Trade Associations
Here's a look at documents from national and international trade associations
Featured Stories
Small Businesses Seek to Protect Shipping Industry at Supreme Court
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 [Category: Business] -- The National Federation of Independent Business issued the following news release:
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Small Businesses Seek to Protect Shipping Industry at Supreme Court
NFIB filed an amicus brief in the case Shawn Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC, et al. at the United States Supreme Court. The case questions whether freight brokers can be held liable under state law for a contracted motor carrier's negligent hiring decisions. NFIB joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce along with several other business groups in filing the brief, which emphasizes the critical
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 [Category: Business] -- The National Federation of Independent Business issued the following news release:
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Small Businesses Seek to Protect Shipping Industry at Supreme Court
NFIB filed an amicus brief in the case Shawn Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC, et al. at the United States Supreme Court. The case questions whether freight brokers can be held liable under state law for a contracted motor carrier's negligent hiring decisions. NFIB joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce along with several other business groups in filing the brief, which emphasizes the criticalrole that freight brokers play in today's shipping industry.
"Businesses of all sizes use freight brokers to coordinate the shipment of their products," said Beth Milito, Vice President and Executive Director of NFIB's Small Business Legal Center. "These brokers function as middlemen, helping connect businesses with trucking companies and arranging shipments. While their importance in transporting goods cannot be overstated, their role remains limited. Making freight brokers liable for the actions of the carriers they contract with will increase costs for brokers, the dependent small businesses, and consumers."
The business amicus brief argues two main points: 1) the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act preempts state tort suits against brokers and 2) permitting broker liability for negligently hiring a motor carrier would impose enormous costs on the shipping industry without improving safety, because those involved in motor carrier selection have no effective way to monitor those motor carriers and the nation's roadways are already extensively regulated.
The NFIB Small Business Legal Center protects the rights of small business owners in the nation's courts. NFIB is currently active in more than 40 cases in federal and state courts across the country and in the U.S. Supreme Court.
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Original text here: https://www.nfib.com/news/press-release/small-businesses-seek-to-protect-shipping-industry-at-supreme-court/
Over Three Dozen Groups Join the Biosimilars Council and AAM to Reiterate Support for Interchangeability Legislation
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- The Association for Accessible Medicines issued the following news release:
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Over Three Dozen Groups Join the Biosimilars Council and AAM to Reiterate Support for Interchangeability Legislation
Call for passage of Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act
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The Biosimilars Council and the Association for Accessible Medicines sent a follow up letter to U.S. Senate and House health committee leaders in support of the Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act. The letter was signed by over three dozen leading advocacy groups representing health care, patients, consumers, employers,
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- The Association for Accessible Medicines issued the following news release:
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Over Three Dozen Groups Join the Biosimilars Council and AAM to Reiterate Support for Interchangeability Legislation
Call for passage of Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act
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The Biosimilars Council and the Association for Accessible Medicines sent a follow up letter to U.S. Senate and House health committee leaders in support of the Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act. The letter was signed by over three dozen leading advocacy groups representing health care, patients, consumers, employers,taxpayers, and policy think tanks.
The group sent a letter of support this past July. Since then, bicameral, bipartisan legislation has been introduced and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary announced plans to finalize guidance eliminating the requirement for switching studies and reiterated the FDA's recommendation that Congress remove this unnecessary distinction.
"There is no clinically meaningful difference between biosimilar and interchangeable biosimilar medicines. Interchangeability is a designation created by legislative language instead of science, doesn't exist in any other country," said John Murphy III, President and CEO of AAM. "We are thankful to the bill sponsors in the House and the Senate as well as the many groups who have joined us."
The letter reads: "Now that there has been bicameral, bipartisan introduction of the Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act by Representatives August Pfluger (R-TX) and Greg Landsman (D-OH) (H.R. 5526) as well as Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) (S. 1954), on behalf of patients, providers, taxpayers, and consumers, we urge you to advance this crucial legislation. The Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act would remove the distinction between biosimilars and interchangeable biosimilars. In doing so, the legislation would increase patient access to essential biosimilar medications and reduce healthcare costs."
