Community Awards
Mark Heaney Memorial Award for Awareness
Mark Heaney, a leading hematologist at Columbia University, had a powerful and sustained influence on the ECD Global Alliance, from the early days of its formation until his untimely passing in 2022. The ECDGA honors his memory and contributions with this award. Please nominate anyone who has performed outstanding, effective ECD/adult Histio awareness activities in the preceding 12 months.
The intent is for awareness activities to be focused on efforts that will educate those physicians, or others, who can help in the early diagnosis of ECD. The award is open to all – patient, caregiver, medical professional, investigator, friend – of any nationality or residence.
Please nominate someone you know who is deserving of this award here.
ECDGA Awards & Nominations
ECDGA Awards Overview
Mark Heaney Award for Scientific Advancement
This award is named in honor of the late Dr. Mark Heaney, a brilliant physician, researcher, and advocate who made profound contributions to the ECDGA and was deeply committed to improving the lives of patients. The award recognizes a clinician or researcher whose work has significantly advanced the understanding, diagnosis, or treatment of Erdheim-Chester Disease and the ECD community.
Community Champion Award
This award honors a patient, caregiver, volunteer, or advocate who demonstrates extraordinary compassion, resilience, and commitment to the ECD community. Community Champions are individuals who strengthen the global network through peer support, awareness-building, advocacy, or outreach that uplifts others.
Student Abstract Presentation Award
Awarded to a student or early-career researcher whose abstract is accepted for presentation at the ECDGA Medical Symposium, this award recognizes outstanding scientific work related to Erdheim-Chester Disease or histiocytic disorders. The recipient is selected by a committee of medical professionals based on both the scientific quality of the abstract and the excellence of the live presentation delivered during the symposium.
Host Award
Each year, ECDGA’s annual Patient and Family Gathering and Medical Symposium are made possible through the selfless support of a local Care Center and the medical professional who volunteers to co-host the conference. The Host Award is presented to the host in recognition of his or her exceptional effort and commitment in helping to plan, organize, and execute a successful event that brings the community together.
Outstanding Achievement Award
This rare and prestigious award honors an individual or organization whose exceptional contributions have significantly advanced ECDGA’s mission of awareness, support, education, and research. Unlike the other awards, the Outstanding Achievement Award is not presented annually, but is awarded at the discretion of the ECDGA Board when a truly extraordinary impact is recognized.
How to Nominate
Nominations for the Mark Heaney Award and Community Champion Award are accepted year-round. You can submit a nomination by completing the online form accessible from this page.
To nominate someone, you will be asked to provide:
- The nominee’s name and contact information (if known),
- The award category,
- A brief description of their contribution and why they deserve recognition.
Supporting materials such as stories, photos, or links are encouraged.
Finalists are selected by a committee of volunteers and reviewed by the ECDGA Board of Directors. Recipients are announced and honored at our annual international ECDGA conference.
Let’s celebrate the people who make a difference—together, we honor those who help move our mission forward.
Past Awards
The ECDGA provides community awards to recognize those in the community who have made a lasting impact on the ECD Community. These awards and their past recipients include: