Sears Award Vote Results

We had 59 votes, which is a little less than average. We used ranked voting for the first time this year. Ranked voting prevents a run-off if no nominee gets a clear majority. I thought the vote would be very close this year, so I chose ranked voting to make it easier on the voters; no need to revote if your primary candidate is unsuccessful. I was wrong. One candidate had a majority early on and kept the lead throughout the vote. The recipient of Sears Award will be announced at lunch during the Braceland Seminar.

I apologize if I failed to reach all the potential voters. I start with a list of email addresses supplied by the Specialty Leader. I expand the list whenever possible if I find someone who is not getting the mailings. But I can never be sure that I have reached everyone.

I also apologize for the difficulty everyone has to go through to read the lengthy biographies and make a decision. This is the only way we have found, over the years, to communicate the qualifications of nominees. I cannot think of a better, faster, easier way, but your thoughts are always welcome.

I will not apologize for all the techniques I use to get people to vote. One psychiatrist wrote to me this year to tell me that I made her feel guilty as only her mother could. But she voted. Another psychiatrist told me she didn't feel right voting for psychiatrists she didn't know. We talked, and she voted. I work so hard on this every year, hours and hours. I cannot understand what keeps anyone from taking 10 minutes to read a set of biographies and email a vote. Not everyone can attend the Braceland Seminar, but everyone can vote. One psychiatrist told me he was too busy to vote. I want to tell you something. The most busy psychiatrist out there is VADM Mateczun, and he voted.