SUNY DOWNSTATE FACULTY MEMBERS RECEIVE HONORS
Nov 14, 2007
Distinguished Professors and Chancellor’s Award Winners Recognized
A special reception was held recently at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University to celebrate those faculty members newly honored by the State University of New York Board of Trustees with the title of distinguished professor, the highest academic rank conferred by the University, and also those faculty who received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence.
Dr. Paulette Bernd and Dr. M.A.Q. Siddiqui received the title of distinguished professor. The 2007 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence was bestowed upon Drs. William J. Chirico, Marcia Gerber, Todd C. Sacktor, and Fredric Volkert.
Paulette Bernd, PhD, who was named distinguished teaching professor of anatomy and cell biology, is recognized for her contributions to education and administration in the College of Medicine and the School of Graduate Studies. As discipline director for Gross Anatomy and director of the Musculoskeletal Block, she has introduced many curricular improvements that have enhanced student learning.
M.A.Q. Siddiqui, PhD, named distinguished service professor of anatomy and cell biology, is internationally known for his contributions to molecular cardiology. As chair of anatomy and cell biology, he has provided strong leadership to the department since 1987. He is also founder and director of Downstate’s Center for Cardiovascular and Muscle Research, where discoveries in molecular genetics are being translated into clinical applications that will help patients.
Each of the four campus members who received the 2007 Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence has made major contributions to their departments, to SUNY Downstate, and to the State University of New York as a whole.
William J. Chirico, PhD, associate professor of anatomy and cell biology, received
the
Chancellor’s Award for excellence in faculty service. He has greatly enriched the
intellectual environment of his department, and as director of the Molecular and Cell
Biology Program, his service to the School of Graduate Studies has been similarly
outstanding.
Marcia Gerber, MD, clinical associate professor of medicine, received the award for excellence in professional service. During her 40 years at Downstate, she has provided enormous assistance to faculty, students, and staff by serving as director of the Student and Employee Health Service, as clinical assistant dean, and as supervisor of the Student Counseling Service.
Todd C. Sacktor, MD, professor of physiology and pharmacology and of neurology, is a widely respected clinician-scientist who has played a key role in establishing Downstate’s reputation as a center for cutting-edge neuroscientific research. He received the Chancellor’s Award for excellence in scholarship and creative activities in recognition of his pioneering research on the molecular basis of long-term memory storage, research that Science magazine deemed among the top ten science stories of 2006.
Fredric C. Volkert, PhD, received the award for teaching excellence. A tenured assistant professor of microbiology and immunology and assistant dean for program and faculty development, he is also director of the Infection, Inflammation, and Immunity block for second-year medical students. An accomplished communicator, he is admired by students and faculty alike for his breadth of knowledge and skill in imparting that knowledge to his students.
In 2006, distinguished professorships were awarded to Dr. Eva Cramer, Dr. Stanley Friedman, Dr. Robert Wong, and to the late Dr. Henri Begleiter.
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About SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn is one of four academic health centers (AMCs) in The State University of New York (SUNY) 64-campus system and the only SUNY AMC in New York City dedicated to health education, research, and patient care for the borough’s 2.7 million residents. Its flagship hospital, University Hospital at Downstate (UHD), is a teaching hospital and benefits from the expertise of Downstate’s exceptional medical school and world-class academic center research facilities. With a staff of over 800 physicians representing 53 specialties and subspecialties, Downstate offers comprehensive healthcare services to the community.
UHD provides high-risk neonatal and infant services, pediatric nephrology, and dialysis for kidney diseases and is the only kidney transplantation program in Brooklyn. Beyond its clinical expertise, Downstate houses a range of esteemed educational institutions, including its College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, School of Graduate Studies, and School of Public Health. Downstate fosters innovation through its multifaceted biotechnology initiative, the Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT, which support early-stage and more mature biotech companies.