Alex Keeton, Executive Director Biosimilars Council said, "The Biosimilars Council welcomes this positive momentum and calls on Congress to pass the Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act. This will clear up confusion, streamline the approval process, and get critical medicines to patients faster."
Since biosimilars first entered the market in 2015, they have generated savings of more than $56 billion and have been used in more than 3.3 billion days of patient therapy with no clinically meaningful differences in patient safety or outcomes. Biosimilar competition has expanded patient access by nearly 500 million days of therapy.
Dr. Yim Sarah Yim, M.D., director of the FDA's Office of New Drugs' Office of Therapeutic Biologics and Biosimilars, pointed at our GRx+Biosims conference, "Put simply, an interchangeable designation only impacts ease of access, not the quality of the drug."
The letter continues, "Unfortunately, the statutory distinction between biosimilars and interchangeable biosimilars continues to generate confusion and misinformation about the safety of biosimilar medicines. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has consistently affirmed that there is no scientific difference between biosimilars and interchangeable biologics. Most recently, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H., announced the Agency's intent to finalize guidance eliminating the requirement for switching studies and reiterated the FDA's recommendation that Congress remove this unnecessary distinction. The Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act is consistent with FDA's science-based recommendation and represents an important step toward building confidence and streamlining patient access to biosimilar medicines."
The letter was sent to Senators Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Sanders (I-VT), chair and ranking member of the Senate Health Committee, and Representatives Guthrie (R-AL) and Pallone (D-NJ), chair and ranking member of the U.S. House Committee on Energy & Commerce.
The letter is signed by: Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy; AffirmedRx; AHIP; Allergy & Asthma Network; Alliance of Community Health Plans; Americans for Prosperity; American Society for Health-System Pharmacists; Blue Cross Blue Shield Association; Blue Shield of CA; Campaign for Sustainable Rx Pricing; CancerCare; Consumer Action; CVS Health; Economic Alliance for Michigan; Heartland Impact; Heritage Action for America; Kaiser Permanente; LIBRE Initiative; National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions; National Association of Chain Drug Stores; National Association of Hispanic Nurses; National Consumers League; National Hispanic Health Foundation; National Patient Advocate Foundation; Prime Therapeutics; Public Citizen; Public Sector HealthCare Roundtable; Spina Bifida Association; Taxpayers Protection Alliance; The Bipartisan Policy Center; The ERISA Industry Committee; The Heartland Institute; The Mended Hearts, Inc.; The R Street Institute; Transparency-Rx; U.S. PIRG; Washington Health Alliance.
AAM letter to Congressional Committees in Support of the Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act (https://accessiblemeds.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Group-Support-Letter_Advance-BRTEA_012126.pdf)
2025 AAM letter to Congressional Committees in Support of the Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act (https://accessiblemeds.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Group-Support-Letter_Biosimilar-Red-Tape-Elimination-Act-07-07-25-v2-Final.pdf)
AAM Applauds Introduction of the Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act (https://biosimilarscouncil.org/news/the-biosimilar-council-applauds-bipartisan-senate-legislation-to-eliminate-the-arbitrary-distinction-between-interchangeable-biologics-and-biosimilars/)
U.S. Generic & Biosimilar Medicines Savings Report (https://accessiblemeds.org/resources/blog/2025-savings-report)
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About AAM
The Association for Accessible Medicines, your generics and biosimilars industry, is driven by the belief that access to safe, quality, effective medicine has a tremendous impact on a person's life and the world around them. AAM represents the manufacturers of finished generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars, manufacturers of bulk pharmaceutical chemicals, and suppliers of other goods and services to the generic industry. Generic pharmaceuticals are 90 percent of prescriptions dispensed in the U.S. but only 12 percent of total drug spending.
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About the Biosimilars Council
The Biosimilars Council, a division of the Association for Accessible Medicines, works to ensure a positive environment for patient access to biosimilar medicines. The Biosimilars Council is the leading source for information about the safety and efficacy of more affordable alternatives to costly brand biologic medicines. Areas of focus include public and health expert education, government affairs, legal affairs, and regulatory policy. More information is available biosimilarscouncil.org.
