A Tribute to Dr. Ruth L. Kirschstein: Inspiring the Best in Others

On Monday, May 17, 2010, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will commemorate the life and accomplishments of Ruth L. Kirschstein, M.D., who passed away on October 6, 2009.  The day's events will begin at 9:00 a.m. in the Natcher Auditorium, Building 45 on the NIH campus, with several remembrances of Dr. Kirschstein, followed by scientific presentations and poster sessions by Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awardees.

Dr. Kirschstein made innumerable contributions to biomedical research, beginning with her work on the polio vaccine.  She blazed a trail for women in science and served in a number of key leadership roles at NIH.  For example, Dr. Kirschstein was the first woman to direct an NIH institute, the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.  She later served as Principal Deputy Director of NIH for six years and Acting Director twice--once for two and a half years.  Dr. Kirschstein also served as Acting Director of the Office of Research on Women's Health and Acting Director of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

A Tribute to Dr. Ruth L. Kirschstein: Inspiring the Best in Others

Monday, May 17, 2010

9:00 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

Building 45, Natcher Auditorium

Join the NIH community on Monday, May 17, 2010 to highlight the legacy of Dr. Ruth L. Kirschstein.

9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Opening Session: Remembering Dr. Ruth L. Kirschstein

Join NIH Director Francis Collins, current and former members of NIH and Congress, and friends and family of Dr. Ruth L. Kirschstein for a morning dedicated to Dr. Kirschstein's legacy and her life-long commitment to the NIH.

11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Dr. Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Scientific Symposium on Stem Cells

Join Dr. Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (RLK NRSA) recipients, Drs. Sara Cherry, Ph.D., from the University of Pennsylvania, Francis Lee, M.D., Ph.D., from Weill Cornell Medical College, Julie Pfeiffer, Ph.D., from the University of Texas Southwestern and Laurie Boyer Ph.D., from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for scientific presentations on their latest research.

1:20 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Dr. Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Symposium on Cancer Metastasis

Join RLK NRSA recipients, Drs. Howard Chang, M.D, Ph.D., from Stanford University, Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., from Harvard Medical School, and Dorothy Sipkins, M.D., Ph.D., from The University of Chicago, for scientific presentations on their latest research.

2:35 p.m. -4:30 p.m. Dr. Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Scientific Symposium on Neuroscience

Join RLK NRSA recipients, Drs. Mark Johnson, M.D., Ph.D., from Harvard Medical School, Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa, M.D., from the Johns Hopkins University, Anna Penn, M.D., Ph.D., from Stanford University, and Gonzalo Torres, Ph.D., from the University of Pittsburgh, for scientific presentations on their latest research.

4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Dr. Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Panel Discussion: The Importance of Mentoring, Nurturing and Inspiring the Best in Others

Join Drs. Boyer, Penn, Torres and Lee for a discussion about how mentors helped shaped their careers and how they are now inspiring the next generation of scientists.

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Dr. Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Poster Session and Reception

Join members of the NIH intramural community who are RLK NRSA recipients for a poster session and reception

For more information about the day, visit: http://wals.od.nih.gov/2009-2010/kirschstein.html. To obtain important information for visitors to NIH, please go to http://www.nih.gov/about/visitor/.

A live videocast of the day's events will be available at http://videocast.nih.gov.

Contact Sarah Freeman at 301-594-6747 or [email protected] with any questions.