Ralph J. Damiano Jr., M.D., the John M. Shoenberg Professor of Surgery at the School of Medicine and cardiac surgery chief at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, was named the physician “Health Care Hero” by the St. Louis Business Journal for his work in advancing surgical treatments for atrial fibrillation. The award was presented at a ceremony Oct. 2. …
Jill B. Firszt, Ph.D., associate professor of otolaryngology, has received a five-year, $3,166,895 grant from the National Institute of Health’s National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders for research titled “Effects of Asymmetric Hearing in Acoustic Listeners and Cochlear Implant Users.” …
Tamara Hershey, Ph.D., associate professor of psychiatry, of neurology and of radiology, has re-ceived a five-year, $1,075,000 grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders for research titled “Glycemic Control, Brain Structure and Cognition in Youth with T1DM.” …
Radhakrishna Sureshkumar, Ph.D., professor of chemical engineering and associate chair of the Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, has received a $166,451 subaward from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville for research supported by the National Science Foundation titled “Novel 3D Nanocomposites for Optical and Solar Applications: A First Principles Approach to Cost-Effective Design, Nanomanufacturing and Characterization.” …
Wojciech A. Swat, Ph.D., associate professor of pathology and immunology, has received a five-year, $550,000 Scholar Award from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for research titled “MAGUK Proteins and Lymphocyte Development.” …
Ruediger Thalmann, M.D., professor emeritus of otolaryngology, has received a two-year, $418,000 grant from the National Institute of Health’s National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders for research titled “Interplay of Biological and Physical Processes in Otoconial.” …
L. Maureen Valente, Ph.D., director of audiology studies in the Program in Audiology and Communication Sciences (PACS) and an assistant professor of otolaryngology, received the first-annual Margo Skinner Award Sept. 11 at the annual convention of the Missouri Academy of Audiology. Valente was recognized for her “dedication to the field of audiology … demonstration of compassion and integrity and devotion to improving the communication skills of those with hearing loss.” The award is named for the late Margo Skinner, Ph.D., who served on the PACS faculty for more than 30 years and was well known in the field of audiology for both her pioneering work with cochlear implants and her gentle and compassionate approach. …
Alian Wang, Ph.D., senior research scientist in earth and planetary sciences in Arts & Sciences, has received a $65,000 subaward from Arizona State University for research titled “Mineralogy and Microtexture: Rover-based Demonstration of an Integrated Payload for Assessing Habitability on Mars.” …
Lihong Wang, Ph.D., the Gene K. Beare Distinguished Professor in Biomedical Engineering, has received a four-year, $2,487,784 grant from the National Institutes of Health for research titled “Recovery of Optical Absorption Coefficient in Quantitative Photoacoustic Imaging.” …
Douglas A. Wiens, Ph.D., professor of earth and planetary sciences in Arts & Sciences, has received a four-year, $535,017 grant from the National Science Foundation for research titled “Collaborative Research: Crustal Accretion and Mantle Processes Along the Subduction-Influenced Eastern Lau Spreading Center.” Also receiving the grant were Donna K. Blackman, Ph.D., of the University of California, San Diego; James Conder, Ph.D., of Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Robert A. Dunn, Ph.D., of the University of Hawaii; and Spahr C. Webb, Ph.D., of Columbia University.
Speaking of
Robert A. Wykes, professor emeritus of music in Arts & Sciences, took part in a panel discussion at the Second Annual Charles Guggenheim Tribute program Sept. 24 at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. This year’s program focused on the film, “Robert Kennedy Remembered.” Wykes composed the music for the film, which was first shown at the Democratic National Convention just two months after Kennedy’s June 1968 assassination. The film won an Academy Award for Best Live Short Subject.