2008 Recipient - Robert Brent, MD, PhD
Nemours Enterprise
Monday, September 22, 2008 @ 04:01 AM EDT
Robert L. Brent, MD, PhD, Honored with 2008 Alfred I. duPont Award for Excellence in Children’s Health Care
For his lifetime commitment in the field of radiation biology and the risks of radiation and other environmental exposures on the developing fetus and for his leadership in pediatric clinical care, research and education, Robert L. Brent, MD, PhD, will be honored as the recipient of the prestigious 2008 Alfred I. duPont Award for Excellence in Children’s Health Care by Nemours, one of the nation’s largest children's health systems.
The duPont Award ceremony will honor Dr. Brent on Tuesday, September 23, at 8:00 p.m., at the Wilmington Country Club, Wilmington, Delaware. The duPont Award consists of a $50,000 cash prize and an original Steuben Glass crystal sculpture.
Dr. Brent has a worldwide reputation as a leader in radiation biology, developmental biology, teratology, genetics and cancer risks. During his career he has personally counseled over 20,000 individuals who are concerned about the risks of radiation exposure, cancer, birth defects, miscarriage and other reproductive and developmental problems. In addition to all of these scholarly activities, he received continuous NIH and DOE funding for his research activities, directed a research institute at Stein Research Center of Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University (Philadelphia) and was chairman of the Pediatric Department for 30 years, one of the longest chairmanships in American pediatric history.
Dr. Brent is the Distinguished Louis and Bess Stein Professor of Pediatrics, Radiology, and Pathology and head of the Environmental and Clinical Teratology Laboratory at DuPont Hospital for Children. He is also emeritus chairman of Pediatrics and Professor of Radiology, Pathology and Anatomy at The Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
He has received many honors including being elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. In April 1996, to honor his outstanding educational and research contributions to science and medicine, Thomas Jefferson University created the Robert L. Brent Professorship for the chairman of the Department of Pediatrics and held a special convocation to dedicate the Lillian and Robert Brent Auditorium at the University.
He was a one of 40 founding members of the Teratology Society in 1961and elected president in 1966. It is a society dedicated to studying the causes of birth defects and their prevention. In addition to his prestigious research career, Dr. Brent has authored 430 publications and 300 abstracts, including six books and four movies.
modified: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 @ 03:20 PM EDT
created: Monday, September 22, 2008 @ 03:52 PM EDT
