The American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) announced that Nawal M. Nour, MD, MPH, Director of the Ambulatory Obstetrics Practice at the Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and the African Women's Health Center, is the 2012 recipient of the Lila A. Wallis Women's Health Award. The award will be presented at AMWA's 97th Annual Meeting, April 13-15, 2012 in Miami, FL.

Dr. Nawal M. Nour.  This Lila Wallis Women's Health Award honors an individual whose lifetime achievements, accomplishments, motivations, mentorship, energy and enthusiasm for women's healthcare, education, and research reflect the trailblazing achievements and influence in women's health exemplified by past AMWA President Lila A. Wallis, MD, MACP.

Dr. Nour established the African Women's Health Center.  It is devoted to the medical needs of African women who have undergone female genital cutting (FGC), also known as female circumcision. She helped develop a surgical procedure that can help alleviate some of the negative effects of FGC, such as urinary tract infections, painful menstrual periods, painful sexual intercourse, and difficulty conceiving and giving birth.

Born in Sudan and raised in Egypt and England, Dr. Nour attended Brown University. She received her medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed a chief residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.  She received the Commonwealth Fund/Harvard University Fellowship in Health Policy where she obtained her MPH at Harvard School of Public Health. She was also named a MacArthur Foundation Fellow in 2003.

"Nawal Nour has made it her lifelong mission to improve the health and well being of African women," said AMWA Awards Committee Chair Nancy R. Church, MD. "Her work has helped her patients heal both physically and emotionally. She is a true trailblazer and has shined a light on a horrific practice. AMWA is extremely honored that she has accepted this award."

AMWA presents an exciting program for its meeting, Achieving Success as Women in Medicine, on April 13-15, 2012, at the Sofitel Miami, Miami, Florida. Gloria Steinem and Rachel Naomi Remen, MD are keynote speakers. World experts on women's health and women's advancement lead workshop sessions.

The 2012 AMWA Awards are presented with support from Pfizer Inc. The awards include the Elizabeth Blackwell Award, the Woman in Science Award, the Lila A. Wallis Women's Health Award, the Bertha Van Hoosen Award, the Anne C. Carter Student Leadership Award and the Camille Mermod Award.

Delta Air Lines is the official airline of the meeting and is sponsoring the opening night reception with keynote speaker, Dr. Remen.

Learn more about the meeting.*

*This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essentials and Standards of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of Cleveland Clinic Florida and the American Medical Women's Association.

Cleveland Clinic Florida is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Cleveland Clinic Florida designates this live educational activity for a maximum of15.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)^TM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.