NYAM Honors Three Innovative Leaders Changing the Face of Global Health

NEW YORK CITY, June 12- The New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) hosted its14th Annual Gala at The Pierre on Tuesday June 11. The 360 guests included individuals from the medical community and private and public sector in support of NYAM’s continued efforts to improve urban health with a comprehensive and global approach.

This year’s honorees, Mehmood Khan, MD, Peter Piot, MD, PhD, and David B. Snow, Jr. ,

From top left: Thomas Q. Morris, Jo Ivey Boufford, Mehmood Khan Bottom left: David B. Snow Jr and Peter Piot.

have made remarkable contributions in HIV/AIDS and urban health, areas in which NYAM has historically been very active.

Mehmood Khan, MD, Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of PepsiCo, Inc., has guided PepsiCo’s long-term research strategy and provided leadership of next generation technologies, food safety, nutritional standards and quality assurance. In his acceptance speech he remarked on the challenges ahead: “Around the world today there are one million, estimated, people who are overweight or obese, and the number of individuals who are malnourished is about eight hundred million. In the last 20 years the environment has changed, and we have this dichotomous challenge. I am absolutely convinced that not only will the industry meet that challenge, but PepsiCo will be one of the leaders.”

Peter Piot, MD, PhD, Executive Director, UNAIDS and Under Secretary-General of the United Nations, has been the Executive Director of UNAIDS, and chief advocate for worldwide action against AIDS, since its establishment in 1995. In 1976, at the start of his career, he co-founded the Ebola virus, which subsequently launched the first international project on AIDS in Africa.

Click here to watch the NYAM Video- Gala 2008 Click here for a photo slideshow of the event

Dr. Piot is widely acknowledged as having provided the foundations of understanding HIV infection in Africa. Remarking on the state of HIV/AIDS prevention he noted, “Three million people are now on antiretroviral therapy in the developing world. Five years ago there were less than 200,000. For every two people who are put on antiretroviral therapy, five are newly infected all over the world.” Noting that his term at UNAIDS would come to an end this year he closed with, “From now on I will be a strong advocate for the Academy. You can count on me.”

David B. Snow, Jr., Chairman and CEO of Medco Health Solutions, Inc., is a healthcare industry veteran, innovator and entrepreneur who has created and implemented solutions to manage the rising costs of health care for the past 30 years. Medco is one of the largest specialty pharmacies that

Over 350 guests honored members of the medical community at NYAM's 14th Annual Gala.

assist health plans in managing drug costs and benefits for its constituents. While considering ways in which the healthcare industry can save money Mr. Snow stated, “At Medco alone when we get an e-prescription it’s $3 per prescription saved just on the administrative costs. We fill 700 million prescriptions per year. There is such low hanging fruit that saves money. We can take those savings, help corporate America compete in the world economy, and take what’s left and help our inner cities which are grotesquely underserved.”

NYAM is proud to recognize these leaders and continues to support the work of individuals advancing global health.

The Gala, a critical source of support for NYAM’s mission of advancing the health of people living in cities, raised over $600,000. All monies raised will support research, education, and advocacy programs that enhance global health.

HONOREES

2007

• JOSEPH M. FECZKO, MD
  
• JAMES W. FORDYCE
  
• BOB WRIGHT

2006

• EDWARD J. LUDWIG
  
• JUDITH RODIN

2005

• KATIE COURIC
  
• PAUL E. FARMER, MD, PHD
  
• EDWARD LEWIS
  
• JOHN C. WHITEHEAD

2004

• JOSEPH M. HOGAN
  
• ANTHONY S. FAUCI, MD
  
• DANIEL LIBESKIND
  
• DAVID H. KOCH

2003

• ROBERT E. RUBIN
  
• DEAN R. O'HARE
  
• ALFRED SOMMER, MD, MHS

2002

• PAUL GREENGARD, PHD
  
• ERIC R. KANDEL, MD
  
• CHARLES R. LEE
  
• WILLIAM J. MCDONOUGH

2001

• LEROY E. HOOD, MD, PHD
  
• ARNOLD J. LEVINE, PHD
  
• PAUL M. MONTRONE

2000

• FRANCIS S. COLLINS, MD, PHD
  
• HENRY A. MCKINNELL, PHD
  
• ROBERT B. SHAPIRO

1999

• C. MICHAEL ARMSTRONG
  
• DONALD A. B. LINDBERG, MD
  
• MARK L. NELSON

1998

• RAYMOND V. GILMARTIN
  
• DAVID D. HO, MD
  
• ELIZABETH TAYLOR

1997

• DAVID A. HAMBURG, MD
  
• EVELYN H. LAUDER

1996

• MARTIN CHERKASKY, MD
  
• HARRY P. KAMEN

1995

• SAUL J. FARBER, MD
  
• MATHILDE KRIM, PHD

HONORARY CHAIRMEN

2004

• JOHN K. CASTLE
  
• HENRY A. MCKINNELL, PHD
  
• PAUL M. MONTRONE
  
• DEAN R. O'HARE

1999

• WILLIAM T. GOLDEN

1998

• MATHILDE KRIM, PHD

1997

• GEORGE E. PATAKI

GALA CHAIRMEN

2006

• JOHN K. CASTLE
  
• JOHN R. CONSIDINE
  
• FRED HASSAN
  
• JOSEPH M. HOGAN
  
• DAVID H. KOCH
  
• MORRIS W. OFFIT
  
• BRIAN L. ROBERTS
  
• JOHN W. ROWE, MD
  

2005

• MAURICE R. GREENBERG
  
• JOSEPH M. HOGAN
  
• DAVID H. KOCH
  
• VINCENT A. MAI
  
• JOHN D. WREN

2004

• PETER T. GRAUER
  
• JOHN D. WREN

2003

• HELENE L. KAPLAN
  
• HENRY A. MCKINNELL, PHD

2002

• ALFRED LERNER
  
• HENRY A. MCKINNELL, PHD

2001

• MAURICE R. GREENBERG
  
• HENRY A. MCKINNELL, PHD

2000

• JOHN K. CASTLE
  
• VINCENT A. MAI

1999

• DEAN R. O'HARE

1998

• DEAN R. O'HARE

1997

• MARGARET E. MAHONEY

1996

• CHARLES A. HEIMBOLD, JR.

1995

• JAMES A. HARMON

HOSTS

2002

• CALVIN TRILLIN

2000

• KATIE COURIC

1996

• JANE PAULEY

1995

• TONY RANDALL

The New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) has been advancing the health of people in cities since 1847. An independent organization, NYAM addresses the health challenges facing the world’s urban populations through interdisciplinary approaches to policy leadership, education, community engagement and innovative research. Drawing on the expertise of diverse partners worldwide and more than 2,000 elected Fellows from across the professions, our current priorities are to create environments in cities that support healthy aging; to strengthen systems that prevent disease and promote the public’s health; and to implement interventions that eliminate health disparities.

Posted on June 12, 2008

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Contact:
Andrew J. Martin
Director of Communications
The New York Academy of Medicine
1216 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10029
212-822-7285
amartin@nyam.org

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