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American Society of Hematology recognizes Roberts’ contributions to field

Dr. Harold R. Roberts, founding director for the UNC Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis and Sarah Graham Kenan professor of medicine and pathology at the UNC School of Medicine, recently received the American Society of Hematology’s Henry M. Stratton Medal.

Through this award, the society honored Roberts for his internationally recognized contributions to hematology. Roberts was the first U.S. physician to treat hemophilia patients with factor VIIa, a medication that has proven extremely successful in treating hemophilia patients not responding to older or other products.

The society, which presented the award to Roberts at its recent annual meeting in Orlando, represents more than 10,000 clinicians and scientists committed to furthering the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders affecting the blood, bone marrow, and the immunologic, hemostatic, and vascular systems by promoting research, clinical care, education, training, and advocacy in hematology.

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Herman-Giddens addresses women’s health forum in Toronto

Dr. Marcia E. Herman-Giddens, adjunct professor in the UNC School of Public Health’s department of maternal and child health, will be a presenter at the Women’s Health Matters Forum and Expo today and Saturday (Jan. 18 and 19) in Toronto.

Herman-Giddens will give talks on the findings and implications of her ongoing research into early puberty in girls and boys. Today’s talk is titled "The Making of an Eight-Year-Old Woman," and Saturday’s talk is titled "Puberty: Too Much, Too Soon! What Does it Mean?".

Herman-Giddens’ study of more than 17,000 girls, published in the April 1997 edition of Pediatrics, found signs that young girls may experience puberty earlier than previously thought. Her study finding that boys, too, are reaching puberty earlier was featured in the Sept. 14 issue of Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine.

For more information on the forum, click on www.womenshealthmatters.ca.

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News Services contact: Deb Saine, (919) 962-8415