2011 Faculty Honors

Y. Claire Wang and her team won second place in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine Childhood Obesity Challenge for launch of Caloric Calculator, an online tool that estimates the average impact on energy balance of a range of behavioral and community interventions to prevent childhood obesity.
Kenneth Ong was named by Modern Healthcare as one of the country's top 25 clinical informaticists of 2012.
Heather Greenlee, assistant professor of Epidemiology and Medical Oncology, was elected to serve as president of the Society for Integrative Oncology for a term beginning in October 2013. The Society for Integrative Oncology is a multi-disciplinary organization of professionals dedicated to studying and facilitating the cancer treatment and recovery process through the use of evidence-based, comprehensive, integrative healthcare.
Patrick Wilson has been named as an Emerging Scholar for 2013 by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education, which recognizes minority scholars under 40 for their outstanding achievements, research, and future potential to add knowledge to their professional fields.
Dean Linda P. Fried received the Ipsen Foundation 2012 Longevity Prize at the Foundation’s annual symposium in San Diego on November 14. Dean Fried was unanimously chosen by an international jury of scientists for her innovative work on the aging population and success in defining the “frailty syndrome.” Accepting the award, Dean Fried gave a talk on the syndrome of frailty and the loss of resilience that comes with aging. Created in 1983, the Ipsen Foundation highlights advances in biomedical research and publishes studies and the latest discoveries of practitioners and academics.
Mindy Thompson Fullilove, professor of Sociomedical Sciences, has been elected to the Board of Directors of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) for the term December 2012 through December 2015. Fullilove is one of only three public board members at the AIA and will share her insights on the problems of American cities from a psychiatric perspective.
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, whose mission is to bring about a cure for breast cancer in our lifetime, has cited Regina Santella, Mary Beth Terry, and Dawn Hershman for their innovative clinical and translational breast cancer research. The scientists were honored at an annual symposium and awards luncheon in New York.
Ed Nickoloff, professor of radiology in Environmental Health Sciences, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Upstate Medical Physics Association in November of 2012.
The Department of Sociomedical Sciences Doctoral Program's Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity was recognized by the national organization Excelencia in Education for improving educational achievement for Latino students in higher education. Ana Abraido-Lanza, associate professor and program director, accepted theaward on behalf of Columbia University President Lee Bollinger at a ceremony held in Washington, D.C., on October 2. The department was selected after a nationwide review of over 150 entries.
Sandro Galea, Gelman Professor and chair of the Department of Epidemiology, was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies (IOM). The IOM also elected Salim S. Abdool Karim, professor of Clinical Epidemiology, as a foreign associate. One of the highest honors awarded in the fields of health and medicine in the United States, it recognizes individuals who have made major contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, healthcare, and public health.
Robert Fullilove, associate dean for Community and Minority Affairs and professor of Clinical Sociomedical Sciences, received the Allan Rosenfield Award for Public Health and Social Justice by the Public Health Association of NYC in November of 2012. Fullilove is known for his significant contributions in the field of minority health and as an advocate for social justice in New York City.
Sandro Galea, Gelman Professor and chair of the Department of Epidemiology, has been appointed the chair of the Community Services Board of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for a term expiring December 31, 2015. The board advises the Division of Mental Hygiene on issues concerning mental health, mental retardation and developmental disabilities, and alcoholism. As chair of the board, Galea will also serve as one of the 11 members of the NYC Board of Health.
John Santelli, chair of the Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, received the 2012 American Public Health Society's Carl S. Shultz Award for Lifetime Achievement, which honors individuals who have made an outstanding lifetime contribution to the field of population and reproductive health.
Karestan Koenen, psych-neuro cluster leader and associate professor of Epidemiology, has been named lead epidemiologist for the National PTSD Consortium. The main goals of the consortium are to improve the diagnosis and treatment of the disorder. Through her work with the consortium, Koenen is helping to design new studies to check the feasibility of using biomarker tests in the general population.
