P&S Annual Report
Measures of Distinction 
Awards and Honors

Dr. Herbert Pardes, vice president and dean, was awarded the New York State Office of Mental Health Paul Hoch Distinguished Leadership Award for Outstanding Contributions to Psychiatry and Psychiatric Research. He also was named to the NIH Director's Panel on Clinical Research to address such issues as how clinical research is being conducted in times of lean funding, how NIH attracts and trains clinical investigators, peer review, and various matters--including safety assurances--surrounding the conduct of clinical trials. 

Dr. Frederica Perera, associate professor of public health, was co-recipient of the first Irving J. Selikoff Award for Cancer Research. The award recognizes excellence in research on the detection and repair of damage from cancer-causing agents in work and community environments. The prize is named for the late Dr. Selikoff, a world renowned expert on asbestos and cancer. 

Orthopedic surgery research won awards from the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (the 1996 Charles S. Neer Award for outstanding clinical and basic research in the field of surgery for the study, "Active and Passive Restraints Against Superior Humeral Translation: The Contributions of the Rotator Cuff, the Biceps Tendon, and the Coracoacromial Arch," by Evan L. Flatow, Rick A. Raimondo, Rajeev Kelkar, Vincent M. Wang, Roger G. Pollock, Robert J. Pawluk, Van C. Mow, and Louis U. Bigliani) and from the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (the 1996 Cabaud Memorial Award for the study, "The Effects of Lifelong Exercise on Canine Articular Cartilage," by Peter M. Newton and Van C. Mow of P&S and two colleagues at the University of Iowa. 

The National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression presented research grants to established and young investigators. Established investigator project grants were won by two faculty. Eleven faculty received young investigator grants. Another 11 received second-year young investigator funding. One faculty member received two years of funding in a NARSAD pilot program for independent investigators. (L. Erlenmeyer-Kimling, Harold A. Sackeim, Edwin G. Abel, Alan S. Brown, Jay A. Gingrich, John G. Keilp, Sarah H. Lisanby, Laurie S. Miller, Ulla Susanna Ranta, Gorazd Rosoklija, Zafar Sharif, Makiko Suehiro, Susan I. Wolk, Janet M. Fairbanks, Lauren Freedman, Lawrence S. Kegeles, Ellen P. Lukens, Dolores Malaspina, Kevin M. Malone, Emmanuel Pothos, Pamela Sklar, Christina Sobin, Ping Wu, Yoram Yovell, Ezra S. Susser) 

Dr. Van C. Mow, professor of mechanical engineering and orthopedic bioengineering, received the 1996 Stichting World Biomechanics Foundation Award for major contributions to the field of biomechanics and orthopedic research. 

Dr. Jeremy Luban, assistant professor of medicine, received the Charles E. Culpeper Foundation Scholarship in Medical Science for 1995. The award funds his research on the native functions of cyclophilins--cellular targets of the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporine A--in signal transduction pathways and mammalian development. 

The Leukemia Society of America honored three microbiology faculty: Dr. Kathryn Calame, microbiology and biochemistry and molecular biophysics, who received the Kenney Award; Dr. Lorraine Symington, microbiology, who received the Stohlman Scholar Award; and Dr. Paul Rothman, medicine and microbiology, who received a Scholar Award. 

Dr. Donald S. Kornfeld, professor of psychiatry, received the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine's Thomas P. Hackett Memorial Award. 
 
Dr. Barry Honig, professor of biochemistry and molecular biophysics, received an NIH "Method to Extend Research in Time" (MERIT) award based on recommendations of the National Advisory General Medical Sciences Council. The award will provide long-term grant support to Dr. Honig's project, "Computer Studies of Protein Structure and Function," which is now entering its 15th year. 

Eight P&S and Public Health faculty won funding in a competition sponsored by the American Cancer Society. The ACS Institutional Research Grant provides seed funding for innovative research. Faculty awarded grants were Dr. Habibul Ashan, epidemiology; Dr. David Cobrinik, medical oncology; Dr. Peter Cserjesi, anatomy and cell biology; Dr. Pam Factor-Litvak, epidemiology; Dr. Jean Gautier, genetics and development and dermatology; Dr. Scott Kahn, radiation oncology; Dr. Ramon Parsons, pathology and medicine; and Dr. Takaaki Sato, otolaryngology. 

Dr. Paul B. Fisher, professor of pathology and urology, won the 1995 CaP CURE award from the Association for the Cure of Cancer of the Prostate. Dr. Fisher received the award for his research on PTI-1, an oncogene that paves the way for the development of diagnostic tests that may provide earlier detection and more reliable staging of prostate cancer. It also may prove valuable in the therapy of prostate cancer. 

