ASTMH Announces 2017 Society Medal Recipients
First medal named after woman icon in tropical medicine awarded
November 5, 2017 – The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene awarded its first medal named after a woman icon in tropical medicine today to Ruth Nussenzweig, MD, PhD, of New York University School of Medicine in New York. The Clara Southmayd Ludlow Medal recognizes honorees of either gender for their inspirational and pioneering spirit, whose work represents success despite obstacles and advances in tropical medicine.
The ASTMH Council recognized that the absence of a Society-level medal named after a woman was a glaring error and begin soliciting nominations early in 2017. Clara Southmayd Ludlow (1852-1924) is the Society’s first female member and its first non-MD member, who battled the odds of age, gender and skepticism of women in the sciences to advance the understanding of tropical medicine.
ASTMH also bestowed the Bailey K. Ashford, Donald Mackay and Walter Reed medals during an awards ceremony that opened the 2017 ASTMH Annual Meeting:
- The Bailey K. Ashford Medal, which honors distinguished work in tropical medicine by a mid-career professional, was awarded to Margaret Kosek, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, MD.
- Patrick Lammie, PhD, of the Neglected Tropical Diseases Support Center at the Task Force for Global Health in Decatur, GA, received the Donald Mackay Medal, which recognizes outstanding work in tropical health, especially relating to improvements in the health of rural or urban workers in the tropics. In a long-standing partnership with the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, the Donald Mackay Medal is awarded in odd years by ASTMH and in even years by RSTMH.
- The Walter Reed Medal, the Society’s highest honor, recognizing distinguished accomplishment in the field of tropical medicine, was awarded to Scott Halstead, MD, FASTMH, of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD.
“We are thrilled to introduce the Clara Ludlow medal and add her name to the pantheon of tropical medicine and global health greats that ASTMH honors at its Annual Meetings,” said President Patricia F. Walker, MD, DTM&H, FASTMH. “We are equally proud of the recipients recognized with medals tonight, who represent the best of ASTMH and the best of the tropical medicine and global health communities.”