Trailblazer Award for Excellence in Medicine

Breaking Barriers. Celebrating Excellence. Inspiring Change.

The World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO) is now accepting nominations for the Trailblazer Award for Excellence in Medicine, recognizing exceptional women leaders who are shaping the future of medicine.

Nomination Deadline: 22 July 2026.

Overview of the Award

The WGO Trailblazer Award recognizes an outstanding woman in medicine who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and impact in advancing healthcare, education, research, mentorship, or advocacy. This award honors women who are not only leaders in their field but are also paving new paths for future generations of women in medicine.

Trailblazers are defined by their courage to challenge the status quo, their commitment to improving patient care and health systems, and their dedication to mentoring and uplifting others—particularly women and underrepresented groups in medicine. A trailblazer not only shatters barriers but also redefines what is possible for women in medicine.

The award celebrates both professional excellence and transformative influence, highlighting women whose work extends beyond personal achievement to create lasting change. 

The Trailblazer Award is presented during the Women in GI Session in conjunction with each World Congress of Gastroenterology. The next awards ceremony will take place during the upcoming World Congress of Gastroenterology from 30 September to 3 October 2026 in New Delhi, India.

Recipients of the Trailblazer Award will receive an engraved plaque to be presented at the 2026 World Congress and featured in an upcoming issue of e-WGN.

Eligibility

• Open to women physicians, researchers, or healthcare leaders who are members of a WGO Member Society. Nominators are asked to nominate candidates who are clearly recognized as leaders in gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy or related disciplines in their region or internationally.

Nomination Submission Requirements

• Brief curriculum vitae (CV)
• 500-word statement on why the individual is a “Trailblazer,” including examples that support the criteria in the award overview. Please also include a summary of the nominee’s contributions to gastroenterology, to WGO and to their community.
• Nominations may be submitted by any member of WGO, by the selection committee or self-submitted by the nominee
   

Selection Process

A Selection Committee chaired by the Past President of WGO will review the nominations received and select one recipient per region for this year’s award, to be ratified by the Governing Council.

Candidates will be notified at the end of July 2026.

The deadline to submit nominations is Wednesday, 22 July 2026. Nominations can only be submitted online via Jot Form.          

Should you have any questions or comments, please contact: Marissa Lopez, WGO Executive Director, at mlopez@worldgastroenterology.org.  

Part 1: Nominee Information

Part 2: Nominee Submission Requirements

Nominations may be submitted by any member of WGO, by the selection committee or self-nominated.

Part 3: Selection Process:

A Selection Committee chaired by the Past President of WGO will review the nominations received and select one recipient per region for this year’s award, to be ratified by the Governing Council.

Candidates will be notified in July.