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INFODOC: https://accessiblemeds.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Group-Support-Letter_Advance-BRTEA_012126.pdf
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Original text here: https://accessiblemeds.org/resources/press-releases/over-three-doze-groups-joins-biosimilars-council-aam-support-interchangeability-legislation/
[Category: Pharmaceuticals]
National Corn Growers Association: Corn Growers Furious With New Development on E15
CHESTERFIELD, Missouri, Jan. 23 -- The National Corn Growers Association issued the following news:
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Corn Growers Furious with New Development on E15
The House is expected to advance a funding bill today that omits language that would allow consumers across the country to access fuels with a 15% corn ethanol blend, often referred to as E15.
In response to this development, Ohio farmer and National Corn Growers Association President Jed Bower released the following statement:
"Corn growers are disgusted, disappointed and disillusioned that after spending years of calling for passage of
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CHESTERFIELD, Missouri, Jan. 23 -- The National Corn Growers Association issued the following news:
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Corn Growers Furious with New Development on E15
The House is expected to advance a funding bill today that omits language that would allow consumers across the country to access fuels with a 15% corn ethanol blend, often referred to as E15.
In response to this development, Ohio farmer and National Corn Growers Association President Jed Bower released the following statement:
"Corn growers are disgusted, disappointed and disillusioned that after spending years of calling for passage ofE15, Congress has again punted, and it has done so in a spectacularly weak and offensive way. Bizarrely, members of Congress are now planning to establish a rural energy council to explore this legislation as if we are in the beginning stages of discussing E15. We already have a bill. We already have an agreement with the petroleum industry after months of negotiation. But instead of acting, Congress is now suggesting a process-ridden task force that kicks the can down the road once again. Congress is choosing to leave America's 500,000 corn farmers behind in favor of a handful of refineries."
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Original text here: https://www.ncga.com/stay-informed/media/in-the-news/article/2026/01/corn-growers-furious-with-new-development-on-e15
[Category: Agriculture]
NAHB Urges Congress to Ease Regulatory Burdens to Help Housing Affordability
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 [Category: Real Estate] -- The National Association of Home Builders posted the following news release on Jan. 22, 2026:
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NAHB Urges Congress to Ease Regulatory Burdens to Help Housing Affordability
The best way to ease the nation's housing affordability crisis is for policymakers to eliminate excessive regulations that are preventing builders from increasing the housing supply, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) told Congress today.
Testifying at a congressional panel hearing focusing on housing affordability, Buddy Hughes, chairman of NAHB and a home
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 [Category: Real Estate] -- The National Association of Home Builders posted the following news release on Jan. 22, 2026:
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NAHB Urges Congress to Ease Regulatory Burdens to Help Housing Affordability
The best way to ease the nation's housing affordability crisis is for policymakers to eliminate excessive regulations that are preventing builders from increasing the housing supply, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) told Congress today.
Testifying at a congressional panel hearing focusing on housing affordability, Buddy Hughes, chairman of NAHB and a homebuilder and developer from Lexington, N.C., said that in order to ease housing constraints for home buyers and renters, it is imperative to eliminate excessive regulations that hinder the construction of new homes and apartments.
"Regulations account for nearly 25% of the cost of a single-family home and more than 40% of the cost of a typical apartment development," said Hughes. "The time and costs associated with complying with a multitude of government regulations can be significant for small- and medium-sized builders and ultimately limit housing supply."
Increased regulations, including overly stringent mandatory energy code requirements, are impeding the ability of builders to boost housing production. In particular, Hughes cited an April 2024 final determination by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that required new single-family and multifamily homes financed by these agencies to comply with the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) or ASHRAE 90.1-2019, respectively. The Trump Administration has delayed the effective date for both single-family and multifamily housing until May 2026.
Mandating the use of this restrictive, costly energy code will raise housing costs while providing little energy savings for consumers. Studies have shown that building to the 2021 IECC can add as much as $31,000 to the price of a new home and that it would require up to 90 years for a home buyer to realize a payback on the added upfront cost of the home. That's not a reasonable trade-off for a new home buyer.
