2019 Visionary Leaders Awards Reception and Symposium

Physicians for Social Responsibility is delighted to host the Visionary Leaders Awards Reception and Symposium on Thursday, November 7th, 2019 in Washington, DC. Now in its fourth year, the Visionary Leaders Awards recognizes individuals and/or organizations for their exemplary efforts in advancing nuclear weapons abolition and/or addressing environmental risks to human health, including the catastrophic consequences caused by climate change, through collaborations that strengthen the PSR mission.

The reception will be held at the Ronald Reagan Building, and we anticipate the attendance of over 200 health professionals, advocates, elected officials, and educators from across the country. Our honorees include: Marylia Kelley, Co-Founder and Executive Director of TriValley CAREs (Communities Against a Radioactive Environment), Kelly Campbell and Regna Merritt, Chapter Leaders of Oregon PSR and the Sunrise Movement, a youth-led nonprofit pushing immediate political action on climate change. 

This is a particularly momentous occasion as PSR will also be presenting Dr. Helen Caldicott with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her internationally renowned work to educate the public about the health hazards of nuclear war. Dr. Caldicott served as the President of PSR from 1978-1983 and helped revive the organization; she also founded several prominent nuclear abolition organizations including WAND (Women's Action for New Directors, formerly Women's Action for Nuclear Disarmament).

Dr. Caldicott currently spends time between her home in Australia and the United States and was named one of the most influential women of the 20th century by the Ladies' Home Journal. She will share her decades of expertise as the keynote speaker for the Visionary Leaders Symposium, a panel of women leaders discussing the existential threats of nuclear war and climate change to human health and survival. The Visionary Leaders Symposium will occur from 2:00pm-4:00pm, followed by the Visionary Leaders Awards Reception from 6:00pm-9:00pm. 

If you'd like to make a fully tax-deductible donation in honor of Dr. Caldicott, sponsor a student ticket or donate in lieu of attending, please visit: psr.org/vladonations and comment "Dr. Caldicott" "Sponsor Student" or "VLA Donation" to outline the purpose of your gift. 

For event sponsorship opportunities, please contact PSR's Director of Philanthropy, Cheryl Sam, at csam@psr.org or (202) 587-5239. We greatly appreciate your financial support for this prestigious occasion. 

We look forward to seeing you in Washington, D.C. on November 7th!