Newswise — David L. Rimoin, M.D., Ph.D, Steven Spielberg Chair and director of the Medical Genetics Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, has been chosen to receive the American Society of Human Genetics' (ASHG) Leadership Award. Rimoin is the first person to receive the organization's newest award.
"We established the Leadership Award to honor an individual whose professional achievements have fostered and enriched the development of various human genetics disciplines," said Joann Boughman, executive vice president of ASHG. "Our nominating committee unanimously selected Dr. Rimoin as the inaugural recipient of this award because of his leadership in establishing the American Board of Medical Genetics and the American College of Medical Genetics as well as his internationally recognized research achievements, particularly in the area of skeletal dysplasias." Rimoin received the award at the ASHG's annual meeting in New Orleans on Thursday, October 12. "I am honored to accept this tribute from the ASHG and pleased to have played a part in establishing medical genetics as a full medical specialty," Rimoin said.
Rimoin has been affiliated with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for 20 years. Prior to joining Cedars-Sinai, he served as chief of the Division of Medical Genetics at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, Calif. Before that, he was director of the Genetics Clinic at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri.
As the founding president of the American Board of Medical Genetics, Rimoin was instrumental in establishing the educational standards for certification of medical geneticists and the accreditation of training programs throughout the nation. He also served as founding president of the American College of Medical Genetics and then as president of its Foundation, which fosters education in medical genetics to both the practitioner and the public.
Rimoin founded the American College of Medical Genetics' annual meetings in conjunction with the March of Dimes to provide an educational forum for clinical geneticists and other individuals providing genetic services. "Dr. Rimoin's professional achievements have fostered and enriched the development of various human genetics disciplines," Dr. Boughman said. "He has the enduring leadership and vision required to ensure that the field of human genetics will flourish and successfully assimilate in the broader context of science, medicine and health."
One of only seven hospitals in California whose nurses have been honored with the prestigious Magnet designation, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is one of the largest nonprofit academic medical centers in the Western United States. For 19 consecutive years, it has been named Los Angeles' most preferred hospital for all health needs in an independent survey of area residents. Cedars-Sinai is internationally renowned for its diagnostic and treatment capabilities and its broad spectrum of programs and services, as well as breakthroughs in biomedical research and superlative medical education. It ranks among the top 10 non-university hospitals in the nation for its research activities and its human research protection program is fully accredited by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Inc. (AAHRPP). Additional information is available at http://www.cedars-sinai.edu.
About the American Society of Human Genetics:
Founded in 1948, ASHG is the primary professional membership organization for human geneticists in the Americas. The nearly 8,000 members include researchers, academicians, clinicians, laboratory practice professionals, genetic counselors, nurses and others involved in or with special interest in human genetics.
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