"NAHB urges Congress and the administration to prohibit HUD and USDA from enforcing a minimum energy standard that increases housing costs during a nationwide affordability crisis," said Hughes. "We also urge policymakers to respect state and local authority over code adoption and to reject mandates that most states have not determined are appropriate for their communities."
NAHB also cited several other problematic labor and HUD regulations as well as rules regarding Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act permitting that all continue to add costs and ultimately limit the housing supply our nation needs.
"NAHB looks forward to working with policymakers to enact sensible regulatory reforms to help break the rising housing cost curve and allow builders to produce more attainable, affordable housing," said Hughes.
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Original text here: https://www.nahb.org/news-and-economics/press-releases/2026/01/nahb-urges-congress-to-ease-regulatory-burdens-to-help-housing-affordability
Equipment Leasing & Finance Association: Equipment Finance Industry Confidence at 11-Month High
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association issued the following news release on Jan. 22, 2026:
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Equipment Finance Industry Confidence at 11-Month High
The Equipment Leasing & Finance Association (ELFA) today released its January 2026 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI), revealing confidence in the equipment finance market rose to 64.6, up from 58.3 in December, and the highest level since February 2025. The index provides a qualitative assessment from key executives in the $1.3 trillion equipment finance industry.
January 2026 Survey
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association issued the following news release on Jan. 22, 2026:
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Equipment Finance Industry Confidence at 11-Month High
The Equipment Leasing & Finance Association (ELFA) today released its January 2026 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI), revealing confidence in the equipment finance market rose to 64.6, up from 58.3 in December, and the highest level since February 2025. The index provides a qualitative assessment from key executives in the $1.3 trillion equipment finance industry.
January 2026 SurveyResults:
* Business Conditions - When assessing the next four months, 34.6% of responding executives believe business conditions will improve, up from 12.5% in December. Those who believe business conditions will remain the same declined to 57.7% from 75% the previous month. The percentage of executives who believe business conditions will worsen also declined to 7.7% from 12.5% in December.
* Capex Demand - For the next four months, 40% of the survey respondents believe demand for leases and loans to fund capital expenditures (capex) will increase (up from 20.8% in December). Additionally, 56% expect demand to remain the same (down from 75%), and 4% believe demand will decline, relatively unchanged from December.
* Access to Capital - Over the next four months, 32% of respondents expect greater access to capital to fund equipment acquisitions, an increase from 25% in December. The majority (68%) anticipate the "same" access to capital to fund business, a decrease from 70.8% the previous month. None expect "less" access to capital, unchanged from December.
* Employment - Regarding employment over the next four months, 38.5% of executives expect to hire more employees, a decrease from 50% in December. Also, 57.7% foresee no change in headcount (up from 45.8% last month), and 3.9% expect to hire fewer employees, down slightly from 4.2% in December.
* U.S. Economy - Of the respondents, 3.9% evaluate the current U.S. economy as "excellent," up from none in December; 96.2% assess it as "fair," down from 100% last month; and none evaluate it as "poor," unchanged from December.
* Economic Outlook - Over the next six months, 30.8% of respondents believe that U.S. economic conditions will "get better," a marked increase from 12.5% in December. Another 61.5% expect the U.S. economy to "stay the same," up from 58.3%; and 7.7% believe economic conditions will worsen, a dramatic decline from 29.2% last month.
* Business Development Spending - Over the next six months, 34.6% of respondents believe their company will increase spending on business development activities, down from 35.7% in December. Those who believe there will be "no change" in business development spending increased to 65.4% (up from 58.3% in December), and none believe there will be a decrease in spending (down from 4.2% last month).
January 2026 MCI-EFI Survey Comments from Industry Executive Leadership:
Bank, Small Ticket
"2025 was a strong year for our business and much of the industry. I think we will carry that momentum into 2026 and find new opportunities to continue our growth this year."
David Normandin, CLFP, President and Chief Executive Officer, Wintrust Specialty Finance
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Captive, Small Ticket
"We observed an increase in December that has continued into January. We believe the improved interest rate environment has contributed to this momentum. Additionally, we suspect that a "tariff pre-buy" effect is occurring, as customers accelerate purchasing decisions ahead of potential cost increases."
