The Central States Occupational and Environmental Medicine Association’s National Leadership Award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the specialty and has taken steps to promote the specialty on a national level through research, education and/or by increasing awareness of the value of the specialty. This individual has gone beyond medical practice to positively influence the specialty and this individual’s efforts serve as a voice for the specialty among their peers. Their efforts demonstrate leadership, commitment and dedication in advancing the goals of the specialty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. This award is not limited to members of CSOEMA and may be presented to individuals outside of the CSOEMA membership. The CSOEMA National Leadership Award was created in 1989 and was originally called the Robert R.J. Hilker Lecture.