The Committee will be chaired by Professor Simon Hix, LSE’s Pro-Director for Research and will also include LSE Professors Alistair McGuire, Elias Mossialos and Anne West.
The award is supported by the Department of Health Policy, LSE Health and the Brian Abel-Smith Memorial Fund which was established to support and promote activities related to the work of the renowned academic and expert adviser.