Jim DeFrank, EVP and Chief Operating Officer, Isuzu Finance of America, Inc.
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Independent, Small Ticket
"As interest rates and the economy improve in 2026, the equipment finance will likely be facing more competition from banks, the larger independents and new entrants."
James D. Jenks, CEO, Global Finance and Leasing Services, LLC
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Independent, Middle Ticket
"I'm optimistic about AI and automation along with onshoring creating new demand for equipment. However, isolationist policies and lack of workforce are challenges to these positives, so it's a mixed bag."
Jeffry Elliott, CLFP, CEO of Elevex Capital and Equipment Leasing & Finance Association Treasurer
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ELFA and the Foundation are unifying their research efforts. Starting in January 2026, all industry data and reports historically produced by the Foundation will move to a streamlined home on the ELFA website. To access more details and read the full survey results, visit the MCI web page.
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About ELFA
The Equipment Leasing & Finance Association (ELFA) represents financial services companies and manufacturers in the $1.3 trillion U.S. equipment finance sector. ELFA's over 600 member companies provide essential financing that helps businesses acquire the equipment they need to operate and grow. Learn how equipment finance contributes to businesses' success, U.S. economic growth, manufacturing and jobs at www.elfaonline.org.
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Original text here: https://www.elfaonline.org/newsroom/equipment-finance-industry-confidence-at-11-month-high
[Category: Facilities Management]
American Fintech Council Rejects Colorado's Attempt to Undermine Federal Interstate Banking Law
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- The American Fintech Council, an organization that says it promotes a transparent, inclusive, and customer-centric financial system, issued the following news release:
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American Fintech Council (AFC) Rejects Colorado's Attempt to Undermine Federal Interstate Banking Law
Colorado actions threaten safe and affordable consumer access, national credit markets, and competition
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Denver, CO - The American Fintech Council (AFC), the largest industry association representing both responsible fintech companies and innovative banks, responded to the State of Colorado's filing
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- The American Fintech Council, an organization that says it promotes a transparent, inclusive, and customer-centric financial system, issued the following news release:
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American Fintech Council (AFC) Rejects Colorado's Attempt to Undermine Federal Interstate Banking Law
Colorado actions threaten safe and affordable consumer access, national credit markets, and competition
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Denver, CO - The American Fintech Council (AFC), the largest industry association representing both responsible fintech companies and innovative banks, responded to the State of Colorado's filingin the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit defending its attempt to withdraw from the uniform federal interstate banking framework established under the Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act (DIDMCA). AFC joins the National Association of Industrial Bankers (NAIB) and the American Financial Services Association (AFSA) in filing and warning that the move would set a dangerous precedent and harm consumers nationwide.
"As consumers are struggling with an affordability crisis and tighter household budgets, Colorado is attempting to unravel the national credit framework that keeps financial access competitive and consistent across state lines," said Phil Goldfeder, CEO of the American Fintech Council. "Their overreach disproportionately limits access to safe and affordable credit for low and moderate income families who need it the most. When responsible lenders are forced out of the market, consumers are left with fewer options, higher costs, and less transparency."
As outlined in the litigation brought by AFC, NAIB, and AFSA, Colorado's position would replace a clear federal standard with a fragmented, state-by-state regime in which the terms of everyday financial products could vary based on geography rather than federal law. That uncertainty would increase compliance costs, discourage responsible lending, and accelerate market concentration by favoring the largest federally chartered institutions.
Further, in attempting to assert control over the rates and fees banks chartered in other states can charge, Colorado is claiming a level of national authority over banking which no other state has. Judge Rossman's dissent is clear that Colorado's overreach in this matter conflicts with federal law and undermines Congress's deliberate intent to create uniform national credit markets.
"Congress enacted DIDMCA to ensure interstate banking operated under a uniform, predictable framework and to prevent exactly this kind of regulatory fragmentation," said Ian P. Moloney, Chief Policy Officer at the American Fintech Council. "Colorado's argument invites extraterritorial overreach, disregards long-standing precedent, and risks destabilizing national credit markets in ways that ultimately harm consumers."
