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The American Diabetes Association, the nation’s leading voluntary health organization in the fight to stop diabetes, announced today that several leading researchers, clinicians, volunteers and educators in the diabetes field will be presented with national achievement awards this week. 

The following leaders will receive the achievement awards at the Association’s National Board Meeting, Community Volunteer Leadership Conference or at the American Diabetes Association’s 70th Scientific Sessions®, all taking place in Orlando, FL.    

National Scientific & Health Care Achievement Award Recipients

Banting Medal for Scientific Achievement
Name: Robert A. Rizza, MD, Rochester, MN
Title:   Past President, Medicine & Science, American Diabetes Association; Earl and Annette R. McDonough Professor of Medicine and the Executive Dean for Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award
Name: Martin G. Myers, Jr., MD, PhD, Ann Arbor, MI
Title:   Marilyn H. Vincent Professor of Diabetes Research, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Molecular & Integrative Physiology Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Health System

Outstanding Educator in Diabetes Award
Name: Belinda P. Childs, ARNP, MN, CDE, BC-ADM, Wichita, KS
Title:   Diabetes Research and Clinic Coordinator, Clinical Nurse Specialist – ARNP Mid-America Diabetes Associates, P.A.

Kelly West Award for Outstanding Achievement in Epidemiology
Name: Frank B. Hu, MD, PhD, Boston, MA
Title:   Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, and Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Outstanding Physician Clinician in Diabetes Award
Name: William V. Tamborlane, MD, New Haven, CT
Title:   Chief of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, and Professor of Pediatrics, Yale University School of  Medicine

Harold Rifkin Award for Distinguished International Service in the Cause of Diabetes
Name: Peter H. Bennett, MB, ChB, FRCP, FFPH, Phoenix, AZ
Title:   Scientist Emeritus, Phoenix Epidemiology and Clinical Research Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health

Albert Renold Award
Name: Philip E. Cryer, MD, St. Louis, MO
Title:   Irene E. and Michael M. Karl Professor of Endocrinology and Metabolism in Medicine, Washington University  School of Medicine

National Service Achievement Award Recipients

C. Everett Koop Medal for Health Promotion and Awareness
Name: Kelly J. Acton, MD, MPH, FACP, CAPT, USPHS, Albuquerque, NM
Title:   Director, Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention, Indian Health Service

Wendell Mayes Jr. Medal for Outstanding Service in the Cause of Diabetes
Name: Stanley Panasewicz, CMA, New Brunswick, NJ
Title:   Senior Director, Investor Relations, Johnson & Johnson

Charles H. Best Medal for Distinguished Service in the Cause of Diabetes
Name: Karen D. Talmadge, PhD, Los Altos Hills, CA
Title:   Vice President, Chief Science Officer, Kyphon Products, Medtronic; Bakken Fellow, Medtronic Spinal and Biologics

Public Policy Leadership Award
Names: Kapche Litigation Team

• Jeffrey S. Kapche, Katy, TX, Detective, Fort Bend County, Texas Sheriff’s Office
• Katherine L. Butler, JD, Houston, TX, Partner, Butler & Harris
• James R. Gavin III, MD, PhD, Fayetteville, GA, CEO and Chief Medical Officer, Healing Our Village, Inc.; Clinical Professor of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine
• Desmond A. Schatz, MD, Gainesville, FL, Associate Chairman of Pediatrics and Medical Director of the University of Florida Center of Excellence
• Ralph A. DeFronzo, MD, San Antonio, TX, Professor of Medicine and Chief of Diabetes Division, University of Texas Health Science Center
• Garin Reetz, Rockwall, TX, Legal Administrative Specialist, US Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Texas

Ross Hickey Award for Outstanding Service in Diabetes Research Funding
Name: Ginger L. Graham, MBA, Boulder, CO
Title:   President and CEO, Two Trees Consulting

Addison B. Scoville Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service
Name: Richard R. Rubin, PhD, CDE, Monkton, MD
Title:   Professor, Medicine and Pediatrics, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Charles H. Best Medal for Service
Name: Nash M. Childs, PE, Wilmington, DE
Title:   Chair of the Board, American Diabetes Association

Rachmiel Levine Medal for Service
Name: Christine T. Tobin, RN, MBA, CDE, Atlanta, GA
Title:   President, Health Care & Education, American Diabetes Association

Banting Medal for Service
Name: Richard M. Bergenstal, MD, Minneapolis, MN
Title:   President, Medicine & Science, American Diabetes Association

Charles Kopke Medal for Service
Name: Gerard B. Nee, CPA, Somerville, NJ
Title:   Secretary/Treasurer, American Diabetes Association

More than 13,000 top scientists, physicians and other health care professionals from around the world will share cutting-edge research, treatment recommendations and advances toward a cure for diabetes at the Association's 70th Scientific Sessions June 25-29, 2010.  Association volunteers from around the country will meet to enhance mobilization of the Stop Diabetes(SM) movement at the Association’s National Board Meeting and Community Volunteer Leadership Conference June 24-26, 2010.