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Update, November 8, 2017: view the video of the 170th Anniversary Discourse & Awards. 

New York (August 7, 2017) – The New York Academy of Medicine is pleased to announce the recipients of its prestigious annual awards for distinguished contributions by individuals in health policy, public health, clinical practice and biomedical research, as well as significant contributions to the Academy. The awards will be presented at the Academy’s 170th Anniversary Discourse & Awards on Thursday, November 2, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. at the Academy (1216 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street), which is free and open to the public with registration.

“This year’s honorees have made significant contributions to the health of the public in New York, across the nation and around the world, including in the fields of women’s health, mental health and health care delivery,” said Jo Ivey Boufford, MD, Academy President. “The New York Academy of Medicine is proud to honor each of these leaders for their innovative work and outstanding accomplishments.” 

As part of this important annual event, the Academy is also pleased to welcome Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David Oshinsky, PhD, Director of the Division of Medical Humanities and New York University School of Medicine Professor of History at New York University, to deliver the 170th Anniversary Discourse. Dr. Oshinsky’s talk, “Bellevue: A Look Back at America’s Most Storied Public Hospital,” will address the hospital’s history in the broader context of the development of the health care system and medical profession in New York City.  

The Academy’s tradition of hosting an annual discourse on an important issue of the day began in 1847 with an oration delivered to an audience of 2,500 people at the Broadway Tabernacle by Dr. John W. Francis. The tradition of honoring excellence in medicine and health began in 1929 with the establishment of the Academy Medal for Distinguished Contributions in Biomedical Science. 

Nancy E. Adler, PhD, Vice-Chair of the Department of Psychiatry, Director of the Center for Health and Community, and the Lisa and John Pritzker Professor of Psychology in the Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco, will receive the Academy Medal for Distinguished Contributions in Biomedical Science for her pioneering work in understanding health behaviors, particularly health-damaging behaviors, as well as her work on the impact of socioeconomic status on health and the role of psychosocial mediators.

Donald Berwick, MD, MPP, FRCP, President Emeritus and Senior Fellow at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, will receive the Academy Medal for Distinguished Contributions in Health Policy for his seminal work in advancing the field of health care quality improvement as President of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, and subsequently as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Paula A. Johnson, MD, MPH, President of Wellesley College, will receive the Stephen Smith Award for Distinguished Contributions in Public Health for her public leadership and groundbreaking work in advancing women’s health across the world through research, innovation, interdisciplinary education and advocacy.

Herbert Pardes, MD, the Lawrence C. Kolb Professor of Psychiatry and Executive Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of New York-Presbyterian Hospital, will receive The John Stearns Medal for Distinguished Contributions in Clinical Practice for his contributions to the field of Psychiatry, including as director of the National Institute of Mental Health, as well as transforming care delivery overall as the president and CEO of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System.

Barry S. Coller, MD, Physician in Chief, Vice President for Medical Affairs, and David Rockefeller Professor in the Allen and Frances Adler Laboratory of Blood and Vascular Biology at The Rockefeller University, and Bobbi Coller, PhD, Independent Curator and Art Educator, will jointly receive The New York Academy of Medicine’s Award for Exceptional Service to the Academy. The Collers are longtime supporters and champions of the important role of the Academy's Library and historical collections in bridging medicine, history and the arts through research, public programming and education.

About The New York Academy of Medicine

The New York Academy of Medicine advances solutions that promote the health and well-being of people in cities worldwide.

Established in 1847, The New York Academy of Medicine continues to address the health challenges facing New York City and the world’s rapidly growing urban populations. We accomplish this through our Institute for Urban Health, home of interdisciplinary research, evaluation, policy, and program initiatives; our world class historical medical library and its public programming in history, the humanities and the arts; and our Fellows program, a network of more than 2,000 experts elected by their peers from across the professions affecting health. Our current priorities are healthy aging, disease prevention, and eliminating health disparities. For more information, visit www.nyam.org