New York, NY October 10, 2006 An infectious disease specialist and a neonatologist from the Department of Pediatrics at Columbia University Medical Center and Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian have been awarded top honors from two of the most prestigious medical associations in their fields. Anne Gershon, M.D. was recently named vice president and president-elect of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), while Richard Polin, M.D. received the annual Neonatal Education Award in Perinatal Pediatrics from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
"I am thrilled that Dr. Gershon and Dr. Polin have been acknowledged by their peers for their invaluable professional contributions, both to pediatrics and infectious disease," said John Driscoll, M.D., chairman, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center and director of Pediatrics at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian.
"Dr. Polin is a first-rate clinician and top-notch researcher; his tireless efforts to improve neonatal health make him the perfect candidate for such high and visible recognition," added Dr. Driscoll. "And Dr. Gershon's appointment is especially distinctive it is a testament to Dr. Gershon's work that as a pediatric specialist she has been elected to a top leadership role within our nation's most prestigious infectious disease professional organization."
Dr. Gershon, professor of pediatrics and director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease within the Department of Pediatrics at Columbia University Medical Center, is best known for her work on the chicken pox vaccine. She has played a major role in its evaluation and eventual licensure in the United States.
A nationally known expert in herpes virus infections, antiviral therapy, HIV infection, and vaccines, Dr. Gershon is also principal investigator of Columbia's Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Unit, conducted at the Women and Child
'"/>
Contact: Elizabeth Streich
eas2125@columbia.edu
212-305-6535
Columbia University Medical Center
10-Oct-2006