2026 Bernard Lown Award for Social Responsibility
From a highly competitive list of nominees, Dr. Chanelle Diaz was selected as the winner of the 2026 Bernard Lown Award for Social Responsibility (BLASR) for her outstanding leadership in advancing the health and dignity of those held in immigration detention through pro bono forensic medical evaluations, groundbreaking research, outspoken public advocacy, and a commitment to cultivating the next generation of socially responsible clinicians.
The BLASR Award Dinner will be held in conjunction with the LOWN26 Conference on May 21 at Le Meridien in Cambridge, MA.
About Dr. Chanelle Diaz
Dr. Diaz is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and a primary care physician in the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Ambulatory Care Network. She volunteers with the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest’s Medical Providers Network and Physicians for Human Rights.
- See the timeline of Dr. Diaz’s life and accomplishments
- Read our interview with Dr. Diaz
- View the press release to learn more
SPONSORS
CHANGEMAKER
CHANGEMAKER
CHANGEMAKER
CHANGEMAKER
PARTNER
PARTNER
Breck Eagle
ADDITIONAL SPONSORS
Vikas Saini, MD
Maureen & Nassib Chamoun
Patricia A. Gabow, MD
Columbia University Dept. of Medicine
United Hospital Fund
Jack & Sheila Evjy
Christian Ramsey
Thanks also to our generous anonymous sponsors!
*member of selection committee
Vikas Saini, MD*
President, Lown Institute
Patricia Gabow, MD*
Chairperson, Lown Institute Board of Directors
Zachary Lown*
Grandson of Dr. Lown
Angie Bakke, MBA
Executive Director, Doctors for America
Nikitha Balaji
President, American Medical Student Association
David Bor, MD
Board Member, Lown Institute
Brian Campbell, PhD
Executive Director, Physicians for Social Responsibility
Fred Cerise, MD
President and CEO, Parkland Health
Lilia Cervantes, MD
Director of Immigrant Health, University of Colorado School of Medicine
(2024 BLASR Winner)
Emily Cleveland Manchanda, MD, MPH
Chief Equity Officer, American Medical Association
Lauren Doctoroff, MD, MBA
Governor, Massachusetts Chapter American College of Physicians
Harry Hayman
Trustee, Hayman Family Foundation
Yolanda Lawson, MD, FACOG
Past President, National Medical Association
Susan Rogers, MD, FACP
Past President, Physicians for a National Health Program
Selwyn Rogers Jr., MD
Board Member, Lown Institute
Annelise Silva-Chong, EdM
Immediate Past President, American Medical Student Association
Ed Weisbart, MD
National Board Secretary, Physicians for a National Health Program
Saman Zia-Zarifi, JD
Executive Director, Physicians for Human Rights
For sponsorship or other questions, contact lownaward@lowninstitute.org or (617) 992-9361.