November 2009

Michael Caligiuri, MD, Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center and The James, has been elected President of the Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI). Caligiuri has served a two-year term as vice president and president-elect for the AACI, an organization of the nation's 95 leading cancer research centers. The AACI promotes efforts to eradicate cancer through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary program of cancer research, treatment, patient care, prevention, education and community outreach.

Randall Longenecker, MD, Clinical Professor of Family Medicine, was awarded the 2009 Exemplary Teaching Award by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) in October. This honor recognizes AAFP members who have excellent teaching skills and who have implemented outstanding programs or developed innovative teaching models. Longenecker also serves as Assistant Dean for rural medical education and directs the College of Medicine's Rural Program.

Ginny Bumgardner, MD, Professor of Surgery, was recently elected to the Board of Governors of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD). The AALSD is the premier society dedicated to clinical care, education, research and advocacy to improve the health of people with liver disease. At the recent meeting there were nearly 8000 national and international attendees. Dr. Bumgardner has been an active member and participant for over 12 years. In addition to her new role, she currently serves on the Basic Science Committee.

Carlo Croce, MD, Chair of the Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics was recently awarded the Bertner Memorial Award. The Ernst W. Bertner Memorial Award is conferred on a physician or scientist who has made distinguished contributions to cancer research. It is the oldest award conferred by The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, and was established in 1950 in honor of Ernst William Bertner, MD, who was the first acting director of the MD Anderson Cancer Center and the first president of the Texas Medical Center. Past recipients include Robert Weinberg, PhD, Christiane Nusslein-Volhard, PhD, Gertrude B. Elion, MA, David Baltimore, PhD, Stanley Cohen, PhD and Francis Peyton Rous, MD.

Nicanor Moldovan, PhD, Investigator with the Dorothy M. Davis Heart & Lung Research Institute, is CO-PI with Stuart Cooper, PhD, William G. Lowrie Chair in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, on a $1.2 million RC2/Grand Opportunities award from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus package of the National Institute of Aging at the NIH. This goal of this grant is to develop a new assay for stem/progenitor cells, to correlate the vascular health status of patients in various age groups and disease states. The project is a collaboration from OSU's School of Engineering, Medical Center, and Nationwide Children's Hospital.

John Byrd, MD, Professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, has received the Michaele C. Christian Oncology Development Lectureship and Award for 2009. The lectureship and award, established in 2007 by the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, recognized the contributions of mid-career scientists involved in the development of cancer therapy agents.

Caroline Whitacre, PhD, Ohio State's Vice President for Research and Professor of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics, has been inducted into the National Multiple Sclerosis Society's Volunteer Hall of Fame for Researchers. Whitacre was one of three scientists selected for this honor. Her multiple sclerosis research has focused on immunology, including developments in oral tolerance as a treatment strategy. Other projects have looked in-depth at multiple sclerosis as it relates to gender differences and pregnancy.

Matthew Ringel, MD, Professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, has been awarded the American Thyroid Association's 2009 Van Meter Award. The award is presented to an investigator age 45 or under who has made outstanding contributions to thyroid disease research.

Claire Wolfe, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, has been chosen for the Frank H. Krusen, MD, Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Wolfe is the eighth award recipient associated with Ohio State's Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

John Byrd, MD, Professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, is the PI of a five-year, $11.5 million SPORE (Specilized Program of Research Excellence) grant to study and treat leukemia. This grant represents a milestone for Ohio State's leukemia program, which is only the second recipient of such an NCI grant directed at leukemia research. CO-PIs are Clara Bloomfield, MD and Guido Marcucci, MD, both Professors of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology.

Holly Cronau, MD, Associate Professor of Clinical Family Medicine, has been named the 2009 Family Medicine Educator of the Year by the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP). OAFP annually presents this award to a family medicine educator who meets and exceeds the criteria of being a capable teacher of family medicine, successful administrator/practitioner, productive research/scholar and inspiring leader. Dr. Cronau has worked on 22 funded projects as PI and another two as CO-PI. She has 10 publications and 30 professional presentations.

David Bahner, MD, Associate Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine, has received a Distinguished Educator award from the College of Medicine for sharing his time and expertise with medical students. Distinguished Educator awards are given to faculty and preceptors who have shown extraordinary commitment to teaching and the promotion of outstanding patient care.