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Honors & Other Things
May 22, 2007, Volume 53, No. 34

  • Dr. Aldhous: Wistar Journalism Award
  • Dr. Calligaro: National Vascular Society
  • Dr. Chang: RWJ Physician Faculty Scholars Award
  • Ms. Daniels: Medal of Courage
  • 136 Penn Physicians: “Top Doctors”
  • GSE Graduate Student Awards
  • Dr. Aldhous: Wistar Journalism Award

    The winner of the 2007 Wistar Institute Science Journalism Award is Dr. Peter Aldhous, San Francisco bureau chief for New Scientist magazine. He won for a set of articles that investigated important questions in key areas of current biomedical research, including stem cell and bioterror research. For his work, Dr. Aldhous will receive a certificate of award and cash prize of $5,000.

    The Wistar Institute Science Journalism Award honors annually the most insightful and enterprising reporting on the basic biomedical sciences in print or broadcast journalism.


    Dr. Calligaro: National Vascular Society

    Dr. Keith Calligaro, chief of vascular surgery at Pennsylvania Hospital, was recently named President of the Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery (SCVS), one of the two national vascular societies. As SCVS President, Dr. Calligaro will lead the organization in its mission of advancing the art and science of vascular surgery and endovascular interventions, providing a forum for vascular surgeons and improving the delivery of health care in vascular disease

    Dr. Chang: RWJ Physician Faculty Scholars Award

    Virginia Chang

    Dr. Virginia Chang, assistant professor of medicine in the division of general internal medicine, was selected as one of 15 medical school faculty nationwide to receive a 2007 Physician Faculty Scholars Award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Her project is Weight Status and Quality of Care among Older Adults in the U.S. She has been awarded $300,000 over a 3-year period.

    Under the Physician Faculty Scholars Program, talented junior faculty, nominated by their medical schools and selected by the program, will receive support to enhance their skills and productivity through institutional and national mentoring, specific research experience, and protected time. The program will enable these committed physicians to engage in research which will inform change in health policy and health care.


    Ms. Daniels: Medal of Courage

    Kathleen Daniels

    Cancer survivor, Kathleen Daniels, and her support person, Maryann Cugini, will receive the Medal of Courage from the Wellness Community of Philadelphia for embodying the spirit of hope in the face of cancer. Ms. Daniels has been employed by the University since 1978 and works for Penn Dental Care Network in their Bryn Mawr Office as an administrative assistant in the billing department. The “award is given to participants who encourage all who have been affected by cancer. These people serve as an inspiration to the community. Their actions teach others that while a cancer diagnosis can bring tremendous challenges it can also help people to learn how to live the best quality of life.” Ms. Daniels is also an ovarian cancer survivor celebrating five years out from end of treatment on May 23, 2007.


    136 Penn Physicians: “Top Doctors”

    Physicians from UPHS topped the list in  Philadelphia magazine’s “Top Doctors” from the area. The 136 Penn physicians who made the list represent over one-third of physicians listed. For the full list of Penn’s 2007 “Top Doctors” see www.uphs.upenn.edu/about_uphs/topdocs.html.

    GSE Graduate Student Awards

    The Graduate School of Education has announced the following graduate student awards:

    The William E. Arnold Award for Outstanding Contributions by a doctoral student, given to a graduating student who has had a significant impact on GSE, to Francis Hult.

    The Phi Delta Kappa Award for Outstanding Dissertation to Heather L. Rouse for her dissertation, What’s Behind Being Behind: A Population-based Study of Early Risks and School Success.

    The Dean’s Award for Outstanding Student Leadership in Extending the Mission of GSE, given to students who have cultivated strong relationships between GSE and the surrounding communities in order to more efficiently realize the goal of an improved quality in teaching and  educational practice, to Vinay Harpalani.

    UCD: Webby Award

    The Webby Award, the leading international honor for the web, recognized University City District’s (UCD) newly launched mobile website, www.ucitymobile.com, as an Official Honoree. Of the more than 8,000 entries submitted to the 11th Annual Webby Awards, fewer than 15% were given this distinction. The UCD mobile website was honored under the mobile category. Lori Brennan, University City District’s Marketing Director said, “University City District is very proud to be recognized and honored to receive our first Webby….We are happy to be in the forefront of organizations allowing users to access critical visitor information 24/7.” Referred by the New York Times as the “Oscars of the Internet,” the Webby Awards honor excellence on the internet, including websites, interactive advertising, online film & video, and mobile websites. The Awards are presented by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, a 550-member body of leading web experts, business figures, luminaries, visionaries and creative celebrities

    High Faculty Scholarly Productivity

    Penn ranked in the top 10 in 26 disciplines in the 2005 Faculty Scholarly Productivity index. The rankings appeared in the January 12, 2007 issue of the Chronicle of Higher Education. Conducted by Academic Analytics, a company owned partially by the State University of New York at Stony Brook, 7,294 doctoral programs were ranked in 104 disciplines at 354 institutions. Faculty members were judged on as many as three factors: publications, which can include the number of books and journal articles published as well as citations of journal articles; federal-grant dollars awarded; and honors and awards.

    Below are the disciplines and their rankings.

