Tuesday, May 30, 2000 Volume 46 Number 34 www.upenn.edu/almanac/

Engineering Teaching Awards

Dr. David Pope, professor of materials science and engineering, is the recipient of this year's SEAS recognition, the S. Reid Warren Award for Distinguished Teaching. The Warren Award honors outstanding service in stimulating and guiding the intellectual and professional development of engineering undergraduates. The recipient is selected by the engineering undergraduate body through the Engineering Dean's Student Advisory Board and the Engineering Student Activities Council. Dr. Pope joined the Penn faculty in 1968 and has served as Chair of both the Departments of Materials Science and Engineering and of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics as well as two terms as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education in SEAS. He is a distinguished scholar in the field of deformation and fracture of high temperature alloys and intermetallic compounds. Dean Eduardo Glandt mentionedDr. Pope's integrity and his unimpeachable commitment to undergraduate education as the reasons for his selection to lead a special Task Force on Undergraduate Education in Engineering.

Dr. Max Mintz, Ennis Professor of Computer and Information Science, is this year's recipient of the Ford Motor Company Award for Distinguished Advising, also selected by the engineering student organizations. He is also one of the recipients of the 2000 Lindback Award.   Dr. Mintz joined Penn in 1974. He is a member of the General Robotics and Sensory Perception (GRASP) team and is noted for his research on decision making under uncertainty. Dr. Mintz is the Associate Chair of the University Scholars Program and is in his second term as Undergraduate Curriculum Chair of CIS. In announcing the award, the students shared that multiple independent nominations were received from students "raving" about Dr. Mintz's unwavering dedication to student success and well being. One student wrote: "A strong relationship with a knowledgeable advisor is key for a successful academic career." At the announcement of these awards, Dean Glandt added that "Max's and Dave's concentration and commitment over the years to education and to our students define what it means to be an educator."

Veterinary Teaching Awards [Click here for more Vet School Awards].

The School of Veterinary Medicine presented its teaching awards last month at an annual dinner dance of students and faculty. Dr. Dean Richardson, Charles W. Raker Professor of Equine Surgery and Chief of Large Animal Surgery, received the Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teacher Award established in 1963 "to recognize outstanding teachers who, through their ability, dedication, character and leadership, contribute significantly to the advancement of the profession." After graduating from The Ohio State University in 1979, Dr. Richardson completed an internship and residency at New Bolton Center and joined the faculty in 1982. Dr. Richardson's primary area of research is equine orthopedics, joint disease, and molecular biology of cartilage.

The late Dr. Eric Tulleners, Lawrence Baker Sheppard Professor of Surgery, received the Alumni Teaching Award posthumously (Almanac January 25).

[Click here for more Vet School Awards].

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On Human Gene Therapy

The University is taking a series of actions designed to strengthen oversight and monitoring of its clinical trials, enhance the organization and focus of its Institute for Human Gene Therapy (IHGT), reinforce its Institutional Review Board's role in oversight and patient protection, address issues of ethical decision making in research using humans and comprehensively review its policies on conflict-of-interest.

The actions were announced May 25 following the receipt of a report by an independent review panel, appointed by President Judith Rodin to conduct a comprehensive review of oversight and monitoring of clinical trials at IHGT.

"Our clinical research programs at the University of Pennsylvania must meet the highest possible standards for academic excellence and patient safety and care," Dr. Rodin said. "Nothing less is acceptable."

[See the Full Report and the University's Response (Of Record)].

Digital Mammogram Archive

Researchers at Penn's Cancer Center have received a $6.3 million grant from the National Library of Medicine and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to design and develop a prototype of an integrated database that will be capable of instantly retrieving and storing digital breast images from mammography facilities across the country. "This generous grant will help us revolutionize the way that digital mammograms are currently accessed and archived," said Dr. Mitchell Schnall, associate professor of medicine and principal investigator on the project. "With our model, we'll demonstrate that creating a national database housing thousands of digital mammograms will offer enormous advantages in detecting and diagnosing women with breast cancer in a more controlled and cost-effective manner," Dr. Schnall explained.

Digital mammography-a sophisticated process of viewing breast images on a computer-is expected to replace the conventional, X-ray type mammogram within the next decade. Since the digital images are generated electronically, they can be transferred quickly and easily to another physician for a second-opinion-a process known as telemammograhy-and electronic storage prevents the likelihood of the images getting misplaced or lost. Currently, Penn is one of only a handful of institutions around the country offering digital mammography to women. [CLICK HERE FOR FULL STORY]

Almanac, Vol. 46, No. 34, May 30, 2000

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