The Gold Medal Awards of the IAP were initiated at the IAP Congress in Budapest in 1996 by Dr David Hardwick who donated the first medals. An initial 6 awards were made. The Gold Medal Award is for members of the Academy demonstrating leadership by creating and fostering Academy activities that are of International significance. In order to capture the full breadth of such activities, achievements in Pathology Education and Research or Pathology Practice are identified as eligible for recognition. Some awardees over the past decades have provided (or presided over) transformational changes in the Academy such as the transition from IAMM to IAP while others have been enquiring educators, renowned researchers and leading figures in Diagnostic Pathology Internationally. All have in common the singular and definitive attribute of International leadership.