Top 10 Alumni Stories of 2013

P&S alumni made news throughout 2013 in a variety of ways, from coming together to break ground on the new Medical and Graduate Education Building at Columbia to traveling to the Philippines to assist in relief efforts after the November 2013 typhoon. P&S e-News for Alumni will continue to share alumni stories in 2014.

The top alumni stories of 2013 (in no particular order):

  1. Robert Lefkowitz'66, the James B. Duke Professor of Medicine and professor of biochemistry and chemistry at Duke University, returned to New York City in September when inscriptions of his name and the names of other 2012 Nobel Prize recipients were unveiled on the nation's only Nobel monument. Read about the event here.Alumni_Best_Stories_2013
  2. John Eng'74 received the Golden Goose Award for his research on the poisonous venom produced by the Gila monster, which led to a drug that protects people with diabetes from nerve damage, kidney failure, and blindness. Read more.
  3. Shari Hall'91, an anesthesiologist at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, released her debut album, "Perfect Love." Read more here.
  4. Several alumni participated in the groundbreaking for the new Medical and Graduate Education building that will rise on Haven Avenue on the Columbia University Medical Center campus. Read more here.  
  5. Marvin M. Lipman'54, a founding member of the Scarsdale Medical Group, was awarded a Columbia University Alumni Medal for his many years of distinguished service to Columbia. Read about his career here. A video featuring all 2013 alumni medal recipients can be viewed here.
  6. The King of Sweden presented Peter K. Gregersen'76 and two others with the 2013 Crafoord Prize in Polyarthritis from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. The Swedish Royal Court website has the full story, and the official announcement explains Dr. Gregersen's work and that of two others in contributing to a basic understanding of how the most common and serious form of rheumatoid arthritis develops. 
  7. T. Berry Brazelton'43 received one of 18 Presidential Citizens Medals presented in February at a White House ceremony. The nation's second-highest civilian honor recognizes service to country or fellow citizens. Read more and see a video here.
  8. Two P&S alumni—neurosurgeon brothers Brian Hoh'98 and Daniel Hoh'02—were featured in a Florida newspaper article about sibling doctors at UF Health Shands Hospital.
  9. Tim Tan'08 traveled to the Philippines to help with typhoon relief efforts as field medical director for NYC Medics. His work in the Philippines was mentioned in an Irish Times article.
  10. László Bitó'63 PhD received the Helen Keller Prize in May 2013 for work that led to the development of Xalatan, which has saved the sight of millions by lowering eye pressure in glaucoma sufferers. Read more here.