    Biomedical Sciences

    #4 Biochemistry
    #9 Bioinformatics
    #4 Biophysics
    #8 Epidemiology
    #6 Genetics
    #8 Immunology
    #10 Neuroscience
    #8 Pharmacology

    Business

    #3 Accounting
    #9 Finance
    #2 Management
    #1 Marketing

    Engineering

    #2 Agricultural and bioengineering
    #10 Architecture
    #1 Biomedical engineering
    #5 Chemical engineering
    #6 Mechanical engineering

    Health Science Professions

    #3 Nursing

    Humanities

    #3 Communication
    #5 Linguistics

    Physical Sciences and Mathematics

    #10 Statistics

    Public Administration and Social Services

    #3 Criminology and justice studies
    #7 Public administration and policy
    #2 Social work

    Social and Behavioral Sciences

    #6 Economics
    #2 Sociology


    Medal for Distinguished Contributions: Dr. Rubenstein

    Arthur Rubenstein

    Dr. Arthur H. Rubenstein, executive vice president of the University of Pennsylvania for the Health System and Dean of the School of Medicine will receive The New York Academy of Medicine’s Medal for Distinguished Contributions in Biomedical Science for his groundbreaking research in diabetes. Among Dr. Rubenstein’s many accomplishments is his work with Dr. Donald Steiner to develop the first accurate method of measuring insulin secretion in diabetics using animal insulin, thus paving the way to the commercial production of human insulin. Dr. Rubenstein is one of four distinguished scientists and health leaders to be honored at tomorrow’s 160th Awards Dinner for contributions to improving understanding of diseases and public health status and  for distinguished accomplishments in biomedical science, medicine, public health, and service to the Academy.  


    Lifetime of Leadership in Academic Clinical Research

    Dr. Arthur Rubenstein was also recently presented the 2007 Academic Health Centers Leadership Award from the Clinical Research Forum, an organization consisting of the nation’s leading academic health centers. Dr. Rubenstein was cited for his inspired leadership at Penn where, for the past six years, he has helped establish “an aggressive scientific program to advance clinical and translational research in such areas as cardiovascular disease, as well as diabetes, obesity and metabolism.”

    “In addition to his dedication in advancing a national agenda involving support for clinical and translational research, Dr. Rubenstein has also played a pivotal role helping the Forum realign and revitalize its own strategic initiatives to enhance the understanding and support for clinical research and its impact on health and health care,” said Dr. William F. Crowley, Jr., chairman of the board of the Clinical Research Forum, as well as professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and the chief of the Harvard Medical School’s NICHD Center of Excellence in Reproductive Endocrinology.

    “Angell” Medal for Distinguished Service: Dr. Baldeck

    Andrea Baldeck

    Dr. Andrea Baldeck,  long-time Penn Museum Overseer and benefactor, is the recipient of the Angell Medal—so named in honor of Marian Angell Godfrey Boyer—to honor distinguished service to the Penn Museum by a Museum supporter. Dr. Jeremy A. Sabloff, interim director of the Penn Museum, surprised Dr. Baldeck with the award at the May 3 Board Meeting.

    “Over these years, Andrea, you have shared with us your time, your wisdom and your strength of character,” said Dr. Sabloff. “We can never thank you appropriately, but please accept this award—the Angell Medal—in honor of your distinguished service to the Museum.”

    Dr. Baldeck is a much-exhibited photographer and author/photographer of several books, including The Heart of Haiti, 1996, and second edition, 2006; Talismanic, 1998; Venice a Personal View, 1999; Touching the Mekong, 2003; and Closely Observed, 2006. Dr. Sabloff noted, “Photographer extraordinaire and world traveler, Andrea shares the world with us through the lens of her camera. Her extraordinary publications of black and white photography and the accompanying Museum exhibits of her work are well known, not only to us, but to audiences throughout the world.”

    Initially appointed to the Museum’s Board of Overseers in 1991, Dr. Baldeck, who received her medical degree from Penn in 1979, has served on the Museum’s Executive Committee, Outreach/Public Programs Committee, Repatriation Committee, and as Chair of the Nominating Committee. In addition to her service with Penn Museum, Dr. Baldeck is also a Trustee of Vassar College and a Director of the Settlement Music School.

    Professor Mosley at Venice Biennale

    Joshua MosleyJoshua Mosley, associate professor of animation and digital media in the School of Design, currently a fellow at the American Academy in Rome, will exhibit his new work dread at the Venice Biennale’s 52nd International Art Exhibition, Think with the Senses—Feel with the Mind. Art in the Present Tense, June 10 through November 21. Professor Mosley is the first known Penn faculty member to have his work exhibited at this prestigious exhibition, along with an estimated 100 artists from all over the world. Information and images of the bronze sculptures and animation, set to an original score by the artist, can be found on his website: http://joshuamosley.com/dread/.
    dread

    At left, part of Joshua Mosley’s dread exhibit which includes mixed media animation, six minutes in length, and five bronze sculptures. The 3D scanned clay sculptures are animated in a landscape of stop-motion photography. “During a nature walk, Pascal meets J.J. Rousseau in the forest. In their encounter they are not able to resolve their perspectives on the nature of things. They continue into darker territories where they meet a difficult reality that sets them apart.”

    Almanac - May 22, 2007, Volume 53, No. 34