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Stem Cell Initiative
Appointments & honors
Karina Davidson, PhD, has been appointed to a three-year term as Irving Associate Professor of Behavioral Medicine (in medicine and psychiatry). An expert on psychosocial interventions for patients with heart disease, Dr. Davidson has conducted extensive research on the effect of depression reduction and anger management techniques on cardiovascular parameters and outcomes.
Rudolph Leibel, MD, professor of pediatrics and medicine and co-director of the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, was appointed Christopher J. Murphy Memorial Professor of Diabetes Research. The professorship was established by Joseph M. and JoAnn M. Murphy in memory of their son, who died from the complications of type I diabetes at age 41.
Ronald E. Drusin, MD, vice dean for education in P&S, has been named Rolf H. Scholdager Professor of Clinical Medicine. Dr. Drusin’s commitment to his responsibilities as an educator has won the admiration of students and trainees who have benefitted from his devotion. He is the first incumbent of the professorship, which recognizes outstanding teaching in P&S.
Wayne A. Hendrickson, PhD, University Professor and Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, has been appointed Violin Family Professor of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics. Dr. Hendrickson is renowned for his pioneering research in uncovering the structure and function of biological molecules, including those of HIV, which provided invaluable insight into the development of new drugs for AIDS.
Edward Gelmann, MD, has been appointed the Clyde’56 and Helen Wu Professor of Medicine (in clinical oncology). A 2007 recruit to P&S from Georgetown University, Dr. Gelmann is an internationally renowned expert in the areas of medical oncology (with significant focus on prostate cancer), molecular genetics, and cancer growth and development.
Timothy A. Pedley, MD, the Henry & Lucy Moses Professor of Neurology and chair of the Department of Neurology, has been elected to a two-year term as president of the American Neurological Association, the senior academic society in neurology and the oldest professional and scientific neurological organization in North America.
LaMont Barlow’10 won the Clinical/ Epidemiology/Health Care category of the 6th Annual Joint Research Poster Symposium at the 2008 American Medical Association-Medical Student Section Interim Meeting. Steven Williams’09 won “Best Research Poster” at the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Annual Meeting and 2nd place in the Rabb-Venable Research Competition, Ophthalmology Section at the National Medical Association Annual Convention. Both P&S students are Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellows.
Hua V. Lin, PhD, associate research scientist in medicine-endocrinology, is the recipient of the 2008 Naomi Berrie Young Investigator Award for exceptional achievement in diabetes research. Dr. Lin investigates how the central nervous system and peripheral organs regulate glucose metabolism and energy balance. The award includes $100,000 in research funding.
Melissa Begg, ScD, professor of clinical biostatistics, has been named associate dean for interdisciplinary programs at Mailman. Dr. Begg will facilitate the development of interdisciplinary educational and research programs and partnerships with other departments and schools at Columbia. She is a graduate of the biostatistics doctoral program at the Harvard School of Public Health.
Frederica Perera, DrPH, professor of environmental health sciences and director of the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health, was honored by the Children’s Environmental Health Network for advancing the protection of children from environmental hazards, as well as her pioneering work in developing molecular epidemiology as a tool to evaluate the health effects of environmental exposure.
Michael Leifert, DDS, assistant clinical professor of dental medicine-orthodontics, has been honored with the New York State Dental Association’s New Dentist Leadership Award. Dr. Leifert was selected for his commitment to dental health in the northern Manhattan community and service to dental education.
School of Nursing student Michael Moskowitz’08 won the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists 2008 Student Writing Award in a nationwide competition. His article will be published in an upcoming issue of the association’s journal.
