The Endocrine Society today announced it has chosen 13 leading endocrinologists as winners of its prestigious 2027 Laureate Awards, the top honors in the field.
Endocrinologists are scientists and medical doctors who specialize in unraveling the mysteries of hormone disorders to care for patients and treat diseases. These professionals have achieved breakthroughs in scientific discoveries and clinical care benefiting people with hundreds of conditions, including diabetes, thyroid disorders, obesity, hormone-related cancers, growth problems, osteoporosis and infertility.
Established in 1944, the Society’s Laureate Awards recognize the highest achievements in the endocrinology field, including groundbreaking research and innovations in clinical care. The Endocrine Society will present the awards to the winners at ENDO 2027, the Society’s annual meeting, being held June 5-7, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Endocrine Society’s 2027 Laureate Award winners are:
JoAnne S. Richards, MS, PhD
Edwin B. Astwood Award for Outstanding Research in Basic Science
Originally awarded from 1967 and renamed to honor the scientific contributions of the late Dr. Edwin B. Astwood, this award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of endocrinology via their outstanding basic science research. Richards is a Professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, who has shaped the field of reproductive endocrinology for more than five decades through groundbreaking discoveries that advanced understanding of ovarian development, ovulation and ovarian cancer. Her pioneering research identified key hormonal and molecular pathways that regulate ovarian function, including the role of estrogen and luteinizing hormone signaling, and led to the development of innovative mouse models that transformed ovarian cancer research. Her work continues to inform new insights into ovarian health, fertility and conditions such as Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), previously known as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).
Bagher Larijani, MD
International Excellence in Endocrinology Award
This award is presented to an endocrinologist who has made exceptional contributions to the field in geographic areas with underdeveloped resources for hormone health research, education, clinical practice or administration. Larijani is a Professor of Endocrinology and Director of the Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center (EMRC) of Tehran University of Medical Science (TUMS) in Tehran, Iran. He is an internationally recognized leader in endocrinology whose work has advanced diabetes care, endocrine research and medical education in Iran and beyond. As Director of the EMRC, he has championed a multidisciplinary approach to endocrinology, trained generations of clinicians and scientists and helped bridge the gap between basic and clinical research. His contributions have shaped global efforts to address diabetes, obesity and other noncommunicable diseases while improving access to comprehensive, patient-centered care.
Mirjam Christ-Crain, MD, PhD
Outstanding Clinical Investigator Award
This annual award honors an internationally recognized clinical investigator who has contributed significantly to understanding the pathogenesis and therapy of endocrine and metabolic diseases. Mirjam Christ-Crain of the University Hospital Basel in Basel, Switzerland, has transformed the diagnosis and treatment of vasopressin-related disorders through pioneering research that has directly improved patient care worldwide. Her work established copeptin-based testing as the new gold standard for diagnosing arginine vasopressin deficiency (formerly central diabetes insipidus) and introduced innovative treatment approaches for the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis (SIAD). By advancing both clinical practice and scientific understanding of these disorders, her research has set new international standards and opened promising avenues for addressing their physical and psychological impacts. She served as an Editorial Board Member for the Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism from 2020-2021.
Rebecca Adochio, MD
Vigersky Outstanding Clinical Practitioner Award
This annual award recognizes extraordinary contributions by a practicing endocrinologist to the endocrine and/or medical community. Rebecca Adochio is a dedicated endocrinologist, educator and healthcare leader whose commitment to personalized, compassionate care has improved the lives of patients across Colorado and the surrounding region. As Medical Director of Colorado Mountain Medical/Vail Health in Avon, Colo., she has expanded access to endocrine care, championed telehealth innovation and led community education programs focused on diabetes prevention and management. Her exceptional clinical expertise, mentorship and unwavering dedication to patient-centered care have made her a trusted leader in endocrinology and an advocate for advancing health in her community.
Amal Shibli-Rahhal, MD
Outstanding Educator Award
This annual award recognizes exceptional achievement as an educator in the discipline of endocrinology and metabolism. Amal Shibli-Rahhal is a Professor of Medicine and Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Curriculum at the Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. She is an innovative endocrinologist and nationally recognized medical educator whose leadership has advanced medical training from the classroom to clinical practice. In her current role, she has championed groundbreaking teaching methods, curriculum development and learner mentorship, inspiring future generations of physicians, including many who have pursued careers in endocrinology. Her contributions have elevated the role of endocrinologists as leaders in medical education and earned her numerous prestigious teaching and leadership honors. She is currently a member of the Endocrine Society’s In-Service Training Exam (ITE) Review Working Group and was previously a member of the Clinical Endocrine Education Committee.
