Book and Dissertation Prizes

The Charles Hughes Graduate Student Paper Prize is given for the best paper in medical anthropology written by a graduate student, and the WHR Rivers Undergraduate Student Paper Prize is awarded for the best paper written by an undergraduate student.

  • Deadline for each: July 1
  • Hughes awarded in Even Numbered Years
  • Rivers awarded in Odd Numbered Years

The Eileen Basker Memorial Prize – The Basker Prize is awarded for a significant contribution to excellence in research on gender and health by scholars from any discipline or nation, for a specific book, article, film or exceptional PhD thesis produced within the preceding three years.

  • Deadline: July 1
  • Awarded Every Year

The New Millennium Book Award, first given in 2006, recognizes an author whose work is judged to be the most significant and potentially influential contribution to medical anthropology in recent years. Books of exceptional courage and potential impact beyond the field are given special consideration. Solo-authored (or coauthored) books published or copyrighted in the past 3 years are eligible.

  • Deadline: July 1
  • Awarded in Odd Numbered Years

The SMA Dissertation Award is given to the author of a dissertation that is judged to be a significant and potentially influential contribution to medical anthropology. Dissertations are judged on the basis of: (1) scope and excellence of scholarship, including ethnographic research; (2) originality of subject matter; (3) effectiveness and persuasiveness of arguments; and (4) writing quality. Dissertation research of exceptional courage and difficulty is given special consideration.

  • Deadline: July 1
  • Awarded in Odd Numbered Years

The Steven Polgar Professional Paper Prize is awarded to a medical anthropologist for the best paper published in the SMA’s journal Medical Anthropology Quarterly (MAQ) during the most recent complete volume year, and carries a $250 cash award. No nominations are needed, as articles published in MAQ by eligible recipients are automatically considered.

  • Awarded every year