Tony Winsor Award

ForHealth Consulting at UMass Chan Medical School announces the winner of the Tony Winsor Award at the annual Paving the Way to Health Care Access Conference.

Attorney Tony Winsor worked for the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and dedicated his 39 years of practice to advocating for the disadvantaged. Attorney Winsor worked endlessly on many cases and battles. Still, the battle most near and dear to medical interpreters was leading the task of passing the Massachusetts Emergency Room Bill, signed into law as Chapter 66 of the Acts of 2000. The law states that all hospitals providing acute care in emergency rooms or acute psychiatric services must use competent interpreter services when treating non-English speaking patients. The passing of Chapter 66 of the Acts of 2000 was the forward thrust to professionalize medical interpreters and ultimately allow disadvantaged patients to have a voice and seek quality care.

The purpose of this award is to honor a person who, like Tony Winsor, has advocated for professionalizing the work of a medical interpreter to improve language access for all persons. The contributions to the field of medical interpreting may include advocating for the utilization of medical interpreters, providing education for medical interpreters, or promoting the work of medical interpreters.

Nomination Process & Criteria

All nominations must have the following information attached in a Word document (limited to 2 pages, single-spaced, 12 pt font):

Nominator (person making the nomination)

• Name
• Position
• Organization/Affiliation
• Contact telephone number
• E-mail address

Nominee (person/program/organization being recommended for award)

• Name (primary contact in the case of a program or organization)
• Position
• Organization/Affiliation
• Contact number and/or email address
• A description of the person/program/organization demonstrating their commitment and contribution to advocating for professionalizing the work of a medical interpreter to improve language access to all persons.

Who can make a nomination?

Any director/coordinator of interpreter services, physicians and other providers, administrative staff, managers, and other staff in addition to interpreters may make a nomination.

Must the candidate be an interpreter?

The award may be given to anyone in the field of healthcare, regardless of position working in Massachusetts. Thus, directors/coordinators of interpreter services, physicians and other providers, administrative staff, managers, and other staff in addition to interpreters may be nominated. In addition, individuals in the larger healthcare arena, including but not limited to, insurers, funders, grant-makers, policymakers, and other advocates, may be nominated.

How will award recipients be determined?

The selection of award recipients will be based on the strength of the nomination as deemed by volunteers on the Paving the Way to Health Care Access Conference Committee.

When is the deadline for nominations?

The deadline for nominations TBD.

When will the award recipient be announced?

We will announce the recipient on TBD. The information will be posted on our website.

When will the award be presented?

We will present the award at the beginning of the Paving the Way to Health Care Access Conference.

Must the honoree be present to receive the award?

While it would be ideal to have the person or representative present, it is not a requirement that the recipient appear in person to receive the award.