Each year, the AAHP and ABHP recognize individuals who exemplify excellence in health physics and demonstrate exceptional service to the Academy, the Board, and the broader profession. Please join us on Tuesday, July 15, for the AAHP and ABHP Awards Luncheon, where we will celebrate the 2025 award recipients, honor our newest Certified Health Physicists (CHPs), and thank our dedicated volunteer leaders. The luncheon will take place from 12:00 to 2:00 pm CT at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison, Wisconsin.
Advance registration is required by July 9 to reserve your seat:
https://www.aahp-abhp.org/civicrm/event/info/?reset=1&id=47
Among this year’s honorees is James P. Tarzia, CHP, recipient of the William A. McAdams Outstanding Service Award. Jay has left a lasting impact on nearly every corner of the profession—from local chapter leadership and national standard-setting bodies to decades of service with the AAHP and ABHP. A CHP since 1990, he served on the ABHP Part I Panel and Board, including as Chair, and later as AAHP President. He has also played an integral role in public health and policy, chairing the New Hampshire State Radiation Advisory Committee for more than 30 years and supporting post-Fukushima nuclear guidance at the international level. His sustained leadership, mentorship, and technical excellence reflect the very spirit of the McAdams Award.
The Joyce P. Davis Memorial Award will be presented to Ruth McBurney, CHP, whose leadership spans across state, national, and international platforms. As Executive Director of the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD), Ruth has brought an ethics-first approach to radiation protection. She is a past President of the Health Physics Society, a former Chair of the ABHP, and has held key roles with the IAEA, NCRP, and IRPA. Ruth’s career has combined regulatory depth, public service, and international collaboration—making her a highly respected role model throughout the field.
Wayne Gaul, CHP will be recognized with the Nancy K. Johnson National Service Award for his unwavering service as AAHP Treasurer. During a time of operational transition, Wayne’s leadership brought financial stability, streamlined reporting processes, and strategic investment insight. His resolve in addressing a tax filing issue with the IRS and his forward-looking approach to the Academy’s long-term financial health were critical contributions that will continue to benefit the organization well into the future.
The Bill Fitzgerald Service Award will be presented to Rodican P. Reed, CHP, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the ABHP during the immediate past Chair’s term. Known for his willingness to take on complex challenges, Rod led the overhaul of ABHP’s procedural framework, coordinating updates to core documents such as the Prospectus, work instructions for both Part I and Part II Panels, and Board procedures. A CHP since 1996, Rod has previously served as Part I Panel Chair and now sits on the Board as Parliamentarian. His thoughtfulness, technical rigor, and steady leadership have had a transformative impact on the Board’s operations
This year’s Distinguished Membership recognition honors five CHPs who have each provided more than two decades of exemplary service to the AAHP, ABHP, and the broader profession. We are proud to recognize Joyce Davis, Howard Dickson, Kyle R. Kleinhans, Charles Roessler, and J. Newell Stannard as 2025 Distinguished Members.
We hope you will join us in Madison as we recognize these outstanding individuals and celebrate their many contributions to the health physics community.