2008-12-07

The Society will honor Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) with the 2008 ASH Award for Public Service. Established in 1997, the Public Service Award is presented each year by the Society to an elected public official who has demonstrated unparalleled leadership on issues of importance to hematology research and practice. Speaker Pelosi, who represents San Francisco, site of this year’s ASH annual meeting, has been a long-time champion of health-care issues, including funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and stem cell research. Prior to her election as Speaker, Representative Pelosi served as a member of the House Appropriations Committee, where she was a strong proponent of increased investments in health research and helped secure funding to double the budget for NIH.

After assuming the office of Speaker of the House in January 2007, Speaker Pelosi made House passage of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act one of the cornerstones of the “First 100 Hours” agenda of the 110th Congress. Speaker Pelosi was also instrumental in pushing legislation to prevent the scheduled cut in Medicare reimbursement for physicians through Congress.

The Society respects Speaker Pelosi’s tireless dedication to championing health care and research issues in Congress, her support of ASH’s legislative priorities, and her position of influence within Congress.

ASH is also very proud to recognize Susan B. Shurin, MD, deputy director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and acting director of NHLBI’s Division of Blood Diseases and Resources. Dr. Shurin will be presented with the 2008 ASH Award for Outstanding Service for her significant contributions and dedication to the field of hematology. The Society presents this award each year to individuals in both the public and private sectors who have displayed effective “behind-the-scenes” leadership in areas relevant to the mission of the Society.

Dr. Shurin’s dedication to the Society as well as to the field of hematology is demonstrated by the innovations and enhancements she is bringing about at NHLBI. Dr. Shurin has been deputy director at NHLBI since 2006, and, since March 2008, she has also served as acting director of NHLBI’s Division of Blood Diseases and Resources. Over the past year, Dr. Shurin, working closely with ASH, has led NHLBI’s restructuring of its sickle cell disease research program.

Prior to beginning her service at NHLBI, Dr. Shurin was an active and respected researcher in hemoglobinopathies who was recognized as a distinguished leader of university programs and professional organizations. Among her many accomplishments, Dr. Shurin served as professor of pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University Medical School and was chief of the Hematology/Oncology Division in the Department of Pediatrics at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital of University Hospitals of Cleveland.

Dr. Shurin is also a long-standing and active ASH member. She has served as a member and chair of the ASH Scientific Committee on Pediatric Hematology. She is a past member of the ASH Committee on Public Information and Government Affairs. And, she has continued to serve as an informal liaison to the ASH Government Affairs Committee throughout her tenure at NHLBI. Dr. Shurin has also served as a faculty member for the ASH Clinical Research Training Institute.

The 2008 Outstanding Service and Public Service Award will be presented to Dr. Shurin and Speaker Pelosi prior to today’s Plenary Scientific Session at 1:30 p.m.

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