Marjorie Karmel Award
Background/Description: Marjorie was a co-founder and a source of inspiration to give parents a voice in the field of childbirth education.  Dr. Lamaze trained Marjorie in France where she wrote Thank you, Dr. Lamaze after the birth of her first child in the 50's.  This award symbolizes the love and dedication toward the promotion of normal birth, family center maternity care and parenting concerns.  This award recognizes the recipient's dedication to the principles of Lamaze International and his/her efforts towards parent's issues.  The recipient should be a parent member of Lamaze or serve parents and parent concerns.

Elisabeth Bing Award
Background/Description: Elisabeth Bing is the founding member of Lamaze International.  She is also one of the best-known leaders in childbirth education today.  She has been helping women and their partners prepare for the experience of childbirth for nearly 40 years.  She is responsible for introducing and popularizing Lamaze as the gold standard of childbirth education.   This award is "to honor members who have made outstanding contributions in the field of childbirth education."  This award is presented to an LCCE for his/her dedication to the prinicples of Lamaze International and his/her contributions in the field of childbirth education and recognized nationally/internationally for his/her efforts.

Irwin Chabon Award
Background/Description: Irwin Chabon was an early Lamaze International Board Member.  In the 1960s, he was the first physician to write a book about psychoprophylaxis.  He was a pioneer in accepting the philosophy of prepared childbirth classes and in getting fathers into the labor and delivery rooms in New York City.  This award recognizes a care provider's dedication to the principles of Lamaze International and his/her efforts on behalf of childbirth education.

The Research Award
Background/Description: This award is to honor the person or organization that, through thier research, has significantly contributed to the field of childbirth education and normal birth.  This major award encourages and highlights research in the field of childbirth education or research that will have a positive impact on what is taught in childbirth classes.

The Lamaze International President's Award
Background/Description: This award is given at the discretion of the President to an individual or organization who embodies the spirit of the organization's mission and vision, improving the quality of care for mothers, babies and families.

The Normal Birth Advocate Award
Background/Description: This award is given to an individual or organization that have made a significant contruibution to childbearing women and their families through the promotion of normal birth.

Outreach Award
Background/Description: This award is given to innovative community based programs or leaders that have "reached out" to communities and/or women who are not touched by traditional Lamaze childbirth education programs.

International Award
Background/Description: Lamaze International envisions a world filled with confident women choosing normal birth.  In order to accomplish this goal, individuals must extend Lamaze beyond their own country's borders.  This award is presented to organizations or an individual who facilitates the development and implementation of Lamaze programs internationally.

Normal Birth Media Award
Background/Description: This is an award for Lamaze International to honor individuals or organizations that present normal birth and/or Lamaze International in a positive light in the mass media.

Nomination Guidelines

For individual awards, please submit the nominee's current vita/resume, description of significant contributions and how the nominee meets criteria for the award.  The Award Review Committee will select award recipients and the President will appoint them.

Awards will presented at the Lamaze International Annual Conference.  Award recipients will be notified in advance so that they can make plans to attend if they have not done so already.

Deadline for Award Nominations: June 1

Submit Nominations to: 
Lamaze International
2025 M Street, NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC  20036

Email: info@lamaze.org