2027 Edition

Applications can be submitted using the application form that you can find by clicking here.

Deadline for applications: 2027 January 10^th

If you are not a member of the WADD but would like to submit your candidature, you can register as a member of the WADD (25€ per year) by clicking here.

Since January 2024, as part of the «Agreement of the Americas,» signed by the World Psychiatric Association, the American Psychiatric Association (WPA), the American Psychological Association of Latin America (APAL), the World Association for Dual Disorders, the Canadian Psychiatric Association, the American Society of Hispanic Psychiatry, Warming Mental Health, Promoting Mental Health in Females, the Spanish Society for Dual Disorders, and the Mexican Consortium of Neuropsychopharmacology, these awards were created as a posthumous tribute to Professor Pedro Ruiz, recognizing his significant contributions to psychiatry and dual disorders through three awards.

Since then, the WADD has led the presentation of these awards, which are given annually as a joint initiative, sometimes with the WPA, sometimes with APAL, APA and other scientific societies.

Background to the Awards

Professor Pedro Ruiz was a founding member and first president of the World Association on Dual Disorders (WADD), as well as a past president of both the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the World Psychiatric Association (WPA). After his passing, WADD governing bodies established these awards to honour his legacy, promote excellence in psychiatry, and inspire hope for individuals suffering from mental health challenges. These awards symbolise international recognition of his efforts to integrate psychiatry and train future professionals.

Award Categories

• “Pedro Ruiz Academic Fellowship on Psychiatry and Dual Disorders”: Recognises senior professionals with a distinguished career in psychiatry and dual disorders.
• “In the Footsteps of Pedro Ruiz” Award: Honors younger professionals making notable contributions to psychiatry and dual disorders.
• “Pedro Ruiz Award for Women’s Excellence in Dual Disorders”: recognises women demonstrating outstanding leadership and impact in the field.

The three awards are recognition awards and do not involve any grant or scholarship. The person selected will have distinguished themselves in the Dual Disorders field and will be recognized for having made significant contributions.

Nominees can apply for themselves to the Award by completing the form | clicking here. |.

Candidates’ selection methodology and criteria

Nominees are evaluated by an Evaluation Committee based on the following:

1. The nominee’s country must have an active Psychiatry and Addiction program (Dual Disorders) operating for at least two years.
2. Academic Fellowship Award candidates must have 20 or more years of experience in dual disorder research and/or treatment
3. “In the Footsteps” Award candidates must be under 45 years old with a minimum of five years of relevant experience.
4. Candidates for the Pedro Ruiz Award for Women’s Excellence in Dual Disorders must be women professionals with at least 10 years of relevant experience and a demonstrated record of leadership and significant impact in dual disorder research, treatment, education, or advocacy at the national or international level.
5. Nominees can be treatment providers, researchers, or educators, with demonstrable involvement in dual disorders.
6. Contributions must have significantly impacted the field within their country or internationally.
7. Required documentation includes a 200-word summary of achievements, a nomination form, and two letters of support detailing the nominee’s contributions.

The Evaluation Committee will be composed of four members and a Chair, who will have a casting vote in the event of a tie.

They will select one recipient for each category of Award.

Evaluation Criteria

• Years of experience in dual disorders care or research.
• Relevant academic publications, peer-reviewed publications as first author or co-author on addictions-mental health.
• Participation in International or Multicenter Projects related to addictions mental health.
• Number of national or international awards related to psychiatry or addiction treatment.
• Presentations about the topic of dual disorders.
• Quality, specificity, and strength of the letters of support, including concrete evidence of the nominee’s sustained contributions and their impact on dual disorder research, education, clinical practice, or treatment

Awards Presentation

The awards will be presented during the WADD Congress opening ceremony, which will take place in Madrid (Spain), on the 4th of March 2027 (time to be confirmed). Recipients will receive complimentary registration and an Academic Fellowship Award.