AFC, NAIB, and AFSA will continue to urge the court to reject Colorado's attempt to opt out of federal interstate banking law and to reaffirm the importance of a consistent national framework that preserves competition, protects consumers, and supports responsible innovation in financial services.
A standards-based organization, the American Fintech Council (AFC) is the largest and most diverse trade association representing financial technology (fintech) companies and innovative banks. On behalf of over 150 member companies and partners, AFC promotes a transparent, inclusive, and customer-centric financial system by supporting responsible innovation in financial services and encouraging sound public policy. AFC members foster competition in consumer finance and pioneer products to better serve underserved consumer segments and geographies.
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Original text here: https://www.fintechcouncil.org/press-releases/american-fintech-council-afc-rejects-colorados-attempt-to-undermine-federal-interstate-banking-law
[Category: Financial Services]
ASAM's 2026 Awards Honor Outstanding Addiction Medicine Professionals
ROCKVILLE, Maryland, Jan. 23 [Category: Health Care] -- The American Society of Addiction Medicine posted the following news release:
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ASAM's 2026 Awards Honor Outstanding Addiction Medicine Professionals
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Award winners will be recognized at the ASAM 57th Annual Conference
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) today announced the recipients of the 2026 ASAM Awards, which honor individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of addiction medicine and have worked to improve the lives of those impacted by addiction. ASAM will present the awards at its 57th
... Show Full Article
ROCKVILLE, Maryland, Jan. 23 [Category: Health Care] -- The American Society of Addiction Medicine posted the following news release:
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ASAM's 2026 Awards Honor Outstanding Addiction Medicine Professionals
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Award winners will be recognized at the ASAM 57th Annual Conference
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) today announced the recipients of the 2026 ASAM Awards, which honor individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of addiction medicine and have worked to improve the lives of those impacted by addiction. ASAM will present the awards at its 57thAnnual Conference on April 25, 2026, in San Diego, CA.
The awards include the ASAM Presidential Award, the John P. McGovern MD Award on Addiction and Society, the Marc Galanter MD Annual Award, the Promotion of Inclusion, Diversity, Equality and Justice in Addiction Medicine Award, the Fellowship Directors Award, the Public Policy Award, the Media Award, and the R. Brinkley Smithers Distinguished Scientist Award.
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ASAM Presidential Award
Nicholas Athanasiou, MD, MBA, DFASAM
The ASAM Presidential Award, awarded by the current ASAM president, honors an individual for outstanding dedication and service in addressing addiction issues or promoting education, training or awareness of the specialty of addiction medicine. ASAM President Stephen Taylor, MD, MPH, DFAPA, DFASAM, has selected Dr. Athanasiou for this honor in 2026. Dr. Athanasiou is a supervising mental health psychiatrist with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and a health sciences associate clinical professor with the Department of Psychiatry at UCLA. As chair of the ASAM Publications Council and editor in chief of The ASAM Weekly, he has helped keep addiction medicine audiences informed of the latest commentary, news, and research shaping the field.
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John P. McGovern MD Award on Addiction and Society
James F. Callahan, DPA
This award honors an individual who has made highly meritorious contributions to public policy, treatment, research, or prevention, which has increased our understanding of the relationship between addiction and society. The 2026 winner, Dr. Callahan, is a former executive vice president of the American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM), the ABAM Foundation, and the former executive vice president and CEO of ASAM. The award recognizes his significant contributions to the Society and his role in helping addiction medicine achieve recognition as a subspecialty by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Dr. Callahan is also a former director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse's (NIDA) Career Teacher Program for the development of medical school faculty and curricula in addiction medicine, a collaborative program with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
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Marc Galanter MD Annual Award (formerly the Annual Award)
Joshua D. Lee, MD, MSc, FASAM
This award is given to an individual for exceptional contributions to both the biological aspects of addiction treatment and the recovery capital available to patients. Dr. Lee is an addiction medicine clinician and researcher focused on alcohol and opioid use disorder medications in primary care and criminal legal settings. He has worked extensively in the NIDA Clinical Trials Network and the Justice Community Overdose Innovation Network. Dr. Lee is a professor in the Department of Population Health and the Department of Medicine and Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Since 2011, he has served as the program director of NYU's Addiction Medicine Fellowship.
