Wallace H. Coulter Award for Lifetime Achievement in Hematology

First awarded in 2007, the Wallace H. Coulter Award for Lifetime Achievement in Hematology, the Society's highest honor, recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a lasting commitment to the field of hematology. The Coulter Award is bestowed upon a contemporary giant in the field that fundamentally changed the way hematology is practiced through research, education, clinical activities, and successful mentoring of the next generation of hematologists. Past recipients’ achievements are reflective of the extremely high caliber of individuals to be considered. This award does not include a plenary lecture.

If you know someone who meets the criteria for this award, please complete and submit a nomination form.

Wallace H. Coulter

Mr. Coulter was a prolific inventor and entrepreneur best known for developing the Coulter Principle — a technology used to count and size cells or particles as they flow through an aperture. The Coulter Principle led to major breakthroughs in science, medicine, and industry. Its first application, the Coulter Counter, provided the first high-throughput, standardized method to count different types of blood cells, revolutionizing the medical community's ability to screen for diseases through a simple blood test. The use of the Coulter Principle also modernized industry by establishing the reference method for quality control and standardization of particles used in paint, ceramics, toners, chocolate, beer, and even the purity of rocket fuel.

Wallace H. Coulter Foundation

The Wallace H. Coulter Foundation is dedicated to improving health care through medical research and engineering. Through its partnership with ASH, the foundation has supported numerous programs that further this mission, with an emphasis on funding programs in areas of the world with limited resources. To learn more about the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation, visit www.whcf.org.

Key Dates

Nomination Deadline for Wallace H. Coulter AwardJuly 15, 2026
Award Notification for RecipientsMarch 2027
Presentation of Awards for RecipientsDecember 2027

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

  • Nominees and nominators do not need to be ASH members to be considered.
  • Nominees of all nationalities and all countries of residence are eligible; however, all nomination materials must be submitted in English.

Exclusion

  • Self-nominations and posthumous nominations will not be accepted.
  • Past recipients are not eligible for the same award.
  • Recipients may only receive one honorific award per year.
  • Voting members of the ASH Executive Committee and the ASH Awards Committee are ineligible for an honorific award during their tenure.

Additional Guidance

Before getting started, please review the Honorific Award Nomination Guidance document, which provides detailed information about each award and guidance on crafting an effective nomination letter.

The following documents are required in order to submit a nomination package:

  • A completed nomination form
  • A copy of the nominee's current CV or a copy of the nominee's NIH biosketch (preferred) annotated with “Contributions to Science,” if available
  • A two-page letter of nomination summarizing the nominee's contributions to hematology, explaining how those contributions have advanced the field, and describing why the nominee deserves the specific honorific Award (please refer to the Honorific Award Nomination Guidance document for recommendations on writing an effective nomination letter)
  • Optional: One additional two-page letter of support will be accepted but is not required; multiple people are allowed to sign one letter.

Questions?

For assistance or more information about ASH honorific awards, please contact the Awards Department at awards@hematology.org.