Dr. Barry Gurland, director of the Morris W. Stroud III Center for Studies on Quality of Life, received the senior investigator award from the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry for his work on the epidemiology and quality of care of dementia, depression, and other late-life psychiatric disorders. 

At its annual meeting in Puerto Rico, the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology presented its 1995 Joel Elkes International Award to Dr. Jack Gorman, professor of clinical psychiatry. The award is given each year for outstanding contributions to psychopharmacology. 

Dr. Arthur Banks, professor of medicine and of genetics and development, and Dr. Jurg Ott, professor of psychiatry, were named fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. They were presented official certificates and association pins at the AAAS annual meeting in February 1996. 

Dr. James S. Lieberman, the Corning Professor and chairman of rehabilitation medicine, was elected to the Institute of Medicine. 

Dr. Barbara A. Barlow, professor and chief of pediatric surgery at Harlem Hospital Center, received the 1995 Healthtrac Foundation Health Education Award, presented at the annual meeting of the American Public Health Association. The award included $25,000 for the Harlem Hospital Injury Prevention Program, which Dr. Barlow founded. 

Dr. Elsa-Grace Giardina, professor of clinical medicine and director in medicine of the Center for Women's Health, was one of four honorees at a celebration during March Women's History Month. New York Gov. George Pataki presented the first Women's History Month Governor's Award for Excellence to four women of New York City who "have demonstrated outstanding devotion and service to New York City and to New York State." 

With its winning entry, "Diagnosis Epilepsy," the Center for Biomedical Communications/AV Services was awarded the International Association of Audio Visual Communicators' Crystal Award of Excellence. The award recognizes "individuals and companies whose talent exceeds a high standard of excellence whose work serves as a benchmark for the industry. The prestigious Crystal Award is given to the Award of Excellence winners whose ability to communicate elevates them above even the best in the field." The 90-minute video program was recorded on location at the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center. 

The Board of Trustees of the American Psychiatric Association elected Dr. Michael M. Scimeca, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry, to fellowship. Dr. Scimeca is chief of medical and psychiatric services at Harlem Hospital Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program. 

The DeWitt S. Goodman Fellow in Nutrition and Preventive Medicine for 1995 was Dr. Stephen L. Sturley, assistant professor of physiology and cell biology in the Institute of Human Nutrition, for his research titled "Regulation of Cell Sterol Metabolism: Insights from Yeast Molecular Genetics." 

The Franklin Institute presented the Bolton L. Corson Medal to Dr. John Lindenbaum, professor of medicine. The Franklin Institute Awards honor "distinguished individuals whose work has changed the world." 

Commencement Awards

P&S Distinguished Service Awards were presented to Dr. Bernard F. Erlanger, professor emeritus of microbiology, and Dr. James R. Malm, professor emeritus of surgery. 

Charles W. Bohmfalk Awards were presented to Dr. Taube P. Rothman, research scientist in anatomy and cell biology (pre-clinical years), and Dr. Kenneth A. Forde, professor of clinical surgery (clinical years). 

The Joseph Mather Smith Prize was presented to Dr. Shu Chien, director of the Institute for Biomedical Engineering at the University of California, San Diego. 

Dr. Harold and Golden Lamport Research Awards in basic sciences were given to Dr. Amy B. MacDermott, assistant professor of physiology and cellular biophysics, and Dr. Gregg G. Gundersen, assistant professor of anatomy and cell biology and of pathology. Dr. Christian W. Schindler, assistant professor of medicine and of physiology and cellular biophysics, received the Dr. Harold and Golden Lamport Research Award in clinical sciences. 

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation Award was presented to Dr. Joseph Tenenbaum, associate clinical professor of medicine. 

The Class of 1996 Distinguished Teacher Award was given to Dr. Herbert S. Chase Jr., associate professor of clinical medicine. 

Commencement Prizes and Awards for Students 

Dr. Harry S. Altman Award (outstanding achievement in pediatric ambulatory care) 
Elizabeth Anne Stephenson 

Alumni Association Award (outstanding service to P&S) 
Sean Michael Steven Bidic 
Candice Marianne Moy 
Carl R. St. Remy 

Virginia P. Apgar Awards (excellence in anesthesiology and intensive care) 
Lucy J. Kim 
Martin Allen Kubeja 

Michael H. Aranow Memorial Prize (best exemplifying the caring and humane qualities of the practicing physician) 
Deborah Michelle Gurner 

Herbert J. Bartelstone Award (exceptional accomplishments in pharmacology) 
Peter F. Clardy 

Alvin Behrens Memorial Fund Award (outstanding graduate entering ophthalmology) 
Pamela Pei-Yee Cheung 

