Dr. Joseph Fins Elected Distinguished Member of the Royal National Academy of Medicine of Spain
Dr. Joseph J. Fins, chief of the Division of Medical Ethics, has been elected a distinguished member of the Royal National Academy of Medicine of Spain - the only person selected for the honor in 2013.
Dr. Joseph J. Fins, chief of the Division of Medical Ethics at Weill Cornell Medical College
Dr. Fins, who is also the E. William Davis Jr., MD Professor of Medical Ethics, professor of medicine, public health and medicine in psychiatry, was recognized for his leadership in American bioethics and his pioneering work in neuroethics. He will be formally inducted as an "academico de honor" later this year in Madrid when he will give a formal address to the academy, known in Spain as the Real Academia Nacional de Medicina de Espana.
Election as an academico de honor is highly selective and rarely is a non-Spainard honored with this recognition. Founded in 1733, Spain's Royal Academy of Medicine promotes the progress of Spanish medicine, publishes the country's medical dictionary and organizes projects and scientific conferences in the public interest.
Dr. Fins has been involved with Spain and Spanish bioethics for more than 30 years. As a Wesleyan undergraduate, he studied Spanish literature and history at the Instituto Internacional in Madrid. As a Weill Cornell faculty member, he was a visiting professor at the Complutense University of Madrid, edited anthologies on Spanish bioethics translated into English, and contributed to Spanish bioethcs by writing papers in Spanish.
In addition to his election to the Real Academia Nacional de Medicina de Espana, Dr. Fins is also an elected member of the Institute of Medicine of the (U.S.) National Academy of Sciences and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Additional awards and honors
Dr. James Bussel, professor of pediatrics, professor of pediatrics in obstetrics and gynecology and professor of pediatrics in medicine, received the 2013 DeWitt Clinton Award from the New York Masons at the annual Masonic Toys for Tot drive Dec. 5 at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. The DeWitt Clinton Award recognizes outstanding public and community service by a non-Masonic organization or individual whose actions exemplify a shared concern for the well-being of mankind. The toy drive brings holiday cheer to kids who benefit from the research done by the Children's Cancer & Blood Foundation, which works in conjunction with the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Division at the Komansky Center for Children's Health at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell.
Dr. Joseph Fins, chief of the Division of Medical Ethics, the E. William Davis Jr., MD Professor of Medical Ethics, professor of medicine, public health and medicine in psychiatry, received the Award for Outstanding Service from American Society for Bioethics and Humanities during its 15th annual meeting in October in Atlanta. Dr. Fins was honored for his service as president of the society, which flourished under his leadership. The society is dedicated to promote the exchange of ideas and foster multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary and inter-professional scholarship; research; teaching; policy development; professional development; and collegiality among people engaged in clinical and academic bioethics and health-related humanities.
Dr. Antonio M. Gotto Jr., dean emeritus of Weill Cornell and co-chairman of the Board of Overseers, received the Texas Chapter Laureate Award from the American College of Physicians on Nov. 16. The award honors fellows and masters of the college who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in medical care, education, research and service to their communities, chapter and the college. The college is a national organization of internists — physician specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness.
Dr. Richard T. Silver, professor of medicine, received an honorary award from the Israel Society of Hematology and Blood Transfusion and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center during the M.D. Anderson-Israel Hematologic Malignancies meeting hosted Oct. 9-12 in Jerusalem. Dr. Silver was honored for his participation and outstanding contribution to the Israel Society of Hematology and Blood Transfusion's annual conference, and for lifetime achievement in the field of hematology.