





































 V37 N2 / 2022 

©2022 American Medical Writers Association. All rights reserved.  
ISSN 2163-5315

AMWAJournal.org     47

The John P. McGovern Award is named in honor of John P.
McGovern and is presented to a member or nonmember of
AMWA to recognize a preeminent contribution to any of the
various modes of medical communication. The McGovern
Award is presented during AMWA's Medical Writing &
Communication Conference. 

The American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) is 
pleased to recognize preeminent contributions to the var-
ious modes of medical communication through the John 
P. McGovern Award. The AMWA president presents the 
McGovern Award, named in honor of renowned allergist 
and philanthropist John P. McGovern, MD, during its annual 
Medical Writing & Communication Conference.
 It is an honor to name Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD, an inter-
nationally recognized physician–scientist, global health 
advocate, accomplished author, and 2022 Nobel Peace Prize 
nominee, as this year’s John P. McGovern Award recipient.
 Considered a pioneer in his field, Dr Hotez is an expert 
in neglected tropical diseases, global health, and vaccinol-
ogy. Based in Houston, Texas, he is the founding Dean of the 
National School of Tropical Medicine and is a Professor of 
Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology at Baylor 
College of Medicine. In addition, he is a University Professor 
at Baylor University and is the Co-Director of Texas Children's 
Hospital’s Center for Vaccine Development.
 Dr Hotez has a passion for developing new interven-
tions for global diseases of poverty, developing vaccine 
diplomacy–communicating science, and combatting rising 
antiscience sentiment, and his passion is reflected by 
many prestigious awards, roles, and honors. He holds the 
Endowed Chair in Tropical Pediatrics at Texas Children’s 
Hospital, for example, and served as a US Science Envoy 
during President Barack Obama’s administration. He is an 
elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and 
American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
 I first met Dr Hotez in 2017 when I served as president 
of AMWA’s Southwest Chapter. I had the honor of present-
ing Dr Hotez with the chapter’s John P. McGovern Award in 
recognition of his research and vaccine development. Since 
then, his advocacy for health equity among underserved 
populations, continued work on vaccines and COVID-19, 

and passion for commu-
nicating science have con-
tinued to resonate with 
medical communicators.
 Dr Hotez’s scientific 
publications and advo-
cacy have addressed treat-
ment needs for millions of 
underserved populations 
afflicted with neglected 
tropical diseases around 
the world. He has co-led 
efforts to develop new 
“antipoverty” vaccines for 
neglected tropical diseases, including a new recombinant 
protein COVID-19 vaccine for global health. His contribu-
tions to the field of medical communication include more 
than 650 peer-reviewed journal articles and 5 single-author 
books, such as his most recent and timely Preventing the Next 
Pandemic: Vaccine Diplomacy in a Time of Anti-Science. His 
other books include Blue Marble Health: An Innovative Plan 
to Fight Diseases of the Poor Amid Wealth and Vaccines Did 
Not Cause Rachel’s Autism (Johns Hopkins University Press); 
the latter publication is Dr Hotez’s personal reflection on his 
journey as a pediatrician, vaccine scientist, and father of an 
autistic child.
 During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Hotez has regu-
larly appeared on national platforms to educate the world 
on vaccines and to address the spread of misinformation. 
His research on coronaviruses began a decade prior to the 
pandemic. Through this knowledge and diplomacy, he has 
become a regular contributor and trusted source to media 
outlets such as CNN, NBC News, CBS News, ABC News, 
NPR, and The Washington Post.
 I will be honored once again to present a much-deserved 
award to this leader in medical communication on behalf of 
the entire AMWA membership as we gather on November 
2-5 in Denver, Colorado, for this year’s conference. Together, 
we will extend our sincere congratulations and gratitude 
as Dr Hotez joins an esteemed group of McGovern Award 
recipients at the national level as AMWA’s 2022 John P. 
McGovern Award recipient.

Katrina R. Burton, BS  /  2021-2022 AMWA President

2022 John P. McGovern Award Recipient: Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD

AMWA NEWS

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