In 1989, in its thirtieth year, the American Board of Health Physics established an annual award to honor a Certified Health Physicist who had made a significant contribution toward the advancement of professionalism in Health Physics and to the Certification process. The award was named for one of the founders of the Certification Process, William A. McAdams.

The Advisory Committee on the Medical Use of Isotopes (ACMUI) examined this issue in more detail and developed recommendations on revisions to the training and experience requirements for Part 35 RSO's. Richard Vetter, ACMUI member, solicited input from the ABHP, the American Board of Radiology (ABR), the American Board of Medical Physics (ABMP), and the American Board of Scientists in Nuclear Medicine (ABSNM) in developing these recommendations. A consolidated position was developed which specifically listed certifications of the ABHP, ABMP, ABR, and ABSNM as meeting the training and experience requirements for RSO's on Part 35 licenses.

Mr. McAdams' career began in the Manhattan District at the Metallurgical Laboratory at the University of Chicago in 1943. He then moved on to Hanford where he worked for General Electric as Manager of Radiation Protection Services under Herb Parker from 1951-55. He was promoted to a Radiation Protection Consultant at Large for the GE Corporation and relocated to GE in Schenectady, NY. He ultimately became the corporate GE manager of Industry Standards.

He was a member of the Board of Directors of what is now ANSI and active in the ISO and IEC (he was vice-president of the IEC for a time). He served for a decade (1957-67) on the NCRP.

The early actions of the HPS Board of Directors regarding the initial period are described in the HPS Member handbook. To summarize, a committee was established to study the need for certification. William McAdams served on this committee. When the committee's recommendations were approved, the HPS appointed a temporary ABHP on November 8, 1958 and appointed William McAdams as the Chairman.

When the HPS Board of Directors formally established the ABHP through a Bylaws change, William McAdams was again appointed Chairman. The other members of the initial Board were C. Maurice Patterson, Elda Anderson, Lauriston Taylor, and John Laughlin. Mr. McAdams also was responsible for obtaining the New York State charter for the Board.

Mr. McAdams is believed to have died in 1995.

The committee that did the groundwork for the award in 1989 contacted a number of CHPs who had been involved in the early days of the certification process. Two individuals were repeatedly identified as playing the pivotal roles in the original Health Physics Society Certification Committee and the initial ABHP Board. Correspondence of the award committee stated "Elda Anderson was probably the driving spirit behind the whole movement. Bill McAdams apparently was the ram rod that made things happen."

Any CHP is eligible for the award. Nominees shall be CHPs who have served the health physics community through outstanding and extended work on the ABHP Examination Panels, ABHP Board, AAHP Continuing Education Committee, AAHP Executive Committee, other AAHP committees, teaching or other assistance in increasing knowledge of HPs, or other areas that enhance the professionalism of health physics. This award may be bestowed posthumously.

Individuals are encouraged to nominate worthy CHPs using the nomination form located on the academy website (www.aahp-abhp.org). Many thanks to Ron Kathren, Frazier Bronson, and Howard Dickson for providing historical information for this article.