Drs. Bayles, Iwen elected Fellows in American Academy of Microbiology
The UNMC Department of Pathology and Microbiology received exceptional news this past week with the election of two members in the same year to the American Academy of Microbiology.
Ken Bayles, Ph.D., professor, pathology/microbiology, and associate vice chancellor for basic science research, and Peter Iwen, Ph.D., director of the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory and professor of pathology and microbiology, were selected during the 2017 review of nominated candidates.
Academy Fellows are eminent leaders in the field of microbiology and are elected annually through a highly selective, peer-review process, based on their records of scientific achievement and original contributions that have advanced microbiology. The membership represents all subspecialties of microbiology, including basic and applied research, teaching, public health, industry, and government service. Globally, there are 2,500 members of the academy.
“This is a very special honor for two outstanding microbiologists,” said Steve Hinrichs, M.D., chair of the department. “Ken has distinguished himself for his contributions to the concept of programmed cell death in bacteria as well as his work with microbial biofilms. Peter is a renowned expert in mycology or ‘fungi’ and has written the definitive chapter for this field in addition to his discovery and characterization of multiple new species of mycobacteria.”
Drs. Bayles and Iwen will be recognized at the Academy Fellows Reception in New Orleans on June 2, and their awards will be published in ASM Microbe.
MMI researchers honored for JABA article
The Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis has chosen an article co-written by Kathryn Peterson and Cathleen Piazza, Ph.D., of the Munroe-Meyer Institute’s pediatric feeding department, and Valerie Volkert, Ph.D., formerly of MMI, as a 2017 Contribution of the Year for the journal. The article is titled “A Comparison of a Modified Sequential Oral Sensory Approach to an Applied Behavior-Analytic Approach in the Treatment of Food Selectivity in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.” The authors will receive an award at the Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior banquet in May.
Dr. Shiffermiller wins research award at Perioperative Medicine Summit
The Society for Perioperative Assessment and Quality Improvement presented its Best Research Presentation Award to Jason Shiffermiller, M.D., at the 12th Annual Perioperative Medicine Summit in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Dr. Shiffermiller is assistant professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine, Section of Hospital Medicine. His research involved randomizing patients to preoperative continuation or discontinuation of angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to determine the safest way to manage a specific type of medication before surgery. ACE inhibitors are a commonly-prescribed type of blood pressure medication.