HONORS & ...Other Things
Lifetime Mentor: Dr. Davies
Dr. Helen C. Davies, professor of microbiology in PennMed and Faculty Master of Spruce House, has been chosen for the 1998 Lifetime Mentor Award of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The $5000 prize, given annually to one who has "guided significant numbers of members of underrepresented groups to the completion of doctoral studies, and/or has affected the climate of a department, college or instituion in such a way as to do so," will be awarded at the AAAS annual meeting in Anaheim in January. Dr. Davies, a member of the faculty since 1965, has won the Lindback Award in 1977, the Medical School's Distinguished Educator Award in 1989, and numerous teaching prizes given by the School and by the students.
The Commonwealth's Professor of the Year: Dr.
Filreis
Dr. Alan Filreis, professor of English and former undergraduate chair, has been named the "Professor of the Year" for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the national Professor of the Year program conducted by CASE (the Council for Advancement and Support of Education) in conjunction with the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The award recognizes "extraordinary dedication to teaching, commitment to students and innovative teaching methods," the CASE announcement said. Dr. Filreis, who until going on leave this year was Faculty Master of Van Pelt College House and chair of the Residential Faculty Council, was a prime mover in the development of the Wheel project that provides on-site peer assistance in the College Houses, and in the creation of Kelly Writers House, the first of Penn's "Hubs"--nonresidential houses organized around common interests. He is now Faculty Director of Kelly Writers House.
Catalytic Phenomena: Dr. Gorte
Dr. Ray Gorte, the Carl V.S. Patterson Professor of Chemical Engineering and chair of the department in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, will be the 1999 recipient of the highest scientific recognition in the field of catalysis, the Paul H. Emmett Award in Fundamental Catalysis of the North American Catalysis Society. The award, sponsored by Grace Division, is given biennially for contributions that emphasize "discovery and understanding of catalytic phe-nomena," a field in which Dr. Gorte is one of the world's leading scholars. Dr. Gorte also won the 1998 Catalysis Club of Philadelphia Award, and last year's Guiseppe Parravano Memorial Award of the Michigan Catalysis Society.
Sansom Common: 'Part of New Era'
As more than 4000 city-wide revelers celebrated the Beaux Arts Ball last
week in and around the in-progress Inn at Penn, the Foundation for Architecture's
Executive Director John Higgins cited Sansom Common for personifying "the
continuation of the exciting new era for the University of Pennsylvania
begun under President Judith Rodin's leadership. Gala events, exciting retail
shops, the beautiful new Penn Bookstore and the new Inn At Penn are just
a small part of the many changes and developments at Penn aimed at integrating
the University and residential communities in West Philadelphia. Penn's
commitment to create an integrated center of commerce and education are
key elements in both the University and Philadelphia's leap forward to the
new millennium. The Foundation for Architecture is honored to have the Beaux
Arts Ball be a part of this new era."
At Friday's Stated Meeting, the Trustees voted these two resolutions of appreciation.
Dr. Nowell for the Lasker Award
Dr. Peter C. Nowell (M'52), Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, has spent his entire professional career at the University of Pennsylvania, earning his M.D. form the School of Medicine in 1952 and beginning his faculty career at Penn in 1956. For over 40 years, he has contributed to the well-being of the Medical Center and Health System, the University, and the community, and his constant efforts and extraordinary commitment have enhanced science and medicine with local, national, and international impact.
Dr. Nowell has made many significant contributions to science through his long and distinguished career, most notably in his discovery of the "Philadelphia Chromosome," the first human gene linked to cancer.
As a result of his distinguished career, Dr. Nowell has been selected to receive the 1998 Albert Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research from the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation. The Lasker Awards, chosen by a jury of the world's top scientists, are the nation's most prestigious honor for medical research and represent the highest possible recognition for a career of exceptional work--they are, indeed, considered "America's Nobels."
Resolved, that the Members of the University of Pennsylvania Health System Trustee Board Executive Committee, together with the University of Pennsylvania Board of Trustees, on behalf of themselves, and the entire Medical Center, Health System, and University, express to Dr. Peter C. Nowell their utmost congratulations and their admiration for all of his outstanding efforts in advancing scientific inquiry in the interests of society.
PennMed for the 'Triple Crown'
The University of Pennsylvania Health System has been honored in 1998 as the recipient of three major national quality health care awards: the National Quality Health Care Award from the National Committee for Quality Health Care; the Excellence in Healthcare Award from Modern Healthcare and MMI Companies, Inc.; and, most recently, the Ernest A. Codman Award from the Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) awarded to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
These outstanding awards represent the nation's "triple crown" of quality and reflect the superb quality of care received by patients who have selected the Health System for their health care needs.
The faculty and staff of the University of Pennsylvania Health System and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania have been recognized by these three national awards for their competence, commitment, and excellence in meeting the needs of our patients.
Resolved, that the University of Pennsylvania System Trustee Board Executive Committee, together with the University of Pennsylvania Board of Trustees, on behalf of themselves and the entire Medical Center, Health System, and University, express to the faculty and staff of the University of Pennsylvania Health System their deep appreciation and admiration for their outstanding efforts in consistently exceeding industry standards on behalf of our patients.
Almanac, Vol. 45, No. 10, November 3, 1998