Awards & More

E. Maxine Bruhns, director of Pitt’s Nationality Rooms Program, received the Professional Award from the Pennsylvania Federation of Museums and Historical Organizations (PFMHO) during the organization’s 2010 Special Achievement Awards Program in November. PFMHO said Bruhns was chosen for her dedication to developing the Nationality Rooms into a thriving program that sponsors study-abroad scholarships, fosters a steady growth in the number of dedicated classrooms, and maintains outreach efforts to the communities that enliven the Rooms with interactive cultural and historical programs.

Pitt-Johnstown President Jem Spectar will receive the Certificate of Honor from the South Asia Literary Association (SALA) during SALA’s 11th annual conference in January in Los Angeles. He is being recognized for his support of The South Asian Review, a scholarly journal with readership throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, South Africa, Israel, Australia, and the countries of South Asia. The journal has been housed at Pitt-Johnstown since 2001 and is published three times annually, providing a forum for the examination of South Asian languages and literatures in a broad cultural context.

The University of Pittsburgh’s Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business was recently named the 2010 Education Partner of the Year by the Pittsburgh Chapter of the National Black MBA Association. Also honored at the event was Audrey Murrell, who was presented with the Education Excellence Award. Murrell is director of Katz’s David Berg Center for Ethics and Leadership and a professor of business administration, psychology, and public and international affairs. In addition, Don Norrington, the Katz School’s associate director of MBA Career Services, was recognized for his lifelong service and friendship. The National Black MBA Association is a nonprofit organization that works to establish educational opportunities and economic growth for African Americans.

Pitt professor Jack L. Daniel (A&S ’63, ‘65G, ‘68G) was awarded a Lifetime Service Award by the National Communication Association’s African American Communication Culture Division and Black Caucus. Daniel, a Distinguished Service Professor of Communication, has served Pitt in a number of positions, including vice provost for undergraduate studies, dean of students, chair of the Department of Black Studies, and interim dean of the College of General Studies.

Agnus Berenato, head coach of the Pitt women’s basketball team, was named Honorary Chair of the 2011 Komen Pittsburgh Race for the Cure by the Pittsburgh Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The race will be held on Mother’s Day, May 8, 2011, in Schenley Park, Oakland.

Sheila Solomon, a genetic counselor at Pitt, and Ryan Patrick Parker, director of diversity for Pitt’s Schools of the Health Sciences, were featured in Pittsburgh Magazine’s 40 Under 40, an annual selection of 40 people under the age of 40 “who make Pittsburgh a better place to live, work, or play.” The honorees, selected from 300 nominations, were chosen for their professional achievements, involvement, and positive influence on the region.

Several University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences’ faculty members have had their work recognized by academic and scientific societies and other organizations. A list follows.

Ted M. Ross, a professor of microbiology and molecular genetics in Pitt’s School of Medicine and a member of Pitt’s Center for Vaccine Research, was awarded a $946,000 contract from the nonprofit organization PATH to research universal influenza vaccines that could offer protection against several strains of the flu. The 18-month project’s goal is to advance the development of strong influenza vaccine candidates that would be accessible and affordable for low-resource countries.

Eric M. Altschuler, a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery in the Pitt School of Medicine, was elected to serve a two-year term as president of the Pennsylvania Neurosurgical Society, a statewide organization that addresses the concerns of neurosurgeons and patients in the prevention and treatment of neurological trauma and illness.

Bambang Parmanto, a professor in the Department of Health Information Management in the Pitt School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, recently received the Research Award from the American Health Information Management Association at the association’s annual convention in Orlando, Fla. The award honors those who have made an outstanding contribution to health information management research.

Deborah Opacic, an assistant professor and program director of physician assistant studies in the Pitt School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, was chosen by her students, peers, and the Awards Committee of the Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants (PSPA) as the recipient of the 2010 Pennsylvania Educator of the Year Award. She received the award at the 35th annual PSPA Conference held in Harrisburg, Pa., in October.

Eugene N. Myers, Distinguished Professor and chair emeritus in the School of Medicine’s Department of Otolaryngology, has been the guest of honor and lecturer at several locations recently, including the Annual Educational Conference of the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Cairo; the Department of Otolaryngology at the American University of Beirut; and the 32nd Turkish National Congress of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery. In addition, Myers was elected honorary president of the Balkan Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and was a visiting professor at Alexandria University in Egypt.