Ghada El-Hajj Fuleihan, MD, MPH
Outstanding Mentor Award
This annual award recognizes a career commitment to mentoring and a significant positive impact on mentees’ education and career. Ghada El-Hajj Fuleihan is a Professor of Medicine at the American University of Beirut in Beirut, Lebanon, and a globally recognized leader in bone and mineral research whose dedication to education and mentorship has transformed clinical and translational research training across Lebanon and the Middle East. Through innovative programs at the American University of Beirut, including the NIH-funded Scholars in Health Research Program, she has trained hundreds of researchers and helped cultivate a new generation of physician-scientists working around the world. Her visionary leadership in medical education, osteoporosis research and fellowship development has had a lasting impact on endocrinology and strengthened research capacity across the region. She is currently an Editorial Board Member for the Journal of the Endocrine Society and a Board Representative for the Endocrine Society’s Global Engagement Advisory Group.
Anuja Dokras, MD, MHCI, PhD
Outstanding Scholarly Physician Award
This annual award recognizes outstanding contributions to the practice of clinical endocrinology in academic settings. Anuja Dokras is a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Penn., and an internationally recognized leader in women’s health whose pioneering research and clinical leadership have transformed the understanding and care of Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), previously known as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). She established one of the first multidisciplinary PMOS centers in the United States and advanced research on the long-term health impacts of the condition, including its links to mental health and cardiovascular disease, and played a key role in developing international PMOS guidelines. Through her scientific contributions, advocacy efforts and mentorship, she has improved care for patients worldwide and helped shape the future of PMOS research and education.
Rafael Arrojo e Drigo, PhD
Richard E. Weitzman Outstanding Early Career Investigator Award
This annual award recognizes an exceptionally promising young clinical or basic investigator. Rafael Arrojo e Drigo of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., is an internationally recognized endocrinologist whose innovative research has transformed our understanding of thyroid hormone biology, diabetes and the biology of aging. By integrating cutting-edge technologies across molecular, cellular and whole-organism systems, he has uncovered fundamental mechanisms that regulate hormone signaling, pancreatic islet function and metabolic health. His pioneering discovery of “age mosaicism,” which revealed how aging is spatially and biologically regulated within tissues, has reshaped scientific understanding of aging and opened new avenues for research into human health and disease.
Shalender Bhasin, MD
Roy O. Greep Award for Outstanding Research
This annual award recognizes meritorious contributions to research in endocrinology. Bhasin is a Professor and Chief at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Mass., and a world-renowned leader in reproductive endocrinology whose groundbreaking research has transformed the understanding and clinical use of testosterone therapy. Through landmark clinical trials and fundamental discoveries in hormone biology, he established key standards for diagnosing and treating hypogonadism, clarified the benefits and risks of testosterone therapy, and advanced the development of new treatments for muscle loss associated with aging and disease. His influential research, clinical guidelines, and leadership have shaped endocrine practice worldwide and improved care for millions of patients. He is currently the Chair of the Endocrine Society’s Men’s Health Special Interest Group and its Testosterone Therapy in Men with Hypogonadism Guideline Writing Committee.
Stephanie Seminara, MD
Gerald D. Aurbach Award for Outstanding Translational Research
This annual award recognizes outstanding contributions to research that accelerates the transition of scientific discoveries into clinical applications. Seminara is a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Chief of the Reproductive Endocrine Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Mass. She also directs the P50 Harvard National Center for Translational Research in Reproduction and Infertility. She is a reproductive endocrinologist and translational investigator who utilizes genetics and novel peptide probes to generate novel insights into sexual maturation and develop new diagnostic tools for reproductive disorders. The focus of her investigative program is the elucidation of hypothalamic pathways that control human reproduction, including the genetic architecture of human puberty and fertility. Seminara treats both men and women with a wide range of reproductive endocrine disorders.
Aliya Khan, MD, FRCP, FACP
Outstanding Leadership in Endocrinology Award
This award is presented in recognition of outstanding leadership in fundamental or clinical endocrinology as exemplified by the recipient’s contributions and those of his or her trainees and associates to teaching, research, and/or administration. Aliya Khan is a globally recognized leader in endocrinology whose contributions have advanced the diagnosis and treatment of complex metabolic bone and parathyroid disorders. Through her leadership in developing international, evidence-based clinical guidelines, pioneering work on novel therapies, and creation of a world-class metabolic bone disease fellowship program, she has improved patient care and trained a new generation of endocrine specialists around the world. Her commitment to education, research and mentorship has left a lasting legacy in advancing endocrine care on a global scale.
Nominations for the 2028 Laureate Awards will open later this fall.