Linda Fried, Dean and the DeLemar Professor of Public Health, is the recipient of the 2012 Metlife Foundation Silver Scholar Award from the Alliance for Aging Research. The award is in recognition of her innovative work in addressing the rising cost of healthcare associated with aging, preventive strategies for keeping aging populations healthier longer, and thought leadership on the benefits to society of greater longevity. Dean Fried received the award at the Alliance's Annual Bipartisan Congressional Gala on September 11.
John Rowe, professor of Health Policy and Management, has been named as an honorary fellow by the American Academy of Nursing for his outstanding contributions to health care and the nursing profession throughout his career. Rowe—a champion of innovative nursing initiatives and broadening the scope of nursing practice—received the award at the Academy’s Annual Conference and Meeting in Washington, D.C., on October 13.
Sandro Galea, Gelman Professor and chair of Epidemiology, was elected President of the Society for Epidemiologic Research, the premier organization for epidemiological research and science discovery. He begins his term as of June 2012.
Wafaa El-Sadr, director of ICAP and the Global Health Initiative and professor of Epidemiology and Medicine, is the recipient of an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science from the American University in Cairo. Presented to El-Sadr at the university’s Commencement on Friday, June 15, the honorary degree is in recognition of her global leadership in the field of infectious disease and public health and her contributions as one of the world's leading advocates for family-centered models of HIV prevention.
The Mailman School's 2011-2012 Teaching Excellence Award went to Leslie F. Roberts, who leads classes in humanitarian assistance, water and sanitation, and methods to document rape and human rights abuses. Tal Gross received the 2011-2012 Early Career Teaching Award for his work leading classes in health economics and finance. He just completed his second year at the Mailman School.
Melissa D. Begg, professor of Clinical Biostatistics and co-director of the Irving Institute, is the first recipient of Harvard University’s Department of Biostatistics’ Lagakos Distinguished Alumni Award. The award recognizes department alumni whose research in statistical theory and application, leadership in biomedical research, and commitment to teaching have had a major impact on the theory and practice of statistical science. Begg delivered a lecture and received the award on September 28, 2012.
Gina Lovasi, assistant professor of Epidemiology, was given the Assembly on Environmental and Occupational Health’s David Bates Award by the American Thoracic Society at its annual conference. The award recognizes promising investigation in the field of environmental and occupational health. Lovasi has also been recently honored with the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis Young Investigator Award (MESA).
Irwin Redlener, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP) and clinical professor of Population and Family Health, has been appointed commissioner of the United States National Commission for UNESCO by the Department of State. In this role, Redlener will provide expert advice regarding United States activities as a member state of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Melissa Begg, professor of Biostatistics and vice dean for Education, and R. Todd Ogden, professor of Biostatistics, were selected as American Statistical Association (ASA) Fellows, the field of statistics’ highest honor. Fellows are chosen through a rigorous process that evaluates excellence and innovation. Begg and Ogden were inducted as Fellows at the ASA annual meeting in Fall 2012.
Jennifer S. Hirsch, professor of Sociomedical Sciences and deputy chair of Doctoral Studies of Sociomedical Sciences, received a Guggenheim Fellowship to further study the connection between gender, sexuality, and intimacy in rural Mexico, and how it relates to consumption practices, peer networks, migrant communities, and the United States' reliance on Mexican labor. Hirsch is one of 181 fellows selected for 2012 in the United States and Canada from a group of almost 3,000 applicants, and the only awardee in the category of Medicine and Health.
Neil Boothby, Allan Rosenfield Professor of Professor of Clinical Forced Migration and Health, was named the United States Government’s special adviser and senior coordinator for Children in Adversity. Working with the USAID administrator and the assistant administrator of Global Health, he will serve as both the agency’s senior adviser for children in low- and middle-income countries, as well as coordinate assistance to vulnerable children among United States departments and agencies.
Wafaa El-Sadr, professor of Clinical Epidemiology, was appointed to the Committee on Global Thought, an organization that brings together highly-distinguished faculty at Columbia University to explore global issues from an innovative, interdisciplinary perspective and seeks "to reconceptualize existing theories and methodologies to confront key issues and challenges stemming from globalization.”