P&S Annual Report
Measures of Distinction 
Measures of Distinction 

P&S and its affiliates rose to fourth place in the latest federal research rankings. Columbia University moved from 10th to 8th place for total NIH federal research and development ranking; 11 departments and centers are among the top recipients of NIH funding in their specialties, one of which was ranked No. 1 (psychiatry) and three of which were ranked number two (neurology, nutrition, and rehabilitation medicine). 

The March 1996 issue of American Health magazine listed more specialists from CPMC as "The Best Doctors in New York" than from any other New York hospital. American Health asked 3,200 physicians throughout the United States to name the doctors they would choose if they needed specialists. By a large majority, CPMC doctors were chosen most often among New York doctors. 

P&S ranked among the top 10 of America's best research-oriented medical schools in U.S. News & World Report's "1996 America's Best Graduate Schools" rankings. 

The Neurological Institute took first place on the 1995 primary examination of the American Board of Neurological Surgeons. It also earned first place in 1992 and was listed among the top 10 programs in 1993 and 1994. Of the 25 programs that made the top 10 list from 1992 to 1995, NI is the only one to take the top spot twice and the only one to be listed all four years. 

Pfizer Inc. named Dr. Thomas A. Pearson, director of the Bassett Healthcare Research Institute, the Pfizer Visiting Professor in Cardiovascular Medicine for 1996. Also, Dr. Pearson was one of seven scientists to represent the United States at a U.S.-Italy joint symposium on clinical trials in Rome. He spoke on the potential for collaborative studies to reduce disability and death in patients who have suffered heart attacks and coronary artery disease. 

Dr. John K. Lattimer, professor emeritus of urology, was a featured speaker at the 50th Reunion Congress of the Nuremberg trial staff. Dr. Lattimer served as the urologist and general medical officer for the defendants of that historic trial. 

Dr. Allen I. Hyman, professor of anesthesiology, was appointed to Gov. George E. Pataki's Ad Hoc Task Force on New York's Prospective Hospital Reimbursement Methodology. The task force studied the current hospital reimbursement system, known as NYPHRM, and recommended options for a new system to succeed NYPHRM. The task force recommended ways for the state to make a transition to a more cost-effective and efficient system of delivering health care services. 

Ernestine Pantel, a faculty member in occupational therapy, was appointed by New York Gov. George Pataki to the New York State Public Health Council. 

In recognition of Columbia's expanding work in Harlem in environmental health, Columbia hosted the 51st meeting of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences center directors for a symposium devoted to environmental health in underprivileged populations. Federal funding for the Environmental Health in Harlem project is in its third year. 

Dr. Amy B. MacDermott, assistant professor of physiology and cell biophysics, accepted an invitation to serve as a member of the NIH's Neurological Sciences Study Section Division of Research Grants through June 30, 1997. 

A Task Force to Plan New Epidemiologic Strategies to Address Mental Health Problems in Low Income Populations, sponsored by the World Health Organization, was organized and chaired by Dr. Myrna Weissman.