NEWS

Jeffries honored for excellence in teaching, research, service

Dr. Harvey E. Jeffries, professor of environmental sciences and engineering, is the 2003 recipient of the Bernard G. Greenberg Alumni Endowment Award, presented at the UNC School of Public Health’s recent Fred T. Foard Jr. Memorial Lecture.

The school’s alumni association established the Greenberg award in 1986; the honor is given annually to an outstanding full-time faculty member for excellence in the areas of teaching, research and service. Special consideration is given to candidates who have seamlessly integrated these areas of focus.

Jeffries, who holds both master’s and doctoral degrees from the school’s department of environmental sciences and engineering, is a nationally and internationally recognized expert on atmospheric chemistry and air quality modeling. He joined the school’s faculty in 1971.

"Dr. Jeffries creates an atmosphere of collaboration and mutual respect among his colleagues, including students, faculty members, community members and practitioners," said Dr. Bill Roper, dean of the School of Public Health. "As a teacher and mentor, Dr. Jeffries exemplifies dedication to students, instructing both in the methods and the values that form the basis of public health, enthusiastically sharing his commitment to the application of science to public health protection."

###

Layne garners top alumni honors from School of Public Health

Margaret E. Layne, a private consultant in environmental policy and engineering, is the 2003 recipient of the Harriet Hylton Barr Distinguished Alumnus Award, given by UNC’s School of Public Health.

Established in 1975, the Barr award honors the achievements of alumni and their contributions to public health. The award recognizes leadership, experimentation, collaboration and innovation within the profession; impact within the practice arena; and outstanding service beyond the requirements of the recipient’s employment.

Layne earned her master’s degree in environmental sciences and engineering from the School of Public Health in 1984. She recently completed a two-year fellowship at the National Academy of Engineering, where she directed the program on diversity in the engineering workforce. She previously spent a year as a Science and Engineering Fellow in the office of Sen. Bob Graham (D-Fla.), advising Graham on water, wastewater and solid and hazardous waste issues.

A long-time advocate for the advancement of women and minority engineers, Layne has worked with academia, engineering societies and government leaders to develop consensus and action plans to increase diversity. She has also held national board leadership positions in the Society of Women Engineers for nearly two decades.

Layne was recognized during the school’s recent Fred T. Foard Jr. Memorial Lecture.

###

Pisano will collaborate on project to develop diagnosis system for breast cancer

Dr. Etta Pisano, professor of radiology and chief of breast imaging in the UNC School of Medicine and co-leader of the UNC Lineberger Breast Cancer Program, will serve as a medical collaborator on a grant to develop a computer-aided-diagnosis system to assist radiologists in interpretation of MRI images of the breast.

The National Cancer Institute awarded the three-year, $1.9 million grant to Alan Penn & Associates Inc.

Breast MRI is a Medicare-approved procedure used for diagnosing, staging and treatment planning for breast cancer patients. "Studies have shown that breast MRI improves the assessment of the extent of breast cancer in a significant number of women," said Dr. Alan I. Penn, company president.

The computer-aided-diagnosis system will enable mammographers without extensive experience in breast MRI to achieve the diagnostic accuracy of leading experts in interpreting breast MRI examinations, Penn added. The system will increase the availability of high-quality breast MRI examinations to women with a diagnosis of breast cancer.

Other collaborators include: the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Washington, the

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, George Washington University and the University of Chicago.

###

Winzelberg receives prestigious fellowship to expand research

Dr. Gary Winzelberg, assistant professor at the School of Medicine Program on Aging, was recently chosen as one of four new geriatric professionals nationwide to receive the prestigious Brookdale National Fellowship.

Winzelberg, the first at UNC to receive this honor, will use the awarded funds to expand his research in improving communications between physicians and surrogates in end-of-life care decision-making. A rapidly growing older population creates a strong need to enhance communication regarding older patients’ end-of-life care decisions, especially when impairment prevents older patients from expressing their own preferences, Winzelberg said.

The two-year fellowship program, funded by the Brookdale Foundation Group, supports individuals who have the professional expertise, capacity and potential to become leaders in the field of aging.

Dr. Laura Hanson, associate professor in the Program on Aging and Division of General Medicine, will serve as Winzelberg’s mentor throughout the fellowship.

Prior to joining the Program on Aging last year, Winzelberg was a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Established in 1979, the Program on Aging is an interdisciplinary group of professionals dedicated to excellence in promoting the well-being, independence and self-determination of older adults in North Carolina.

- 30 -

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