PROFESSOR PAUL LITTLE AWARDED 2020 MAURICE WOOD AWARD FOR LIFETIME CONTRIBUTION TO PRIMARY CARE RESEARCH
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* Mark Ebell

How do you honor a lifetime of work in the ephemeral of a digital moment? This challenge was addressed in NAPCRG’s 48th Annual Meeting, transformed as a virtual gathering, where Professor Paul Little was recognized as the recipient of NAPCRG’s most esteemed award. I had the honor of introducing Professor Little, otherwise known as Paul. The Maurice Wood Award for Lifetime Contribution to Primary Care Research is given annually to honor a researcher who has made outstanding contributions to primary care research over the course of a lifetime. Scientists from all nations, working in all professional fields and scientific disciplines, are eligible to receive the award, which is named for NAPCRG’s founder.

The UK has a very strong tradition of primary care research, and Professor Little is clearly one of the most influential researchers of his generation. He has a keen intellect, a prodigious work ethic, is incredibly creative, and has an engaging personal manner. Paul’s extensive body of work is reflected in over 360 peer reviewed publications and in a career that spans more than 25 years. He is recognized as one of the most productive, creative, thoughtful, and respected primary care researchers in the world. Calling the United Kingdom home, Paul is Professor of Primary Care Research within Medicine at Southampton University.

When I think of Paul, the words “gracious,” “kind,” and “charming” are top of mind. I know that he draws inspiration from and is committed to his Christian faith. Many of his stature can intimidate presenters with that familiar sense of dread when a raised hand signals an incisive question. But when Paul asks a question, you know it will not only inform and deepen the conversation but also be supportive and encouraging. He has mentored numerous trainees and faculty, building one of the most productive primary care research groups in the world at Southampton University.

Among many contributions to primary care research, one early, important one is “medicalization”, the concept that primary care physicians shape patient perceptions of present and future illness. He has also done pioneering work to develop tools for antibiotic stewardship, ranging from non-antibiotic interventions to educational interventions to delayed prescriptions. His large randomized trial demonstrating the benefits of hand hygiene in reducing transmission of infection in the community is especially poignant now when the effects of COVID have made it impossible to shake Professor Little’s hand in a congratulatory gesture of “job well done.” His trials have been highly innovative, and were among the first to use the Internet and to incorporate pragmatic design elements. And of course, his research has been published the world’s top journals including the *The Lancet*, *The BMJ*, *JAMA*, as well as *Annals of Family Medicine*, and continues have a tremendous impact on clinical practice.

Professor Little has made significant contributions to raising the profile of primary care research internationally and persuading funding bodies of the importance of applied research in primary care. Importantly, Paul has been a key member of European collaborative research teams that have done groundbreaking research on common acute respiratory infections in primary care including their epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment. Paul has also been a longstanding supporter and contributor to NAPCRG as a regular attendee, mentor, lecturer and past member of the program committee.

Widely recognized, Professor Little was the first general practitioner to be awarded an MRC Clinician Scientist Fellowship in 1998. In 2011 he was elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, a group that includes few GPs. Additionally, Professor Little is one of the few GPs to have been given 2 terms as an NIHR Senior Investigator. More recently, Professor Little was named a Commander of the British Empire by her majesty Queen Elizabeth for services to general practice research in 2018. And last year, Little received the Discovery Prize from the Royal College of General Practitioners. Clearly, Professor Little has had a deep and wide impact on primary care research and practice, and is most deserving of the NAPCRG Wood Award.

*   © 2021 Annals of Family Medicine, Inc.