Awards & More

Dave Brienza, associate dean of research in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, received the National Pressure Ulcer Advisor Panel’s Kosiak Award for his significant contributions to the prevention and/or management of pressure injuries. Brienza is a leader in the wound care provider community and received the award at NPUAP's 2017 Biennial Conference in New Orleans.

Larry E. Davis, dean of the School of Social Work and Donald M. Henderson professor, is the recipient of the 2017 Richard Lodge Prize from Adelphi University School of Social Work, an honor named for the late Richard Lodge, a leading social work educator and Adelphi University professor (Lodge himself was a Pitt alumnus, earning his master’s in social work in 1950). The honor will be presented to Davis at the School’s annual Alumni and Friends Event on May 5, at which the dean will be the keynote speaker.

Paul Palevsky has been selected to receive Dr. J. Michael Lazarus Distinguished Award from the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) during the organization’s upcoming Spring Clinical Meetings in Orlando, Florida. He is a professor of medicine and clinical and translational science in the Renal-Electrolyte Division of the Department of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He also serves as chief of the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System’s Renal Section. Palevsky’s research focuses primarily on acute kidney injury and critical care nephrology.

At the annual meeting of the Renaissance Society of America in March, Todd Reeser’s book “Setting Plato Straight” was awarded the Phyllis Goodhart Gordan Book Prize, which recognizes the best book of the year in Renaissance studies. The committee called his book a “superbly nuanced, game-changing study of the history of sexuality through the lens of Renaissance translations of Plato [with] broad implications for Renaissance studies.” Reeser is a professor of French and the director of Pitt’s Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies Program.

Assistant professor in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Pamela Toto has been named the 2017 Healthcare Professional Geriatrics Teacher of the Year. This award recognizes a healthcare professional who has made significant contributions to the education and training of learners in geriatrics and to the progress of geriatrics education across the health professions.

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Fourteen Pitt alumni and students were recently awarded a 2017 Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The fellowship program is a part of the NSF’s ongoing efforts to develop a globally engaged workforce and ensure the United States’ leadership in technological innovation. It provides a provide a three-year annual living stipend of $34,000 as well as a yearly $12,000 cost-of-education allowance.

The six current students who received fellowships are Ethan A. Garcia-Baker, a neuroscience and history and philosophy of science major from Willington, Connecticut; Julie C. Fornaciari, a chemical and biomolecular engineering major from Chicago; Abigail E. Loneker, a bioengineering major from Perkasie, Pennsylvania; Drake D. Pedersen, a biomedical engineering graduate student from Charleston, South Carolina; Patrick A. Asinger an engineering major from Bradford, Pennsylvania; and Erin C. Sutton, a doctoral candidate in physics from Hopedale, Massachusetts.

A total of eight Pitt alumni were bestowed the honor: Jasmine L. Collins, who earned a bachelor of science in neuroscience and computer science in 2016. Olivia A. Creasey, earned a bachelor of science in engineering in 2013. Michael D. DeLuca, earned a bachelor of science in applied math and physics and astronomy in 2015. Gian-Gabriel Garcia, earned a bachelor of science in engineering in 2014. Alexander D. Josowitz, earned a bachelor of science in engineering in 2016. Miriam A. Rathbun, earned a bachelor of science in engineering in 2016. Heidi M. Wipf, earned a bachelor of science in biological sciences and a bachelor of arts in environmental sciences in 2015. Andrew J. Zimnik, earned a bachelor of science in neuroscience in 2013.