Glimcher Receives Honors for Women in Medicine
Laurie Glimcher, MD, senior physician within the Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy and HMS professor of Medicine, in June received the 2006 Distinguished Senior Scholar Award from the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation. The award recognizes women with long-term achievements in research, teaching, publications and leadership.
Glimcher is actively involved in the medical community as a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a member of both the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences. She also was president of the American Association of Immunologists in 2004. Her research focuses on clarifying the molecular pathways that regulate CD4 T helper cell development and activation, critical for development of protective immunity and for identifying immune responses underlying autoimmune diseases.
Glimcher also was honored with the 2006 Dean’s Award for Leadership in the Advancement of Women Faculty from HMS, a recognition program for mentors of young, female scientists. Glimcher founded the Primary Caregivers Technical Assistance Program at the National Institute of Health, a one-year national pilot program for post-doctoral fellows who are primary caregivers to provide technical support for postdoctoral fellows who are balancing family and career.
Glimcher is a mother of three, and she said this award was particularly heartwarming for her. Although she was unable to attend the award ceremony, her son, now a student at HMS, accepted the award on her behalf.
“These awards means so much to me,” Glimcher said. “Women need to understand that it is possible to combine family and career.”