Nora Kenworthy Wins Inaugural Procedure Award for "Crowded Out"

Book recognized with top honor in new literary prize for challenging conventional narratives in medicine and healthcare through the lens of crowdfunding.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Nora Kenworthy, PhD, has been named the winner of the inaugural Procedure Award for her book "Crowded Out: The True Costs of Crowdfunding Healthcare" (MIT Press). The book was selected from over 50 submissions for its originality, artistic and literary strength, relevance to healthcare, and ability to inspire deeper exploration of how Americans access healthcare. Kenworthy will receive a custom-designed luxury pill box created in collaboration with Chronically Chic designer Kallista Hammer, featuring artwork by illustrator Yuqi Lu, as the award trophy.

Why it matters

The Procedure Award aims to celebrate and elevate the voices of talented authors covering important healthcare issues. "Crowded Out" provides a compelling critique of how crowdfunding, often framed as a lifeline for patients in need, has evolved into a system that frequently excludes the very people it claims to help, offering a stark reflection of the U.S. healthcare system.

The details

Chosen from more than 50 submissions, "Crowded Out" was selected by a guest judging panel that included Dr. Victor Montori, Dr. Rana Awdish, and Dr. Todd Otten. The other shortlist finalists were "Winter's End: Dementia and Dying Well" by Lewis Cohen, MD; "Blood: The Science, Medicine, and Mythology of Menstruation" by Dr. Jen Gunter; "The Body Is a Doorway: A Memoir: A Journey Beyond Healing, Hope, and the Human" by Sophie Strand; and "Treating Violence: An Emergency Room Doctor Takes On a Deadly American Epidemic" by Rob Gore, MD.

  • The Procedure Awards were launched in fall 2025.
  • The inaugural Procedure Award was announced on February 24, 2026.

The players

Nora Kenworthy

A writer, professor, and public health expert whose work examines how politics, technology, and inequality affect health. She is a Professor of Nursing and Health Studies at the University of Washington (UW) Bothell, and she also holds adjunct appointments in the Departments of Anthropology and Global Health at UW Seattle.

Procedure Press

The publishing division of Uncommon Bold, an award-winning, full-service brand agency with a data-informed approach and deep specialization in the healthcare sector.

Dr. Victor Montori

A Mayo Clinic endocrinologist, researcher, and author of "Why We Revolt", who served as a guest judge for The Procedure Awards.

Dr. Rana Awdish

A pulmonary and critical care physician at Henry Ford Hospital and author of the bestselling "In Shock: My Journey from Death to Recovery and the Redemptive Power of Hope", who served as a guest judge for The Procedure Awards.

Dr. Todd Otten

A family physician, decorated naval flight surgeon, and co-author of "Ripple of Change", who served as a guest judge for The Procedure Awards.

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What they’re saying

“It's a very enlightening and moving critique of how Americans have come to use crowdsourcing to solve healthcare affordability problems. I'm very familiar with this space, yet I learned new ways society shows up through crowdfunding to provide mutual assistance, and yet how most people never receive a dollar. A twisted and sickening form of meritocracy and influencing, here too, renders some as seemingly more deserving of care and support than others. This book surprised me frequently, and throughout it all, did so with care and compassion.”

— Dr. Victor Montori, Mayo Clinic endocrinologist, researcher, author of "Why We Revolt", and guest judge for The Procedure Awards

What’s next

The Procedure Awards will open nominations for next year's awards in the fall of 2026.

The takeaway

"Crowded Out" highlights how crowdfunding, often touted as a solution to healthcare affordability, has become a system that frequently excludes the very people it claims to help, underscoring the deep inequities and challenges within the U.S. healthcare system.