Dr. David Abramson, clinical professor of ophthalmology at Weill Cornell and director of the Robert M. Ellsworth Ophthalmic Oncology Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, is the recipient of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2004 Mildred Weisenfeld Award for Excellence in Ophthalmology. Dr. Abramson was presented the award at the 2004 ARVO Annual Meeting, held April 25-29, in Fort Lauderdale, where he also gave the Weisenfeld lecture. The Weisenfeld Award is presented annually in recognition of distinguished scholarly contributions to the clinical practice of ophthalmology.
Dr. David V. Becker, professor of radiology and professor of medicine, chaired a symposium on "Public Health Strategies for Protecting the Thyroid with Potassium Iodide in the Event of a Nuclear Incident," on Feb. 28, at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill. The American Thyroid Association and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists supported the symposium, which targeted public health officials, physicians, radiation specialists, military officers, journalists and more. Featured at the symposium were experts in issues related to the use of potassium iodide (KI) as a thyroid-blocking agent in the event of a nuclear emergency. In other news, Dr. Becker is continuing his work with the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, developing a monograph on radioiodine carcinogenesis.
Drs. Richard Devereux and Mary Roman, professors of medicine, received the 2003 Hero with a Heart Award from the National Marfan Foundation, for their cardiac research on the Marfan syndrome and "extraordinary patient care" for people with Marfan syndrome. Drs. Devereux and Roman were presented the award at HEARTWORKS 2003—a gala to benefit the National Marfan Foundation—held on April 10, at the Liz Claiborne Showroom in Manhattan.
Dr. Antonio Gotto, dean of the Medical College and professor of medicine, co-chaired the International Symposium on Triglycerides, Metabolic Disorders and Cardiovascular Disease on July 10-13, at the New York Marriott Marquis. Dr. Gotto, one of the world's foremost experts on cardiovascular disease, spoke of the evolution of triglycerides as a coronary risk factor, including whether high triglycerides alone can increase a person's risk for coronary heart disease. Click here for press release.
Dr. Maria New, the Harold and Percy Uris Professor of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism, is the 2003 recipient of the Fred Conrad Koch Award—the Endocrine Society's highest honor. Dr. New was presented the award at the 85th Annual Meeting of the Endocrine Society, which took place on June 19-22, in Philadelphia. The award is given annually to recognize "exceptional contributions" to endocrinology and includes a $25,000 honorarium.
Dr. Fred Plum
Dr. Fred Plum, University Professor at Weill Cornell and former chairman of the Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, received the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism at the society's biannual meeting (Brain '03/Brain PET '03) held in Calgary, Canada (June 29—July 3). Presenting the award to Dr. Plum on behalf of the society was Weill Cornell's Dr. Constantino Iadecola, the George C. Cotzias Distinguished Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience and director of the Division of Neurobiology.
In Dr. Iadecola's presentation, he referred to Dr. Plum as a "pioneer and champion of scientific neurology," and reflected on his contributions as a scientist, a teacher and a man. Dr. Iadecola continued with a quote excerpted from "Reprieve: A Memoir" (1981), by Agnes De Mille, in which she writes, "His word was a command. The hospital staff simply fell away when he appeared. One gets that sort of respect in only one way—by deserving it."