The 2013 Case Medal for Excellence in Medical Science Innovation has been awarded to School of Medicine faculty members Michael W. Konstan, and Robert C. Stern. The medal was given in a ceremony during the School of Medicine’s Dialogue on Discovery events Oct. 17 and 18.
In an announcement on the school’s website, School of Medicine Dean Pamela B. Davis praised Konstan, the Gertrude Lee Chandler Tucker Professor of Pediatrics and chair of the Department of Pediatrics at School of Medicine and Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital; and Stern, professor of pediatrics at the School of Medicine and Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, for their “role in advancing research and providing outstanding care to patients with cystic fibrosis.”
The award recognizes Konstan’s clinical studies to discover therapeutics to keep patients with cystic fibrosis well enough to benefit from an eventual cure, and for his strong collaborative spirit with his colleagues in academia and industry.
Stern was acknowledged for his “astute clinical observations, well-chosen patients for studies, [participation] in the execution of clinical research and [serving] as the glue that holds the system together.”
The Case Western Reserve medal is the highest honor the medical school bestows. It is given to individuals who have distinguished themselves for efforts that advance research, education and care in extraordinary ways. Initiated in 2011, past recipients include professor of medicine Richard Rudick and Distinguished University Professor Stan Gerson.