Distinguished Innovators to Be Honored by The New York Academy of Medicine

NEW YORK, NY, November 12, 2009 - The New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) will recognize ground-breaking leaders in biomedical science, medicine, public health, and health policy with awards for lifetime achievement and distinguished contributions when it hosts its 162nd Anniversary Discourse on Tuesday, November 17, at the Academy's 1216 Fifth Avenue headquarters at 103rd Street.

President Emeritus and Professor of Economics and Public Affairs at Princeton University Harold T. Shapiro, PhD, will give the keynote talk at this annual event. His theme, "Medicine, Science and Public Responsibility," is at the core of the reason for NYAM's founding in 1847 by a group of civic-minded physicians concerned with public health services in New York City. Still an independent organization, NYAM today draws on the expertise of diverse partners worldwide and has more than 2,000 elected Fellows from across the health professions. Dr. Shapiro, who is also President Emeritus of the University of Michigan and served as Chair of the National Bioethics Advisory Comission from 1996-2001, will discuss his belief that both public and private institutions have a primary social purpose and moral responsibilities to the world around them.

The distinguished leaders receiving awards from NYAM have achieved extraordinary impact in diverse sectors of the health sciences:

• Eric S. Lander, PhD, for his leadership in the biomedical revolution generated by the new discourse in genetics and in particular in the Human Genome Project. Dr. Lander is President and Director of the Broad Institute, Co-chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, Professor of Biology at MIT, and Professor of Systems Biology at Harvard Medical School. He will receive the Academy Medal for Distinguished Contributions in Biomedical Science.
• David G. Nathan, MD, for his leading national role as a physician scientist and his outstanding contributions to the care of children, especially in relation to hematology and oncology. He is President Emeritus of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and the Robert A. Stranahan Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He will receive the John Stearns Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Medicine.
• Philip J. Landrigan, MD, MSc, DJH, for the significant ways he has contributed to improving public health nationwide and especially his commitment and accomplishments protecting children against environmental threats. He is the Ethel Wise Professor and Chair of the Department of Community and Preventive Medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Professor of Pediatrics and Director of Mount Sinai's Children's Environmental Health Center. He will receive the Stephen Smith Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Public Health.
• John E. Wennberg, MD, MPH, for his contributions reshaping the U.S. health-care system to focus on objective evidence and outcomes. He is the Peggy Y. Thomson Professor and Chair for the Evaluative Clinical Sciences, and Founder and Director Emeritus of the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. Dr. Wennberg is founding editor of the highly-respected Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care, an ongoing long-term study that examines the patterns of medical resource intensity and utilization in the United States. He will receive the Academy Medical for Distinguished Contributions in Health Policy.
• Jack D. Barchas, MD, for outstanding contributions as a NYAM trustee and his visionary leadership as the Chairman of the NYAM Board of Trustees. He is a renowned researcher on neuroregulators and behavior; his research included fundamental basic, clinical and translational aspects of what is termed systems neuroscience. Dr. Barchas is Barklie McKee Henry Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University and Psychiatrist-in-Chief of the New York Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell Medication Center. The Academy Plaque for Exceptional Service to the Academy will be awarded to Dr. Barchas, who served on the NYAM Board from 1997 to 2005.

"These professionals have all been innovators in their respective fields. They have made a profound difference-in basic science investigation, in therapeutic discovery, in helping shape critical health policy, and in public health impact at home and abroad. We are honored to recognize their accomplishments," said Jo Ivey Boufford, MD, President of NYAM.

The awardees are selected by an eminent committee that includes NYAM Fellows and Trustees. The medal for contributions in biomedical sciences has been awarded by NYAM since 1929, for achievement in medicine since 1992, and more recently, public health and health policy. Past recipients include many individuals who went on to receive a Nobel Prize, most recently Elizabeth H. Blackburn, PhD, who was honored by NYAM in 2005 and received a Nobel in Physiology or Medicine this year.

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 innovative research, education, community engagement and policy leadership. 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 November 12, 2009

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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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