MANHASSET, NY (May 18, 2015) – An organization of female scientists, Advancing Women in Science and Medicine (AWSM), recently hosted its fourth annual awards breakfast on May 12 in celebration of National Women’s Health Week and in recognition of the numerous scientific accomplishments achieved at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and across the North Shore-LIJ Health System. Scientists, educators, business and community leaders from throughout the region attended the event to celebrate excellence and achievements of women in science.
“AWSM has spread a culture of women helping women to reach, preserve, take risks and succeed,” said Christine Metz, PhD, investigator at the Feinstein Institute and president of AWSM. “These reaches have led to significant achievements, including the translation of bench science into successful clinical trials.”
Awards in scientific excellence, innovation, mentorship, education and training, ranging from $1,500 to $25,000, were presented to the following female faculty at the Feinstein Institute:
- Cynthia Aranow, MD
- Ona Bloom, PhD
- Nadeen Chahine, PhD
- Amanda Chan, PhD
- Sangeeta Chavan, PhD
- Champa Codipilly, PhD
- Anne Davidson, MBBS
- Concepcion Goldberg, MD, PhD
- Czeslawa Kowal, PhD
- Meggan Mackay, MD, MS
- Christine Metz, PhD
- Kaie Ojamaa, PhD
- Maria Ruggieri, PhD
- Frances Santiago-Schwarz, PhD
- Barbara Sherry, PhD
- Sharon Singh, MD
- Bettie Steinberg, PhD
- Joy Yan, MD, PhD
- Huan Yang, MD, PhD
In addition, Stacey E. Rosen, MD, vice president of North Shore-LIJ’s Katz Institute for Women's Health, presented a joint AWSM/Katz Institute award to Annette Lee, PhD, and John L. Lovecchio, MD. The 2015 AWSM Girl Scout Awards were also presented during the event. The winners of the awards were Annabel Lee, an 11th-grade student at Herricks High School in New Hyde Park, and Pamela Guerra, an 11th-grade student at Locust Valley High School. Both are members of the Girl Scouts of Nassau County , and each will receive research training as summer interns at the Feinstein Institute and a $2,000 scholarship funded by supporters of AWSM.
Cori Bargmann, PhD, investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Torsten N. Wiesel Professor, and head of the Lulu and Anthony Wang Laboratory of Neural Circuits and Behavior at The Rockefeller University, spoke at the event and was awarded the 2015 AWSM Award for Excellence. The award was conferred in recognition of her outstanding achievements in science, strong leadership skills and commitment to advancing women’s careers. Dr. Bargmann offered the insight that “we are successful by how we predict, interpret and influence others.”
In addition, artists and philanthropists Elizabeth Jordan and Michelle Ort presented and spoke about their light installations called “Refraction,” for which all proceeds are donated to AWSM. To date, $100,000 has been raised through the Refraction initiative to support women in science. Refraction combines contemporary art with science to create light sculptures and photographs. For more information about Refraction, visit ejordanphotography.com.