Friends of the Waisman Center 2011 Reception

Aug. 18, 2011
Waisman Communications

AWARD WINNERS

WAISMAN RESEARCH AWARD:

Recipient: Alisa Damnernsawad

Alisa was nominated by Su-Chun Zhang for her research in his laboratory, which focuses on reprogramming astrocytes into myelin-producing oligodendrocytes that are damaged during brain and spinal cord injury. Zhang comments that,"Alisa picks up complex concepts and difficult techniques really fast. She is also inquisitive...she is surprisingly independent in running her project, from experimental design to execution. Her progress is enormous. I see great potential from her. It has been an enjoyable experience to work with her."

FELLOWSHIP AWARDS:

Richard and Jeannette Anderson Hoffman Distinguished Graduate Fellowship

Recipient: Holly Hung

Holly was nominated by John Svaren for her research in his laboratory regarding epigenetic regulation of myelination of the nervous system. Svaren commented in his nomination letter. "Holly has attacked this project with gusto and developed a multidimensional set of techniques to characterize the resulting phenotype, which was unexpected and has turned out to be very interesting. Because of her initiative in getting things done, I believe she has all the tools to have a very successful career and I look forward to working with her in the next few years."

Richard and Jeannette Anderson Hoffman Distinguished Graduate Fellowship

Recipient: Emily McFadd

Emily is a PhD student in the Department of Communicative Disorders working with Katie Hustad and her lab. Emily has worked intensively in the IDDRC as a student in the Hustad lab and also in the UCEDD as a clinical fellow in the Communication Aids and Systems Clinic (CASC). Hustad commented in her nomination letter," Emily has worked in my laboratory and is currently the lead graduate student. She has been a key contributor to our ongoing longitudinal investigation of communication development in children with cerebral palsy. Emily has done an outstanding job of working with children who have very complex communication problems."

STUDENT AWARDS

Graduate Research Awards

Alvin L. Berman & Ruth Bleier Memorial Research Award

Recipient: Ronghui Li

Ronghui is a graduate student in the laboratory of Qiang Chang studying the molecular mechanisms of Rett Syndrome. One of his projects is to make induced neurons directly from Rett Syndrome patient fibroblasts. As Chang commented in his nomination, "This is a highly challenging task. To my amazement, just three months into taking on this project, Ronghui had already been successful. His early success in my lab is due to his good hands and quick mind, and with many long days he spent in the lab. To me, this says a lot about his commitment to eventually improving people's lives through scientific research…I have no doubt that he can and will do great things during his graduate training in my lab and his future scientific career."

University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities

Recipient: Kim Liebhart

Anne Harris nominated Kim for her achievements in the LEND program. She cited her contributions to the program, "Kim has taken advantage of every opportunity to develop her leadership and professional skills, and quickly assumed an active and integral role in local, state, and national-level activities related to the early identification of children with developmental delays. Kim is focused on making a contribution, and has already had a meaningful impact on child care centers in Madison and Appleton to which she provided outreach and technical assistance, through a statewide technical assistance teleconference. Overall, Kim embodies the mission of the Waisman Center and is dedicated to advancing the knowledge about human development."

Undergraduate Research Award

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center

Recipient: George Bonadurer

George is involved in a project using induced pluripotent stem cells to study Down syndrome. He was nominated for this award by Anita Bhattacharyya, who cited the contributions of his work "George has made significant contributions to the characterization of Down syndrome iPS cells. His work showed us how to better choose cells to differentiate into neurons…Based on his work thus far and his focus on developmental disorders, I believe George has a bright future in biomedical research focused on bettering the lives of those with disabilities."

STAFF AWARDS

Classified Staff Award

Recipient: Heather Asplund

Heather works in Waisman Computing Services. She was nominated for this award by Douglas Swiggum who noted in his nomination that, "Heather has combined her technical skills with her expertise in customer service to make 'Having a computer problem' not so much of a problem. She approaches her work with optimism and efficiency, making everyone's work here at the Waisman Center easier. Her friendly nature and ability to communicate with others is key. Not only is she approachable, but she makes a point of approaching new Waisman employees, so that they know her and will call on her if they run into a problem in their new work environment. It is one of the reasons that the Waisman Center is a great place to work."

Academic Staff Award

Recipient: Lynda Wright

In his nomination letter for Lynda, who is a researcher in his lab, David Gamm acknowledged Lynda's vast experience and history with the Waisman Center, "Lynda has been a dedicated and productive researcher at the Waisman Center for the past 30 years (since 1978), during which time she made countless contributions to the research programs of three different investigators: Frank Siegel (21 years), Clive Svendsen (4 years), and David Gamm (5 years). In each laboratory, she led multiple projects and continuously proved herself to be an excellent scientist, performing critical experiments and publishing results in highly regarded journals. She also supervised research specialists, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and assisted in the preparation and management of numerous grants. Overall, she has been an integral part of the success of the Waisman Center itself over the past three decades, and thus is highly deserving of this award."

Outstanding Staff Service

Recipient: Kay Smith

Kay Smith received the Waisman Outstanding Service Award. Marsha Mailick Seltzer nominated Kay for this award and applauded her efficient and excellent work and willingness to serve in any capacity at the Waisman Center. Kay has worked in the business office, grants administration, and as the assistant to the director since joining the Waisman Center on a part-time basis after her retirement from the UW as the administrator of the Institute on Aging. Seltzer thanked Kay for her dedication and noted that she has been "the glue" that has held the Waisman Center together during this period of transition.

 

VOLUNTEER FAMILY AWARD

Recipient: Claudia, Isabella, and Paula Prolla

This family was nominated by Barb Wagner for their extraordinary contributions to the ID Train and MCH LEND program for the past 13 years. In her nomination letter, Barb wrote: "Claudia knew of the existence of the Waisman Center while still living in Texas. She established her family here in Madison, even buying her home on University Bay Drive, so she could be close enough to walk here to the Waisman Center. She brought her daughter, Isabella, to the Cerebral Palsy clinic in 1998, 13 years ago. She came to have our physicians review Isabella's situation, therapies, and diagnosis and to help guide her through Isabella's life in Wisconsin. Isabella was 4 years old, and she is now 17 years old. Claudia has been a powerful spokesperson for the Waisman Center; speaking to many families in our community about the Center and how it has helped her. She has always wanted to "give back," never turning down a request to volunteer her time and energy in our programs."