Early in the development of OBGYN.net a young doctor from Portugal came forward to help us build resources of value to physicians in his country, Portugal. Dr. Ricardo Marques was devoted to the belief of improving healthcare to women in remote places in the world. For that reason he participated in Medecins Sans Frontiere. He also believed that the Internet would be vital in accomplishing that goal by making global collaboration and communication a reality even in the most remote places. Ricardo also believed in making a personal effort and sacrifice to improving the world. He had made several trips to Africa for Medecins Sans Frontier when on June 21, 1997 he made the ultimate sacrifice. He was shot and killed in Somalia while there on a humanitarian mission to build a women’s clinic. OBGYN.net has created this award to commemorate June 21st 1998, the first anniversary of Ricardo's death. Because of their great humanitarian mission in women's health we are extremely pleased that the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) is the first (1998) receipient of this award. Roberta Speyer, President & Chairman of the Board, MediSpecialty.com, Inc.