UC Environmental Health Scientists Receive Distinguished Honors

CINCINNATI—Three professors in the University of Cincinnati (UC) Department of Environmental Health were recently honored for their contributions to science—locally, nationally and internationally.

Ranajit Chakraborty, PhD, professor and director of UC’s Center for Genome Information, was selected for honorary fellowship in the Indian Academy of Sciences. The organization—which plans scientific meetings and publishes 11 scientific journals—grants honorary fellowship to no more than three distinguished scientists annually.

President George W. Bush has appointed James Lockey, MD, professor of occupational, environmental and pulmonary medicine, to serve on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s radiation and worker health advisory board through August 2009. In this role, Dr. Lockey will have direct input into the government’s policies and procedures that ensure the safety and well-being of radiation workers throughout the United States.

Grace LeMasters, PhD, professor of epidemiology, has become the first female scientist ever to receive the Professional Accomplishment in Academia Scientists Award from the Cincinnati Engineers and Scientists Association. She was selected for her contributions to science as an independent researcher, industry advisor and mentor for environmental health students.

“These recent awards represent UC’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of workers in Greater Cincinnati—and in the nation,” said Shuk-Mei Ho, chair of the department of environmental health. “Through innovative research and strong leadership, we’ll continue to be stewards for environmental health and safety change and improvement in the future.”

Founded in 1930, UC’s environmental health department has 48 full-time faculty in four divisions and houses the College of Medicine’s largest graduate program, which has about 150 master’s and doctoral students.