Starzl received his M.D. and Ph.D. from Northwestern University, Chicago. He was elected to the Institute of Medicine in 1999. He has received numerous awards, including the National Medal of Science in 2004. His other honors include the David M. Hume Memorial Award from the National Kidney Foundation; the Medallion for Scientific Achievement presented by the American Surgical Association; the 1998 Lannelongue International Medal, which is awarded every five years by the Academie Nationale de Chirurgie (National Academy of Surgery, France); the 2001 King Faisal International Prize for Medicine; and the 2002 Prince Mahidol Award. He has served as president of the Transplantation Society, founding president of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons, and founding president of the Transplant Recipients International Organization.

Starzl is the 24th recipient of the Lienhard Award, which includes a medal and $25,000 prize. Given annually, the award recognizes outstanding national achievement in improving personal health care services in the United States. Nominees are eligible for consideration without regard to education or profession, and award recipients are selected by a committee of experts convened by the Institute of Medicine. This year's selection committee was chaired by Stephen M. Shortell, Blue Cross of California Distinguished Professor of Health Policy and Management, professor of organization behavior, and dean of the School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley.

The Lienhard Award is funded by an endowment from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Gustav O. Lienhard was chair of the foundation's board of trustees from the organization's establishment in 1971 to his retirement in 1986—a period in which the foundation moved to the forefront of American philanthropy in health care. Lienhard, who died in 1987, built his career with Johnson & Johnson, beginning as an accountant and retiring 39 years later as its president.

Established in 1970 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine provides independent, objective, evidence-based advice to policy-makers, health professionals, the private sector, and the public. The National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council make up the National Academies.