MOUNT LAUREL, N.J., Aug. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Society of Transplantation recently conferred its most prestigious award, the AST / Roche Ernest E. Hodge Distinguished Achievement Award, upon an outstanding investigator in the field of transplantation. The selection is determined solely by the AST Board of Directors. The 2006 award was presented to Thomas E. Starzl, M.D. at the World Transplant Congress, which was held during July in Boston.
About Dr. Starzl
Dr. Starzl, who is often referred to as the modern-day father of transplantation, is a pioneer in transplant surgery. When Dr. Starzl entered the then-unknown field of organ transplantation, he proceeded to make his mark by creating surgical techniques. A dedicated surgeon, he worked tirelessly to refine organ-transplant procedures.
Dr. Starzl was born on March 11, 1926, in LeMars, Iowa. He attended Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in biology and continued his education at Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago, where in 1950 he received a master’s degree in anatomy. In 1952, he earned both a Ph.D. in neurophysiology and an M.D. with distinction. His career in surgery took root at the University of Colorado, and he honed his expertise during his tenure at the University of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Starzl has authored or co-authored more than 2,130 scientific articles, four books and 292 chapters, a feat that has earned him the distinction as one of the most prolific scientists in the world. Furthermore, the Institute for Scientific Information identified Dr. Starzl as the most cited scientist in the field of clinical medicine, a measure of his works lasting influence.
Among the more than 175 awards and honors bestowed on Dr. Starzl are: the 2004 Medal of Science presented by President George W. Bush, scores of national and international prizes and awards and 21 honorary doctorates from universities in the United States and abroad. He has received numerous hospital appointments and served on a number of editorial boards.
Earlier this year, the University of Pittsburgh renamed one of its biomedical-science towers the “Thomas E. Starzl Biomedical Science Tower” in recognition of his achievements and contributions to his field.
Since retiring from clinical and surgical service in 1991, Dr. Starzl has devoted his time to research endeavors. He is a professor of surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The University of Pittsburgh named the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute in his honor.
About the Award
The highly respected AST / Roche Ernest E. Hodge Distinguished Achievement Award is funded through the generosity of Roche Laboratories in honor of Dr. Ernest E. Hodge, a dedicated physician and valued Roche employee who died Jan. 24, 2004, at the age of 52.
About AST
The American Society of Transplantation is an international organization of transplant professionals dedicated to advancing the field of transplantation through the promotion of research, education, advocacy, and organ donation to improve patient care. The Society comprises more than 2,500 transplant physicians, surgeons and allied health professionals. For more information, please visit http://www.a-s-t.org.
CONTACT: BETH DROST
(215) 884-6499
American Society of Transplantation
CONTACT: Beth Drost of American Society of Transplantation,+1-215-884-6499
Web site: http://www.a-s-t.org/
