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Honors & Other Things |
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February 5, 2013,
Volume 59, No. 20 |
Physics Frontiers Prize: Dr. Kane
The Fundamental Physics Prize Selection Committee has announced that Penn’s Class of 1965 Endowed Term Professor of Physics Charles Kane, is one of the three laureates of the 2013 Physics Frontier Prize. He, along with Laurens Molenkamp of the University of Wuerzburg in Germany, and Shoucheng Zhang of Stanford have been recognized for their work on the theoretical prediction and experimental discovery of topological insulators. As laureates, they are eligible for the 2013 Fundamental Physics Prize of $3 million, to be announced on March 20, 2013, at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland.
“Choosing this year’s recipients from such a large pool of spectacular nominations was a very difficult task,” said Nima Arkani-Hamed of the Institute for Advanced Study, a member of the Selection Committee. “The selected physicists have done transformative work spanning a wide range of areas in fundamental physics.”
The Fundamental Physics Prize Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation established by the Milner Foundation and dedicated to advancing our knowledge of the universe at the deepest level by awarding annual prizes for scientific breakthroughs, as well as communicating the excitement of fundamental physics to the public. The Fundamental Physics Prize Selection Committee is made up of prior recipients of the Fundamental Physics Prize. |
2013 Thouron Award Winners
Three University of Pennsylvania students and two alumni have received Thouron Awards to pursue graduate studies in the United Kingdom. The recipients are:
Jacob Blumenfeld-Gantz, a 2012 College of Arts & Sciences and Wharton graduate in diplomatic history and operations and information management, is applying to the University of Oxford for a masters of public policy.
Elena Jaya Gooray, a College of Arts & Sciences senior majoring in cognitive science, is applying to the University of Edinburgh for an MSc in cognition in science and technology.
Cassi Joanna Henderson, a School of Engineering & Applied Science senior majoring in bioengineering, is applying to King’s College for an MSc in engineering and business administration.
Tarub Sayeed Mabud, a College of Arts & Sciences and Wharton senior majoring in statistics, healthcare management and biology, is applying to the University of Cambridge for an MPhil in epidemiology.
Allison Mishkin, a 2011 graduate from the School of Engineering & Applied Science and the College of Arts & Sciences in computer science and society, is applying to the University of Oxford for an MSc in the social science of the Internet.
The Thouron Award, a graduate exchange program between Penn and British universities, exists to improve relations between the US and the UK. Thouron Award winners receive tuition and stipends for one or two years depending on the time required to earn their graduate degrees.
The Thouron Award was established and is supported by gifts from Sir John Thouron and Esther du Pont, Lady Thouron, of Unionville, PA.
Graduating Penn seniors, current Penn graduate or professional students and recent Penn graduates who are US citizens are eligible to apply. |
Patient Safety Award for Using Information Technology to
Reduce Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections
A Penn Medicine team led by Dr. Craig Umscheid, assistant professor of medicine and epidemiology and director of the Center for Evidence-based Practice, was awarded the first place 2012 Delaware Valley Patient Safety Award by the Delaware Valley Healthcare Council and the Health Care Improvement Foundation. The honor, which comes with a $5,000 grant, recognizes the group’s work in leveraging information technology to decrease catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) using actionable alerts linked to the electronic health record.
The life-saving technology, together with other health system interventions, reduced CAUTIs by about 50% over about one year.
Estimates suggest this effort also led to an estimated financial savings of approximately $140,000 annually.
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The Best of the Best: 2013 Models of Excellence Award Winners
Exciting and innovative work happens all the time at Penn—and the people who do it are an extraordinary bunch.
Each Penn staff member brings a unique set of experiences to the University, generating new ideas and groundbreaking projects. We’re toasting the best of the best in announcing the 2013 Models of Excellence winners.
The Models of Excellence Program honors staff member accomplishments that reflect initiative, leadership, collaboration and a deep commitment to service. This year’s four award winners and one honorable mention (all chosen by a selection committee of campus leaders) demonstrate creativity, leadership, extraordinary service and cost-effectiveness—all the standards of excellence that define this program. Read on to learn why they brought home top honors.
You’re encouraged to join us in April as we celebrate these individuals and their accomplishments. The Models of Excellence Awards Ceremony and Reception will take place on April 9 at 4 p.m. in Irvine Auditorium. If you have questions or would like to attend, contact Human Resources at QOWL@hr.upenn.edu or (215) 898-1012, or visit www.hr.upenn.edu/myhr/appreciation/models
—Division of Human Resources
Models of Excellence
- Kenneth Ogawa, Facilities & Real Estate Services: He championed Penn’s sustainability efforts by promoting “electricity literacy” throughout the University and the community. His efforts—which are being replicated nationwide—helped Penn conserve electricity and contain costs.
- Anthony Piccione, School of Arts & Sciences: He helped coordinate programming at the Wilson Community School, a partnership between Alexander Wilson Elementary School and the Netter Center for Community Partnerships at Penn. His novel approaches to recess, summer and after-school programming helped improve the academic, social, physical and behavioral skills of the children and families who attend the school.
- Provost’s Summer Mentorship Program Team: This team designed a unique summer mentorship program that put first-generation and minority students in Philadelphia public and charter high schools on the academic fast track. The mentorship program helped students pursue their educational goals and prepare them for the intellectual rigor of college. Team members include:
Christina Costanzo Clark, School of Nursing
Megan Doherty, School of Engineering & Applied Science
Margaret Griffiths, School of Nursing
Don Harrison, Jr., University Life
Jack Lewis, Perelman School of Medicine
Donna Oberthaler, University Life
Gail Oberton, University Life
Nancy Porcellini, Penn Law
Michelle Wells Lockett, Perelman School of Medicine
- Shoah Foundation Team: This team helped Penn and the Philadelphia community gain a deeper understanding of history by bringing the Shoah Foundation’s Visual History Archives of Holocaust testimonies to campus. The team shared these unique resources with academics, campus groups and community organizations to educate them about the Holocaust through the voices of survivors. Team members include:
Brigitte Burris, Penn Libraries
Tina Cowan, Development & Alumni Relations
Joseph Diorio, Annenberg School for Communication
Michael Dunne, Information Systems & Computing
Marjorie Hassen, Penn Libraries
Julie McWilliams, University Communications
Bruce Nielsen, Penn Libraries
Nicholas Okrent, Penn Libraries
Adam Preset, Information Systems & Computing
Karen Riley, Annenberg School for Communication
Eric Snyder, Information Systems & Computing
Rebecca Stuhr, Penn Libraries
Leslie Vallhonrat, Penn Libraries
Debra Williams, Annenberg School for Communication
Peggy Yetter, Information Systems & Computing
Honorable Mention
FRES Lean Process Improvement Team: This team used the Lean Six Sigma Methodology and other innovative tools to implement new work flow processes in 13 trade shops within the Facilities & Real Estate Services Division (FRES). Their efforts helped improve the Division’s quality of service as well as timeliness, consistency, productivity, efficiency and reliability. Team members include:
John Blankemeyer, FRES
John Bradley, FRES
Michael Francis, FRES
Gerry McGillian, FRES
William Quigley, FRES
Betsy Robinson, FRES
Denise Seymour, FRES
Ira Winston, School of Arts & Sciences/School of Engineering & Applied Science/School of Design |
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Almanac -
February 5, 2013, Volume 59, No. 20
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