Dr. Ernest Feleppa, RRI Director, presented with Joseph H. Homes Pioneer Award by AIUM

The 2009 Joseph H. Holmes Pioneer Awards were presented on April 3, 2009 at the AIUM (American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine) Annual Convention in New York, New York. Dr. Feleppa was one of two recipients of the honor for contributions to the growth and development of medical ultrasound. The Basic Science Award was presented to Dr. Feleppa, while the Clinical Science Award was presented to Lawrence Platt, MD, of the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California in Los Angeles, California.

Dr. Feleppa's impressive career includes being the recipient of 14 public health service grants, to include eight research grants from the NIH of which he was principal investigator of seven and co-principal investigator of one. His biomedical research has yielded three patents, and he has published more than 100 scientific papers. To Dr Feleppa, this prestigious award is, "...recognition of the leading-edge biomedical ultrasound research we have been doing as a group here at RRI and the team I am fortunate to have working with me."

Despite his busy schedule Dr. Feleppa is also an adjunct associate professor at Pace University, adjunct associate professor of surgery at New York Medical College, adjunct research associate professor of surgery at Drexel University, and adjunct professor of biomedical engineering at Columbia University.

RRI has now been honored with this award twice since Dr. Feleppa's predecessor, Dr. Frederick Lizzi, also received this award a number of years ago.

The award's namesake, Joseph H. Holmes, was an important figure to both the field of diagnostic ultrasound and the AIUM. His early efforts in ultrasound research, which included tissue characterization and ultrasound's diagnostic use in polycystic kidney disease and orthopedics, helped to advance the field of ultrasound and encourage others to conduct new research.

The American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine is a multidisciplinary association dedicated to advancing the safe and effective use of ultrasound in medicine through professional and public education, research, development of guidelines, and accreditation. To learn more about the AIUM please visit: http://www.aium.org/