Anne Anderson was a contributor to the stream of thinking and effort that gave birth to evidence-based health care.
A clinically qualified reproductive physiologist, Anne had an active interest in women’s health, co-editing the first edition of Women’s Problems in General Practice with Ann McPherson and contributed to Effectiveness and Satisfaction in Antenatal Care (1982), edited by Murray Enkin and Iain Chalmers. She was discussing with Marc Keirse and Iain Chalmers the possibility of co-editing a companion volume on elective birth, however her premature death from breast cancer in 1983 ended her involvement. Iain Chalmers, Murray Enkin and Marc Keirse went on to publish Effective Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth (ECPC) in 1989, dedicating the book in part to Anne. ECPC, through its systematic approach to assessing the research literature, is widely acknowledged to have led to the development of Cochrane.
The goal of the Anne Anderson Award is to recognize and stimulate individuals contributing to the enhancement of women’s visibility and participation in Cochrane’s leadership. In the footsteps of Anne Anderson, many outstanding women continue to contribute and inspire other women to improve health knowledge for the good of their communities. The Award recipient designates the cash award to assist another woman from a low-resource setting with her own Cochrane activities.
The 2024 Anne Anderson Award goes to Rachelle Buchbinder.
We asked Rachelle about her thoughts on the significance of this prestigious recognition.
Can you tell us briefly about your involvement in Cochrane?
I published my first review in the Cochrane Library in 2000 together with my PhD student Sally Green. I started as a Cochrane editor for Cochrane Musculoskeletal in 2003 and, in 2005, Peter Tugwell invited me to be Joint Coordinating Editor of Cochrane Musculoskeletal. I have had the role of Coordinating Editor ever since. In 2020 our group also took over editorial responsibility for Cochrane Back and Neck. I have published well over 100 systematic reviews and have trained and mentored many authors in the last 24 years.
What does this award mean to you personally?
I am honoured and humbled to receive this award and want to thank Denise O'Connor for thinking of nominating me. I particularly want to acknowledge Peter Tugwell, Lara Maxwell, Elizabeth Gogomu and Jordi Pardo Pardo from the Ottawa base - it was a pleasure to work with you over many years. However this award is also for Renea Johnston - I have worked with Renea for as long as I can remember (20+ years) and she deserves this award as much as I do!
Part of this award includes a cash prize to support a woman from a low-resource setting in Cochrane activities. Do you already know who you will designate for this, and can you share more details? If not, do you have ideas on the kind of work you’d like to support with the funds?
I haven't decided this yet but I hope to identify a woman who is supporting women to make a difference in their respective fields.