Jason Johanning, M.D., an assistant professor of vascular surgery at UNMC, has been selected to receive the 2006 Dennis W. Jahnigen Career Development Scholars Award.
The award, developed under the auspices of the American Geriatrics Society’s project “Increasing Geriatrics Expertise in Surgical and Related Medical Specialties (Geriatrics-for-Specialists),” is named for the late Dennis W. Jahnigen, M.D., a leading geriatrician, educator and tireless advocate of introducing geriatrics training into all medical specialty areas.
Officials with the awards program said Dr. Johanning was selected because of the promise demonstrated in his proposal, “Evaluation of Gait and Balance Abnormalities in Geriatric Patients Induced by Peripheral Arterial Disease Utilizing Advanced Biomechanical Measures,” the sponsorship of his mentors, Brenda Keller, M.D., and Nick Stergiou, Ph.D., and the support of his institution.
“What is neat about this award is that it allows my collaborators, Greg Karst, Nick Stergiou, and I to solidify our research efforts,” Dr. Johanning said. “Gait and balance abnormalities caused by peripheral arterial disease is a very underdeveloped area of research, especially in the elderly patient.”
Dr. Johanning said findings from the ongoing study shows that there is a characteristic gait abnormality in people with peripheral arterial disease.
“Our goal is to develop non-surgical methods to correct gait abnormalities so that people can live a better and healthier life in their later years,” Dr. Johanning said.
The John A. Hartford Foundation and Atlantic Philanthropies funds the Jahnigen Career Development Scholars Awards Program. The program provides a two-year grant of $200,000 to assist young faculty in initiating and ultimately sustaining a career in research and education in the geriatrics aspects of his or her discipline. Medical school faculty in anesthesiology, emergency medicine, general surgery, gynecology, ophthalmology, orthopedic surgery, otolaryngology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, thoracic surgery and urology are eligible for this award with up to ten proposals selected for funding each year.