Our Vision: The AAMI Foundation is dedicated to advancing the professional development of health technology professionals and the safety of technology to improve health.
Mission: The AAMI Foundation achieves its vision through the awarding of scholarships, awards, grants, and other endeavors to strengthen the knowledge of health technology professionals.
The Evolution of the AAMI Foundation
Since 1967, the AAMI Foundation has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars to deserving students, researchers, and healthcare technology professionals—all of whom are seeking to improve patient safety. But during the last five decades, the focus of the Foundation has evolved and shifted as the industry needs have changed. For the first four decades, the Foundation focused primarily on funding awards and lectures. In 2009, it expanded with the creation of the Michael J. Miller Scholarship Program. Named after AAMI’s first president, the program awards annual scholarships to healthcare technology management (HTM) students pursuing careers as clinical engineers, systems engineers, and biomedical equipment technicians. The program is funded through the support of industry and individual donors.
The Next Phase
In 2010, the Foundation expanded considerably with the creation of the Healthcare Technology Safety Institute (HTSI). HTSI was established to undertake some of the outcomes of the AAMI/FDA summits and drive expert-based coalitions to the publication of best practices in the safe use of health technologies. In 2015, the HTSI title was dropped to eliminate confusion between projects under HTSI and those under the AAMI Foundation. For the period of 2010 through 2017, the AAMI Foundation’s efforts largely focused on expanding the expert-based coalition business model and applying it to mission-related topics. Funding was received primarily from industry grantors with an interest in the topics. AAMI also gifted the AAMI Foundation $3 million to support a program of grants for research into safety in the use of health technology. The grant program was named after AAMI’s second president, Mary K. Logan.
Today’s Focus
In 2019, the AAMI Board of Directors—at the recommendation of the AAMI Foundation Board—agreed to refocus and expand the Foundation’s work on scholarships, awards, grants, and educational initiatives that fit within its mission and objectives. The Foundation works closely with its sole member, the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation.
AAMI Foundation Philanthropy
Janet Prust
Operations
Ralph Basile
Philanthropy
Foundation Awards and Grants
AAMI Foundation & HSEA Scholarship
The AAMI Foundation, in partnership with the Health Systems Engineering Alliance (HSEA), awards one health systems engineer scholarship each year. The scholarship is worth $3,000 and is awarded in a one-time, lump sum check to each scholarship winner at the AAMI Exchange. Each applicant is only eligible for one scholarship awarded by AAMI in a given year.
AAMI Foundation Kilmer Research Grant
AAMI Foundation Kilmer Scholarship Fund
The AAMI Foundation, through its Kilmer Fund Committee, awards academic scholarships to individuals pursuing a profession in the area of microbiological quality and sterility assurance. Individuals might be pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees in industrial or medical microbiology, pharmacy, engineering (chemical, electrical, packaging, mechanical, or biomedical), physics or related fields.
AAMI Foundation Mary Logan Research Grant
AAMI Foundation Michael J. Miller Scholarship Program
AAMI Foundation & TRIMEDX John D. Hughes Iconoclast Award
John Hughes was a longtime AAMI member and leader - a former member of the AAMI Board of Directors, the BI&T Editorial Board, TMC, the Annual Conference Planning Committee, and countless other committees and task forces. John was also one of the early adopters of bridging the gap between clinical engineering and information technology. He worked at the Washington Hospital Center, as well as Bon Secours Health System, as corporate director for contract administration before retiring. The ultimate iconoclast, John never hesitated to speak his mind, argue his point, and push for new and unconventional approaches and thinking to healthcare technology.
In honor of John Hughes, this award recognizes an individual who pushes the boundaries of the HTM professional and demonstrates individual excellence, achievement, and leadership.
Above all else, this award recognizes individuals with critical thinking skills, who have demonstrated a willingness to speak up and challenge the norm for the betterment of the HTM field. Thanks to the generous support of TRIMEDX, this award includes a plaque and a $1,000 check to be presented at the AAMI Exchange.
AAMI Foundation & Institute for Technology in Health Care Clinical Solution Award
AAMI Foundation & ACCE Robert L. Morris Humanitarian Award
AAMI Foundation Laufman Greatbatch Award
This is AAMI's most prestigious award. Named after two pioneers in the field—Harold Laufman, MD and Wilson Greatbatch, PhD—this highly regarded award honors an individual or group that has made a unique and significant contribution to the advancement of healthcare technology and systems, service, patient care, or patient safety.
The award includes a $5,000 check and a plaque to be presented at the AAMI Exchange.
Donate
How to support the AAMI Foundation
The AAMI Foundation is a nonprofit, politically neutral 501(c)(3) organization that provides evidence-based, best-in-class practices regarding the use of healthcare technology and related systems. We rely upon your support to ensure our multiple stakeholders have access to information that is crucial to creating a safe healthcare environment for themselves and others.
Since 1967, the Foundation has worked alongside our affiliate, AAMI, to generate and to promote the safe use of complex healthcare technology. Patient safety and positive outcomes are a result of sound policies and mindful execution. With the increasing availability of technology health-ware, we all must work together with a shared common vision of a safe healthcare ecosystem.
Our work would not be possible without the support we receive from individuals, private foundations, corporations, and government agencies. We invite you to support our mission by making a contribution to the AAMI Foundation.
Ways to give
There are many ways to help secure the Foundation’s commitment to reduce patient harm and to improve patient outcomes for decades to come.
We welcome gifts by cash, check, wire transfer, stock transfer, donor-advised fund, and IRA rollover. We also would be happy to discuss arrangements for making a deferred gift from your estate or a combination of any of these forms. Please contact us as we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
For more information or to have a conversation about how you can become involved, please contact the Foundation staff at info@aamifoundation.org.
Non-US Resident Information
If you do not have a U.S. home address and would like to give, please contact Ralph Basile at RBasile@aamifoundation.org
Individual Giving
Corporate Sponsorship
AAMI Foundation Board of Directors
Heidi Horn
Chair
Heidi Horn HTM Consulting LLC
Pamela Arora
President and CEO
AAMI
Walt Rosebrough
Vice Chair
STERIS
Sheila O'Donnell
Director
Gerry McDonnell
Treasurer
Johnson & Johnson
Lawrence W. Hertzler, CCE, AAMIF
Director
Kurt Finke, CE
Director
Byron Lambert
Director
Martell Winters
Director
Ira Lapides
Director
RPI/Healthcare
Components Group
Dawn Griffin
Director
Steve Yelton, PE, CHTM, AAMIF
Director