CARF managing director honored with ACRM Gold Key Award

Following distinguished career in medical rehabilitation, Christine MacDonell receives highest honor given by ACRM.

The American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) awarded Christine MacDonell, CARF International’s recently retired managing director of medical rehabilitation and international aging services/medical rehabilitation, with the 2021 Gold Key Award in recognition of her lifetime achievements. This award was established in 1932 as a certificate of merit for members of the medical and allied professions who had rendered extraordinary service to the cause of rehabilitation. It is the highest honor given by ACRM. The award was presented on September 28 at the Henry B. Betts Awards Gala, which was part of ACRM’s 2021 Virtual Annual Conference.

In a statement about the honors, ACRM said, in part, “Chris has represented CARF International at international, national, regional, and local meetings to promote and interpret standards and the use of accreditation as a quality business and clinical strategy throughout the continuum of care. She has opened doors worldwide to standards in rehabilitation medicine.”

Preceding this year’s Gold Key, MacDonell was named the Coulter Lecturer at ACRM’s 2019 Annual Conference and presented the award plenary that year. In 2014, she was presented with a Distinguished Member Award and named a Fellow of ACRM. The Distinguished Member Award honors ACRM members who significantly contribute to the development and functioning of ACRM. The Fellow distinction is granted to members who not only demonstrate outstanding professional service to ACRM, but also make contributions of national significance to the field of medical rehabilitation.

“Ms. Christine MacDonell spent many years advancing the quality of rehabilitation globally through her work at CARF, creating a worldwide quality network of individual practitioners and providers. It is most fitting that Christine receive this honor from ACRM and the field. We are proud of her accomplishments, and we congratulate Christine on her many significant contributions to the medical rehabilitation field throughout an illustrious career,” said President/CEO Brian J. Boon, PhD, CARF International.

MacDonell retired at the end of August following more than 40 years in the human services field; she served 30 years with CARF International.