Prestigious Siegel Family Awards and Prizes Presented to Faculty and Students
Weill Cornell Medical College medical students, from left, William Cope, Andre Belarmino, Rachel Kang, Sasha Hernandez, Salvatore D'Amato and Milna Rufin with Overseer Herbert J. Siegel and his wife, Jeanne. They, along with Samuel Kim and Zodina Beiene (not pictured), received Siegel Family Student Prizes during Salute to Scholarship on May 9. Photo credit: StudioBrooke
The five Weill Cornell Medicine faculty recipients of this year's Siegel Family Awards and Prizes were recognized at commencement. These prestigious awards are distributed annually and carry an unrestricted $50,000 cash prize.
Dr. Peter Marzuk, the Gertrude Feil Associate Dean of Curricular Affairs and a professor of psychiatry, received the Siegel Family Faculty Award, considered the "Nobel prize for teaching" by Weill Cornell Medicine leadership. The award honors an outstanding Weill Cornell Medicine faculty member who has a record of dedicated educational service to the institution.
The Siegel Family Award for Outstanding Medical Research was bestowed upon Dr. Scott Blanchard, an associate professor of physiology and biophysics, and Dr. John P. Moore, a professor of microbiology and immunology. They were recognized for their exceptional professional achievement and scientific innovation, as well as a commitment to positively impact future generations of researchers.
Dr. Michael Stern '01, an assistant professor of clinical medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine and chief of geriatric emergency medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, was awarded the Neal Flomenbaum, M.D., Prize for Excellence in Emergency Medicine. Now in its second year, the award honors an outstanding emergency medicine faculty member who demonstrates clinical skill and dedication to the field of emergency medicine.
Dr. Richard Scher, a clinical professor of dermatology, was named the inaugural winner of the Richard D. Granstein, M.D., Prize for Excellence in Dermatology. This newly established prize acknowledges professional achievement, clinical skill and research contributions in the field of dermatology.
Medallions presented to the Siegel Family Student Prize winners
In addition, eight students — two from each class — received the Siegel Family Student Prizes, which carry $25,000 scholarships to help support and enhance their medical education at Weill Cornell Medical College:
- William Cope, '16
- Milna Rufin, '16
- Salvatore D'Amato, '17
- Sasha Hernandez, '17
- Samuel Kim, '18
- Zodina Beiene, '18
- Andre Belarmino, '19
- Rachel Kang, '19
The students were selected for the scholarships based upon a demonstrated financial need, high academic achievement and leadership potential in their fields.
Additional Awards and Honors
Dr. Mark Russ, an associate professor of clinical psychiatry, was recognized as an American Psychological Association Life Fellow at the group's annual meeting in May in Atlanta. The association's fellowship committee recommends new fellows and the board of directors formally elects them; fellows achieve life status once their age plus total years of service equals 95.
Dr. Peter Schlegel, chairman of the Department of Urology, the James J. Colt Professor of Urology, a professor of urology and a professor of reproductive medicine, received the American Urological Association's 2016 Distinguished Contribution Award. The association recognized Dr. Schlegel for his "countless years of research, discovery and treatment of male infertility, as well as urological education and dedication to students, residents and fellows." Dr. Schlegel received the award during the association's annual meeting on May 10 in San Diego. The American Urological Association seeks to promote the highest standards of urological clinical care through education, research and the formulation of healthcare policy.