Robert G. Bertsch Prize (emulating Dr. Bertsch's ideals of the humane surgeon) 
James Thomas Moore 

Coakley Memorial Prize (outstanding achievement in otolaryngology) 
Raj Tandon 

Titus Munson Coan Prize (best essay in biological sciences) 
Joel Keith Erickson 

Thomas F. Cock Prize (excellence in obstetrics and gynecology) 
William Melchoir Burke 

Rosamond Kane Cummins'52 Award (graduate entering orthopedics with academic excellence, sensitivity, kindness, devotion to patients, and the fine human qualities she exemplified) 
Charlotte Shum 

Dean's Award for Excellence in Research 
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at P&S: 
Judy P. Masucci 
Stephen Hing-Lam Tsang 

Gate Pharmaceuticals' Award (excellence in obstetrics and gynecology) 
Janet Mee-Kyung Choi 

Frederick P. Gay Memorial Award (achievement in microbiology) 
Elizabeth Maria Colston 

Louis Gibofsky Memorial Prize (research in nephrology, immunology, or transplant immunobiology) 
Joshua Lawrence Dunaief 

Arnold P. Gold Foundation Award (demonstrated compassion, scientific excellence, devoted patient care, and a humanist role model) 
Susan D. Swick 

Dr. Charles F. Hamilton Award (excellence in pulmonary disease) 
Lisa Sibert 

Janeway Prize (the highest achievement and abilities in the graduating class) 
Lisa Sibert 

Albert B. Knapp Scholarship (awarded at the conclusion of the third year to the medical student with highest scholarship in first three years) 
Lisa Sibert 

Dr. Harold Lamport Biomedical Research Prize (excellence in research) 
Leslie Fan Hao 

John K. Lattimer Prize in Urology (outstanding essay in urology) 
Stephanie Ann Chamberlain 

Barbara Liskin Memorial Award in Psychiatry (empathy, scholarship, and excellence exhibited by Barbara Liskin) 
Susan D. Swick 

Robert F. Loeb Award (excellence in clinical medicine) 
Douglas Glenn Brust 

F. Lowenfish Prize in Dermatology (creative research in dermatology) 
Robyn Fannie Squeo 

Admiral David Willard Lyon Award (outstanding academic achievement by a student serving in the U.S. armed forces) 
Aysha L. Corbett 

Dr. Cecil G. Marquez, B.A.L.S.O. Student Award (outstanding contribution to the Black and Latin Student Organization and the minority community) 
Deborah Michelle Gurner 

Edith and Denton McKane Memorial Award (outstanding research in ophthalmology) 
Joshua Lawrence Dunaief 

Medical Society of the State of New York Award (outstanding community service) 
Carlos Jose Rodriguez 

Dr. Harold Lee Meierhof Memorial Prize (outstanding achievement in pathology) 
Peter F. Clardy 

Drs. William Nastuk, Beatrice Seegal, and Conrad Hsu Award (demonstrated successful laboratory collaboration between student and faculty) 
Elizabeth Maria Colston 

Marie Nercessian Memorial Award (exhibiting care, unusual concern, and dedication to helping sick people) 
Carl R. St. Remy 

New York Orthopedic Hospital Award (outstanding performance in research and clinical work) 
Ira Manning Parsons 

Joseph Garrison Parker Award (exemplifying, through activities in art, music, literature, and the public interest, that living and learning go together) 
Julie Lin 
June Kar-Ming Wu 

Pharmacia & Upjohn Achievement Award (excellence in research) 
Jonathan L. Hecht 

Samuel W. Rover and Lewis Rover Awards (for outstanding achievement) in: 
* Anatomy and Cell Biology--Lisa Sibert 
* Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics--Lisa Sibert 
* Genetics and Development--Joshua Tom Dubnau 
* Physiology and Cellular Biophysics--Thomas N. Robinson 

Rebecca A. Schwartz Memorial Prize (achievement in pediatric cardiology) 
Elizabeth Anne Stephenson 

Helen M. Sciarra Prize in Neurology (outstanding achievement in neurology) 
Ogan Gurel 

Aura E. Severinghaus Scholar (superior academic achievement) 
Aysha L. Corbett 

Miriam Berkman Spotnitz Award (excellence in research of neoplastic diseases) 
Kwok-Kin Wong 

William Perry Watson Prize in Pediatrics (excellence in pediatrics) 
Rachel Pardes Berger 

Dr. William Raynor Watson Memorial Award (excellence in psychiatry throughout four years of medical school) 
Paul A. Rosenfield 

Dr. Allen O. Whipple Memorial Prize (outstanding performance in surgery) 
Lucy J. Kim 

Sigmund L. Wilens Prize (excellence in pathology) 
Jonathan L. Hecht