DIA, founded as the Drug Information Association, announced today the recipients of the DIA Global and DIA Americas Inspire Awards. The Awards combine recognition of those individuals who have provided outstanding contributions to advancing global health with volunteer service awards that honor exceptional leadership, commitment to service, and advancement of DIA’s mission.

These awards will be presented at the DIA Inspires 2018 Annual Celebration of Volunteerism to be held on Sunday, June 24 during the upcoming DIA 2018 Global Annual Meeting taking place in Boston, June 24-28. The event is being held to honor DIA’s most devoted and engaged volunteers who have dedicated their energy and enthusiasm to drive DIA’s mission forward.

The 2018 Global Inspire Award recipients are as follows:

Chair’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Global Health for significant and innovative contributions toward advancing global health:

• TB Alliance

Excellence in Service Award for the “member of the year” who has consistently provided outstanding service as a DIA volunteer, contributing to the advancement of DIA’s mission:

• Munish Mehra, PhD, MS, Managing Director, Principal Biostatistician, Tigermed Co., Ltd.

The Global Connector Award for meritorious service through a leadership role that has advanced the mission of DIA and promoted global collaboration:

• John Lim, MD, MSc, Executive Director, Centre of Regulatory Excellence, Duke-NUS Medical School, Senior Advisor, Ministry of Health, Singapore, Chairman, Singapore Clinical Research Institute

Author of the Year for the author or group of authors whose article made the greatest impact on readership, as determined by the most downloads in the preceding TIRS issue year:

• Jan Geissler, Founder and CEO, Patvocates

“Improving Patient Involvement in Medicines Research and Development: A Practical Roadmap”

The 2018 DIA Americas Inspire Awards recipients are as follows:

• Outstanding Contribution to Health in the North America Region

Friends of Cancer Research

• Excellence in Service
• Alicia Cadogan, Director, Oncology Medical Information, Pfizer, Inc
• Leah Christl, PhD, Associate Director, Therapeutic Biologics, CDER, FDA
• Mark Gaydos, Vice President, NA General Medicines/US Advertising and Promotion, Global Regulatory Affairs, Sanofi
• Leigh Shultz, Associate Vice President, Project Management, Merck & Co., Inc.

“DIA members are some of the brightest minds in healthcare. It is my distinct honor to celebrate our most devoted and engaged volunteers who have dedicated their energy and enthusiasm to drive DIA’s mission forward,” said Barbara Lopez Kunz, Global Chief Executive, DIA. “Through exceptional leadership, commitment to service, and contributions to the advancement of DIA’s global mission, these individuals epitomize DIA membership and exemplify the forward thinking our industry needs to advance global health.”

For more information or to join the DIA Board of Directors at the 2018 DIA Inspire Awards Ceremony, contact Heej.Ko@DIAglobal.org. This is an opportunity to gain visibility into the achievements of the award winners and engage with the DIA Board of Directors, the Executive Leadership Team, and other DIA supporters.

To learn more and register for DIA 2018 Global Annual Meeting visit, DIAglobal.org/DIA2018. For live updates, attendees and the public should follow and join the conversation on Twitter, @DrugInfoAssn, using the hashtag #DIA2018.