Armen Tashjian

Professor Emeritus Tashjian Receives Endocrinology Award

Armen Tashjian, professor of toxicology, emeritus, in the Department of Cancer Cell Biology, is the 2003 recipient of the Robert H. Williams Distinguished Leadership Award. The award recognizes outstanding leadership in fundamental or clinical endocrinology as shown through the recipient's contributions and those of his trainees and associates to teaching, research and administration. The Endocrine Society conferred the award and a $5,000 prize at its 85th annual meeting in June in Philadelphia, PA.

Tashjian was the founder and first chair of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Toxicology at HSPH. (The department eventually merged with another one and became the Department of Cancer Cell Biology.) Under his leadership, the department was a pioneer in demonstrating the importance of understanding the mechanisms of toxicity of environmental chemicals and therapeutic agents.

Tashjian's major basic research accomplishments have been on the mechanisms of cellular actions of neuropeptides and on the control of calcium homeostasis. In addition, his investigations into the hormone calcitonin led to the development of techniques to identify, treat and cure individuals at risk for medullary thyroid carcinoma.

Remainder of 'Outings and Innings' Summer Schedule

'Outings and Innings' (O&I), a service that offers perks and discounts on a variety of items to Harvard University employees, has announced the remainder of its summer schedule. The O&I staff will visit HSPH in the Kresge Cafeteria from 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, August 13 and 27. Starting September 10, O&I will resume its regular weekly schedule of visits to HSPH each Wednesday. For more information, go to http://www.atwork.harvard.edu/perks.

HSPH Alumnus Honored by Gerontological Society

Marshall Kapp, MPH '78, is the recipient of the 2003 Donald P. Kent Award, given annually to a member of the Gerontological Society of America who exemplifies the highest standard of professional leadership in gerontology through teaching, service and interpretation of gerontology-related information to society.

Kapp will receive the award during the Society's annual scientific meeting on November 24 in San Diego, CA. He is the director of the Office of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology at Wright State University in Dayton, OH.

The Gerontological Society of America is a non-profit professional organization with more than 5,000 researchers, educators, practitioners and policy makers in the field of aging.