VCU School of Medicine Presents Professional Achievement Awards in Science, Dentistry and Medicine

By Malorie Burkett

Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Medicine and School of Dentistry recently recognized two faculty members with the 19^th Annual Women in Science, Dentistry and Medicine (WISDM) Professional Achievement Award.

The award, which is presented during the annual WISDM conference, recognizes those women who have served as strong role models and mentors for the professional development of women faculty.

This year’s honorees are Lenore Buckley, M.D., M.P.H., professor in the Departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, and Tegwyn Brickhouse, D.D.S., Ph.D., associate professor, chair and research director of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry.

Buckley, recipient of the School of Medicine Award, has focused her research efforts on the effects of inflammatory arthritis and its treatment on bone health and on ways to identify high-risk lupus patients for early preventive treatment.

Active in clinical trials, survey research and cost-effectiveness studies, Buckley has 30 peer-reviewed publications and has served on numerous national committees in the area of drug safety. She recently served as a reviewer for the Institute of Medicine report on calcium and Vitamin D intake.

As a teacher, Buckley has been honored for excellence at every stage of her career and is sought after for “sidewalk consults” as well as in more formal settings. She has served as medical director of the Rheumatology Teaching Clinic for 16 years and has been honored four times with the Teaching in Excellence Award from the Department of Internal Medicine.

As an advocate for women, Buckley has served in various capacities over a span of 15 years as president, vice-president and member of the executive committee of the VCU Women in Medicine faculty organization, and as a member of the SOM Committee on the Status of Women and Minorities (COSOWAM). Also, during her WIM leadership, she was the first woman appointed to the MCV Hospital Authority Board and is currently serving as a member of the MCV Physicians Board.

Brickhouse, who received the School of Dentistry award, joined the VCU dental faculty in 2003 and is currently in her second year serving as chair of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry. She teaches numerous preclinical and clinical D.D.S. program courses in addition to teaching in the pediatric dentistry residency program. Her chair-side teaching receives excellent reviews from both students and residents.

Some of her research interests include oral health in a medical setting and oral health disparities in publicly insured children.

Brickhouse serves on the School of Dentistry Research Committee and the VCU A.D. Williams Research Advisory committee in addition to mentoring student and resident research projects and serving as thesis adviser or thesis committee member for numerous M.S.D. graduate students.

The WISDM Professional Achievement Award is presented annually by the Women in Science, Dentistry, and Medicine Faculty Organization, VCU School of Medicine, MCV Campus.

The award was established in 1993 to acknowledge the special contributions and accomplishments of women faculty in the School of Medicine and to recognize those women for their special contributions, dedication, leadership, mentorship and accomplishments in the schools of Medicine and Dentistry.

Themed “It’s All About Relationships,” this year’s conference keynote speaker was Sharon L. Hostler, M.D., senior associate dean and vice provost for faculty development and McLemore Birdsong professor of pediatrics, University of Virginia.

Hostler presented “In Pursuit of Happiness,” which allowed participants to explore ancient wisdom and recent research on happiness, to experience practices of positive reflection and mindfulness and to construct personal and professional histories of the future.

The WISDM faculty organization solicits nominations annually. For more information, visit http://www.womeninmedicine.vcu.edu/APAA.html.