Presentation of the Morris F. Collen Award to William Edward Hammond II, PhD

Abstract

The American College of Medical Informatics (ACMI) is an honorary society established to recognize those who have made sustained contributions to the field. Its highest award, for lifetime achievement and contributions to the discipline of medical informatics, is the Morris F. Collen Award. Dr. Collen's own efforts as a pioneer in the field stand out as the embodiment of creativity, intellectual rigor, perseverance, and personal integrity. Once a year, when appropriate, the College gives its highest recognition to those whose attainments have, throughout their careers, substantially advanced the science and art of medical informatics. In 2003, the College was proud to present the Collen Award to Dr. William Edward Hammond II. Throughout his career, Ed has seen possibilities, and then figured out how to do whatever is needed to overcome challenges where others thought goals were unachievable. He is a pioneer in electronic health records and standards. He is a classic triple threat—breaking new scientific ground, developing young people, and providing services that make a difference in health care. He is at once an intense competitor and an effective collaborator. He is richly deserving of the recognition embodied in the Collen Award. Morrie Collen, MD, Emeritus Director of Research, Kaiser Permanente: “I congratulate Ed Hammond on receiving this award in recognition of his outstanding leadership and his significant technical contributions to medical informatics. I first learned of Ed's unusual technical abilities when he was working with Bill Stead at Duke University. Ed Hammond, an engineer, and Bill Stead, a physician, were an ideal pair for developing medical information systems. As early as 1969, using punch cards for some applications and a mini-computer, they were developing what they called a generalized medical information system for community health. Professor and Doctor William Ed Hammond is truly one of the great pioneers …