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Promotion of Inclusion, Diversity, Equality and Justice in Addiction Medicine Award
Donald "Bailey" Miles, MD, MPH, FACP
This award honors an individual who, through their treatment, research, or work in the area of injustice related to addiction care, has improved the lives of individuals with addiction disorders who have been the object of discrimination, injustice, exclusion or persecution. Dr. Miles is an internist and addiction medicine physician currently serving as acting chief of primary care at the Chinle Comprehensive Health Care Facility of the Indian Health Service in Chinle, Arizona. His work focuses on integrating evidence-based addiction treatment into primary care and improving access to care in rural and Native communities. He is board certified in internal medicine and addiction medicine.
Fellowship Directors Award
Carolyn Chan, MD, MHS-MEd
The Fellowship Directors Award honors those who have demonstrated outstanding training in the evaluation, treatment, research, and teaching of substance use disorders. Dr. Chan is the program director of the University of Cincinnati Addiction Medicine Fellowship, where she has developed a fellowship that prepares physicians to deliver evidence-based, compassionate care for patients with substance use disorders across care settings. She has also lent her training skills to ASAM, where she currently serves as chair of the Medical Education Skills Committee. In addition, Dr. Chan co-founded the Hoxworth Addiction Recovery Clinic, a resident-run clinic integrated within primary care that provides experiential training for internal medicine residents in addiction treatment.
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Public Policy Award
Shawn Ryan, MD, MBA, FASAM
This award recognizes individuals who have effectively advanced public policies that promote the health of Americans, especially persons with addiction; addiction medicine physicians; the education of physicians and medical trainees regarding substance use and addiction; or recognition of the practice of addiction medicine. Dr. Ryan previously served as chair of ASAM's Payer Relations and Legislative Advocacy Committees. In those roles, he helped advance ASAM's advocacy agenda and achieve key legislative wins, including passage of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, and the Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act. Dr. Ryan is a board-certified addiction specialist and board-certified emergency physician, and the current president of BrightView.
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Media Award
Aneri Pattani
This award recognizes an individual for a newspaper, magazine, television, radio or website story, column, or program that improves the public's understanding of addiction, treatment, recovery, or the profession of addiction medicine. Aneri Pattani is a senior correspondent at KFF Health News, a national nonprofit news outlet, where she reports on a range of public health topics, including mental health and substance use. Notably, her multi-year series about how state and local governments are spending opioid settlement funds made her a finalist for the Livingston Award and the Scripps Howard Award.
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R. Brinkley Smithers Distinguished Scientist Award
John F. Kelly, PhD, ABPP
This award honors an individual who has made highly meritorious contributions in advancing the scientific understanding of addiction, its prevention and treatment. Dr. Kelly is an internationally recognized clinical investigator who has led National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other funded studies advancing evidence-based care within recovery-oriented systems. He is the founding director of the Recovery Research Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Elizabeth R. Spallin Professor of Psychiatry in Addiction Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He also serves as chief of the Division of Addiction Treatment and Prevention across the Mass General Brigham Academic Medical Centers Department of Psychiatry.
ASAM President Dr. Taylor will present the awards to recipients during the ASAM Annual Awards and Updates session of the Annual Conference.
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About the American Society of Addiction Medicine
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), founded in 1954, is a professional medical society representing over 8,000 physicians, clinicians, and associated professionals in the field of addiction medicine. ASAM is dedicated to increasing access and improving the quality of addiction treatment, educating physicians and the public, supporting research and prevention, and promoting the appropriate role of physicians in the care of patients with addiction. For more information, visit www.ASAM.or g.
Media Contact
Sarah Shelson
301-547-4110
sshelson@ASAM.org
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Original text here: https://www.asam.org/news/detail/2026/01/22/asam-s-2026-awards-honor-outstanding-addiction-medicine-professionals
