People in the global health news - October 2019

Former NLM Director Lindberg dies

Dr. Donald A.B. Lindberg, who directed NIH’s National Library of Medicine (NLM) for 31 years until his retirement in 2015, has died. A pioneer in computers and medicine, Lindberg’s tenure included the creation of NLM’s National Center for Biotechnology Information and launch of online resources such as PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov and MedlinePlus. He was the founding president of the American Medical Informatics Association.

Environmental health director Birnbaum retiring

Dr. Linda S. Birnbaum is retiring after nearly 40 years as a federal scientist, the last 10 leading NIH’s National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the National Toxicology Program. Birnbaum is the first board-certified toxicologist and the first woman to direct NIEHS, which became a world leader in toxicology and environmental health research under her leadership.

Tucci to lead deafness institute

Dr. Debara L. Tucci has been selected to lead the NIH’s National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). Previously, she was surgery professor and director of the cochlear implant program at Duke University. Tucci will remain co-chair of the Lancet Commission on Global Hearing Loss.

New global health head for NIH neurological institute

NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) has tapped Dr. Richard Benson as director of its Office of Global Health and Health Disparities. Benson was an associate medical director at Medstar Washington Hospital Center and faculty member of the NIH vascular neurology fellowship program.

Byanyima chosen to lead UNAIDS

Winnie Byanyima is the new executive director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). She previously led Oxfam International, the global organization addressing the injustice of poverty.  Trained as an aeronautical engineer, Byanyima’s experience as a champion for women and marginalized communities began 30 years ago as member of Uganda’s parliament.

Photo courtesy of Oxfam International

Rotimi recognized for human genetics research

The American Society of Human Genetics has honored Dr. Charles Rotimi for his outstanding scientific achievements during the past decade. A genetic epidemiologist and senior investigator with NIH’s National Human Genome Research Institute, Rotimi’s lab discovered African-specific variants for diabetes, obesity, lipids and metabolic syndrome. Rotimi also helped establish the Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) initiative.

Photo by Ernesto Del Aguila, III, NHGRI

Ramsay among distinguished women researchers

Dr. Michele Ramsay received a 2019 South African Women in Science Award in the category of natural and engineering sciences. A professor of human genetics at the University of the Witwatersrand, Ramsay has held a Fogarty research training grant for noncommunicable diseases and is part of the NIH-supported Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) initiative.

New academic role for grantee Farquhar

Fogarty grantee Dr. Carey Farquhar has been named Vice Dean for Education for the University of Washington School of Public Health. A professor of global health, epidemiology and medicine, Farquhar was a Fogarty trainee who went on to become a mentor and grantee involved in HIV research training programs.

Photo by Katherine B. Turner, UW School of Public Health

Cashion retires from NIH nursing institute

Dr. Ann Cashion, who has been Acting Director of NIH’s National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), is retiring. Cashion also served as the Institute’s scientific director and established a thriving intramural research program focused on advancing symptom science. Before joining NIH in 2011, Cashion was a professor and department chair at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.