( Added: February 1, 2010 )  -  As the leading professional society devoted exclusively to pain, pain management and pain research, the American Pain Society sponsors the Kathleen M. Foley Journalist Award to recognize excellence in reporting pain-related topics. The award is designed to honor the work of journalists whose coverage of events, scientific discoveries, patient care, issues and policies contribute to furthering public awareness and understanding of pain and pain-related issues.

APS is accepting applications for the 2010 Foley Award, which will be presented at the APS Annual Scientific Meeting in Baltimore, May 6-8. Nominations will be accepted until Feb. 15. Eligibility is limited to work published or broadcast from Jan.1 to Dec. 31, 2009 by journalists who receive at least 50 percent of their income from journalistic activity, either as an employee of an independent media outlet or free-lancer. Entrants are allowed to submit a single article or broadcast piece or a series of stories or columns on specific pain, pain research and pain-management topics.

The APS award is named for Dr. Foley in recognition of her contributions to furthering professional and public understanding about the need for effective cancer and end-of-life pain management. She is an attending neurologist for the Pain and Palliative Care Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York and director of the Project on Death in America sponsored by the Open Society Institute.

Nominations can be submitted by journalists and by APS members on behalf of a journalist. Applications are reviewed by an independent panel of APS leaders.

Website: http://www.ampainsoc.org/awards/