Health Science Center honors Richardson as top scholar

Posted: Monday, January 25, 2010
Contact: Will Sansom, (210) 567-3079

President William L. Henrich, M.D., MACP, (left) congratulates Arlan G. Richardson, Ph.D., director of the Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, who received the 2010 Presidential Distinguished Scholar Award.
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SAN ANTONIO (Jan. 21, 2009) — Arlan G. Richardson, Ph.D., director of the Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio, received the 2010 Presidential Distinguished Scholar Award Jan. 21 from Health Science Center President William L. Henrich, M.D., MACP.

Fifteen other Health Science Center faculty and staff members who exemplify exceptional leadership in their fields were also honored at the awards dinner.

“As recipients of the Presidential Awards, you represent exceptional achievement in your fields,” said President William L. Henrich, M.D., MACP, at the awards dinner. “Through your creativity, perseverance and leadership, you are shining examples of the dedication to excellence in all of our missions — education, research, patient care and community service.”

International honors for aging research
Dr. Richardson is a professor of cellular and structural biology and occupies the Methodist Hospital Foundation Chair in Aging Studies and Research. He is a senior career research scientist with the South Texas Veterans Health Care System.

“It was the leadership of Dr. Richardson that catapulted aging research at this university to the stellar international stature it has achieved,” wrote his award nominator, David Weiss, Ph.D., chairman of physiology at the Health Science Center. “One could argue that the Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies and its research community is one of, if not the, strongest aging institutes in the world.”

James F. Hanley III, M.D., (left) clinical professor and director of the Regional Academic Health Center (RAHC) Internal Medicine Residency Program, received the President’s Choice Award from President William L. Henrich, M.D., MACP.

Dr. Richardson’s interest in understanding the biological processes of aging began in the 1970s and he has long been an eminent leader in the field of biogerontology. He has published more than 230 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, serves on the editorial boards of numerous scientific publishers and has won every major award in the field, including the Nathan Shock Award from the Gerontological Research Center of the U.S. National Institute on Aging.

Rapamycin studies receive top science recognition
In the summer of 2009, the Barshop Institute and two other U.S. centers published findings of a study of a compound, rapamycin, in mice. All three centers found that rapamycin extended the life span of the mice, despite the fact the animals were past middle age when the dietary intervention began. The study was sponsored by the National Institute on Aging. This finding was honored by Science magazine as one of the top scientific discoveries of 2009.

Additional Presidential Award winners include:

President’s Choice Award

• James F. Hanley III, M.D., clinical professor and director of the Regional Academic Health Center (RAHC) Internal Medicine Residency Program, Department of Medicine

• Kaparaboyna Ashok Kumar, M.D., FRCS, FAAFP, professor and vice chair for medical student education, Department of Family and Community Medicine
  
• Judy Maltas, M.S.N., RN, CCRN, assistant clinical professor, Department of Acute Nursing Care
  
• Darlene Metter, M.D., FACR, professor and vice chair of clinical education, and director of the Nuclear Residency Program, Department of Radiology
  
• J. D. Overton, D.D.S., head of the Division of Operative Dentistry, Department of Restorative Dentistry
  
• Ruben D. Restrepo, M.D., RRT, associate professor and director of Graduate Education, Department of Respiratory Care
  
• Helen Sorenson, M.A., RRT, associate professor, Department of Respiratory Care

• Daniel A. Johnson, M.D., associate professor, Department of Ophthalmology
  
• C. Blake Simpson, M.D., professor, Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery
  
• Donna Beth Willey-Courand, M.D., professor, Department of Pediatrics, and chief of the Division of Pulmonary Medicine (Critical Care Medicine)

• Donna M. Doulton, RN, B.Sc.N., project coordinator, Children’s Regional Sickle Cell Center in the Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics
  
• Monica McCall, administrative assistant I, Department of Pediatrics
  
• Debbie A. Schifanella, academic coordinator, Department of Ophthalmology
  
• Carol A. Swartz, M.S.N., RN, executive director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, Office of Development
  
Robin Tragus, M.S.N., RN, research nurse supervisor, Department of Pediatrics

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