Dr. Alicia Matthews appointed as Helen K. Grace Faculty Diversity Scholar

BIRCWH mentor Alicia Matthews, PhD, has been appointed as the inaugural Helen K. Grace Faculty Diversity Scholar for her internationally recognized work on physical and mental health disparities among members of marginalized social, groups. This award was presented by the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing. 

Dr. Matthews’ research focuses on examining the factors associated with physical and mental health disparities among members of marginalized social groups, including racial and ethnic minorities and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) populations, and developing tailored smoking cessation interventions for these groups. She has conducted research in the areas of cancer survivorship, cancer prevention, health care utilization, mental illness stigma, and depression. The National Cancer Institute, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and the Boeing Foundation have funded her research. Congratulations, Dr. Matthews! 

Dr. Thasarat Vajaranant receives the American Galucoma Society Thom J. Zimmerman, MD, PhD, Memorial Award

Congratulations to BIRCWH scholar Thasarat Vajaranant, who was named the first recipient of the “American Glaucoma Society – Thom J. Zimmerman, MD, PhD Memorial Award, Supported by Valeant Ophthalmics.” The award is in memory of Dr. Thom J. Zimmerman, Emeritus Professor and Chair of the Department of Opjtjalmology and Visual Sciences and Emeritus Professor of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Louisville, and the developer of the glaucoma medication timolol maleate (TIMOPTIC). The award consists of an unrestricted grant to support Thasarat’s clinical research study, “A Feasibility Study to Assess the Accuracy of Self-Reported Glaucoma Outcomes and Participant Interest in Ancillary Glaucoma Studies as Part of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) Extension.”  The WHI is a large-scale national study cohort, providing a unique opportunity to build a large multiracial and multiethnic database regarding the genotype-phenotype influence on primary open-angle glaucoma. More information about the award is available online.