From the Labs
Houston, Texas
Volume 8, Issue 4
May 2009

Briefs

Breast Center recognized by Texas Department of State Health Services

The Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center at BCM was recently recognized by the Texas Department of State Health Services during an annual inspection of their mammography facilities. The Breast Center received recognition for being "clearly above average in comparison with their peers." The agency further congratulated the Breast Center faculty and staff, including Kent Osborne, M.D., director, and Emily Sedgwick, M.D., director of breast imaging, for "achieving excellence in women's health care related to mammographic studies."

Yudofsky presented Joan and Stanford Alexander Award in Psychiatry

Stuart Yudofsky, M.D., chair of the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at BCM, has been awarded with the Joan and Stanford Alexander Annual Award in Psychiatry in conjuction with a lecture presentation on the history of the stigmatization of the mentally ill. This is an annual prize and lecture of international scope sponsored by philanthropists Joan and Stanford Alexander to honor a mental health professionals and/or clinical or community service for people suffering from severe and persistent mental illnesses.

O'Malley honored by Indiana University School of Medicine

Bert O’Malley, M.D., chair of molecular and cellular biology at BCM, has been honored with the 2009 Steven C. Beering Award for the Advancement of Biomedical Science from the Indiana University School of Medicine. The award itself honors the leadership of Indiana University School of Medicine former dean Steven C. Beering, who is currently chairman of the National Science Board, the governing board of the National Science Foundation.

O’Malley is a founder of the field of molecular endocrinology and has opened many doors in the understanding of nuclear hormone receptors and coactivators. This award honors his scholarship and pioneering efforts in the field. He will visit the Indianapolis campus for three days to give a lecture in connection with the award, to speak to medical students and to take part in roundtable discussions with faculty and students.

Ballantyne named interim chief of cardiology

Christie M. Ballantyne, M.D., professor of medicine, has been named the interim chief of cardiology at BCM. Ballantyne will continue to serve as chief of the section of atherosclerosis and vascular medicine. He is also the director of The Maria and Alando J. Ballantyne, M.D., Atherosclerosis Clinical Research Laboratory, which serves as the core laboratory for the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study, a large-scale study designed to investigate the causes and natural history of atherosclerosis.

Education-based program receives web award

"A Patchwork of Life," a web-based education program on the Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center-Outreach web site, has been recognized by the Web Health Awards, a program that touts the best web-based health-related content for consumers and professions. The awards program is held twice a year with the goal of providing a "seal of quality" for electronic health information. Gold, Silver, Bronze and Merit awards are presented. Details on the program and the award-winning web sites are available on the Health Awards web site. "A Patchwork of Life," which received a silver award, is designed to help women, particularly those with limited health literacy and are novice computer users, make breast cancer surgery decisions.