Senior Vice President of Research Affairs at the CF Foundation, William Skach, M.D., presented the Paul di Sant'Agnese Distinguished Scientific Achievement Award to Raymond Frizzell, Ph.D., a professor and director of the Cystic Fibrosis Research Center at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Dr. Frizzell made the seminal discovery that CF lung cells lacked chloride channels and was the first to propose -- and help prove -- that these channels were either missing or mutated in CF. During his 46-year medical career, Dr. Frizzell developed the first CF Research and Development Program (RDP) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham into one of the premier CF centers in the United States and started a second RDP in Pittsburgh, which has become a cornerstone of the CF research community.
President and CEO of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Preston W. Campbell, III, M.D., presented the inaugural Carol and C. Richard Mattingly Leadership in Mental Health Care Award to Alexandra L. Quittner, Ph.D., a professor of psychology, pediatrics and otolaryngology at the University of Miami. Dr. Quittner is an internationally recognized expert on depression and anxiety in people with CF and their caregivers.
She led investigations on the first international study of symptoms of depression and anxiety in the CF population and co-chaired the committee that developed guidelines on screening and treating depression and anxiety in people with CF. Dr. Quittner also serves on the Mental Health Advisory Committee, which is focused on facilitating the implementation of the guidelines across the care center network.
Cindy George, senior director of Partnerships for Sustaining Daily Care at the CF Foundation, presented the third annual Mary M. Kontos Care Champion Award to Ginny Drapeau, BSN, RN, CCRP, CF clinical nurse and
Since starting at her CF care center 23 years ago, Ginny Drapeau has made contributions at both the local and national levels, most notably leading work in the development of patient education materials and quality improvement. Karen Maguinness, the second award recipient, is a leading dietitian who has worked to improve nutritional outcomes for individuals with CF since 1985, serving nationally as a dietitian mentor and as a member of multiple CF Foundation committees. The Kontos Award is presented to non-physician members of a care team who have made significant contributions to the field of day-to-day care.
Senior Vice President of Clinical Affairs at the Foundation, Bruce C. Marshall, M.D., presented the Quality Care Awards to CF care centers that have demonstrated sustained commitment to quality improvement with tangible results. He also presented the Outstanding Partnership Awards to CF care centers that have gone the extra mile in partnering with their local CF chapter to support our shared mission; the Junior Investigator Award for Best Abstract in
Congratulations to all of our 2016 award recipients. Visit the 2016 North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference page for videos and recaps from the event.