Immunization Champion Award

The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's (SMFM) Immunization Champion Award honors members who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in increasing maternal immunization rates for COVID-19, flu, RSV, and Tdap. SMFM recognizes the complex challenges members navigate when recommending vaccines, particularly in light of the declining uptake seen in recent years. In 2026, SMFM is proud to recognize members with the Immunization Champion Award to celebrate their unwavering commitment to expanding vaccine access and improving health outcomes within their practices and local communities. 

Vaccines are an essential part of prenatal care, offering critical protection to the mother-baby dyad against potentially deadly diseases. SMFM and the Maternal Immunization Task Force, in alignment with other leading medical and nursing associations, recommend that all pregnant patients receive the COVID-19 vaccine, the annual influenza vaccine, a Tdap dose with each pregnancy, and, if eligible, the RSV vaccine from 32 through 36 weeks gestation during the RSV season. Despite the many benefits of vaccines, immunization rates for all recommended maternal vaccines remain low. Now more than ever, it is vital to acknowledge members who affirm the importance of recommending and advocating for all recommended vaccines at the appropriate time during pregnancy. 

SMFM will select members to receive the 2026 Immunization Champion Award in recognition of their leadership, innovation, collaboration, and perseverance in promoting and increasing maternal immunization. 

Each award recipient will: 

• Receive an award certificate, 
• Be featured on various SMFM channels, such as social media and e-newsletters,  
• Participate in at least one SMFM-hosted event to highlight their vaccine practice(s), and  
• Be added to SMFM's Immunization Champions Honor Roll.

2026 Award Winner

Neil Silverman, MD

Dr. Neil Silverman is a Professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, where he also serves as the associate director of the Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellowship program. He is also the director of the department’s Infections in Pregnancy Program.

Dr. Silverman has authored over 80 peer-reviewed manuscripts, 20 textbook chapters, and has lectured widely, with particular interests in obstetric infectious diseases, recurrent pregnancy loss and thrombophilias, as well as prenatal diagnosis. Nationally, Dr. Silverman served a 5-year term on ACOG’s Practice Bulletin Committee for Obstetrics, serving as committee chair from 2011-2013, and was ACOG’s liaison to the AAP’s Committee on Infectious Diseases for 4 years. He has also served on the Publications Committee for the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM). He is currently a member of ACOG’s Expert Work Group on Immunization, Infectious Disease, and Public Health Preparedness, and serves as ACOG liaison to the Advisory Council of the California Immunization Coalition. He is also a member of SMFM’s Committee on Infectious Diseases and Emerging Threats (IDET). As an active member of the Committee on IDET, Dr. Silverman continues to share his expertise and increase evidence-based educational opportunities for clinicians and patients. He has lectured on SMFM’s MFM Lecture and Podcast Series and webinars with partner organizations on topics such as respiratory disease season, maternal immunization, and measles in pregnancy.

The nomination submission period for the 2026 Immunization Champion Award has closed.