Kartik K. Venkatesh, MD, PhD, FACOG, associate professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Epidemiology in the College of Public Health, received the Excellence Award for Translational Science Research for his work to improve outcomes for people with high-risk pregnancies who are living with diabetes and cardiometabolic conditions.
What do you love most about your work?
Being able to see patients in clinic and also do research side by side. I conduct clinical trials and conduct patient centered research, so my lab is literally the clinic. As an ObGyn and maternal fetal medicine specialist, it is an honor to bring our findings along with the best of care and evidence-based care to families and women during a truly, momentous, special time.
What’s so unique about the environment at the college and the Wexner Medical Center?
It’s an incredible and inspiring place to work. You are part of a community and a family, where people want to see you succeed professionally and personally. It’s a place where you can be both an academician and a patient-centered clinician.
Theodore Wagener, PhD, professor of Internal Medicine and the Leonard J. Immke Jr. and Charlotte L. Immke Chair in Cancer Research, received the Excellence Award for Basic Science Research for dedicating his career to preventing and reducing tobacco use.
Describe the focus of your research.
I have evolved into an internationally renowned expert in tobacco product evaluation, addiction and regulatory science and the harm reduction potential of e-cigarettes, which has significantly influenced regulation. Over time, I have secured more than $42 million in tobacco-related extramural funding as a principal investigator and led or participated in more than 30 tobacco research studies funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration.
Beyond your research, what else receives your time and attention?
I am dedicated to mentoring and training the next generation of psychologists, public health and tobacco researchers. I have guided numerous undergraduate and graduate students, many of whom have received NIH predoctoral fellowships and have gone on to prestigious residencies, fellowships, and academic positions. I hope my mentorship inspires others to strive to improve lives through discovery and leadership.
Daniel M. Walker, PhD, MPH, associate professor and vice chair for Research in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, and a member of CATALYST, The Center for the Advancement of Team Science, Analytics and Systems Thinking, received the Excellence Award for Health Services Research for his focus on connecting the health care system with community-based organizations.
How do you translate studies that look at ways to bridge patient care gaps into plans and processes that aid patient transition of care?
We suggest and develop system-level improvements that facilitate wraparound services and create comprehensive lifestyle interventions that can drive health care improvements across a range of conditions. When adapted, our research has significantly contributed to improving health outcomes, health equity and health care delivery systems.
How does the team environment here at Ohio State support your work and your success?
There’s so much collaboration that goes on here that impacts our ability to improve the health of our communities. It is really an honor to be celebrated, not just for myself, but the entire team and the entire College of Medicine. Together, we strive to translate research into practice to bridge health care and community systems that ensure equitable health care access and delivery.
