2011 
Bodil M. Schmidt-Nielsen Distinguished Mentor and Scientist Awardee
Douglas C. Eaton, Ph.D.
Emory University
Eaton received his Ph.D. at the University of California, San Diego.  He did his postdoctoral training in the Department of Physiology at the University of California, Los Angeles. In 1973, he was hired as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX. In 1985, Eaton became a full professor and Director of the Department of Physiology and Biophysics Program. In 1986, Eaton moved to the Emory University Medical School in Atlanta, GA as Professor in the Department of Physiology; in 2002 he was named Distinguished Professor.  In 1995 he became Director of Graduate Studies in Cell and Developmental Biology at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. In 2005, Eaton became Director of the Fellowships in Research and Science Teaching (FIRST) program. In 2008, he became Department Chair at Emory.

2010
M. Harold Laughlin, Ph.D.
University of Missouri-Columbia

Laughlin received his Ph.D. at the University of Iowa.  He did his postdoctoral training also at the University of Iowa and then at the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine. He served as Assistant Professor of Physiology at Oral Roberts University Medical School in Tulsa before moving to Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center at the University of Missouri-Columbia. In 1987 he received a joint appointment to the Department of Physiology in the School of Medicine. In 1992 he was named interim chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences, and then Chair in 1994. In 2007, he received the title of Curator’s Professor. Laughlin is currently regarded as one of the world leaders in research on the adaptations of the coronary and skeletal muscle beds to physical activity and inactivity, both in normal animals and in a variety of pathophysiological models of disease, in particular atherosclerosis. In addition, he has made his department one of the leading departments in integrative physiology in the country. Laughlin’s success as a mentor has been through three primary roles: as an instructor, as a mentor, and as chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Missouri. As an instructor, Dr. Laughlin serves as a role model to both students and faculty alike. As a mentor, Dr. Laughlin has worked for over 20 years to provide resources and foster independence in aspiring graduate students, veterinary residents, and postdoctoral fellows. As chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Dr. Laughlin has had the unique opportunity to directly impact faculty development.

2009
Brian R. Duling, Ph.D.
University of Virginia Health Sciences Center

Dr. Duling received his Ph.D. at the University of Iowa.  He did his postdoctoral training at the University of Virginia School of Medicine before being hired as an Instructor and then Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiology. He moved up through the ranks, including terms as Vice-Chair and Acting Chair of the Department, until being named the Robert M. Berne Chair in Cardiovascular Research in 1992 and then Director of the Cardiovascular Research Center in 1993. He continues to hold those positions today, in addition to acting as Interim Associate Dean for Graduate Studies in the School of Medicine. Dr. Duling’s research focuses on the integrative biology of the vascular system, with two broad areas of excellence. First, he is interested in the cellular and molecular basis of the regulation of arteriolar tone and blood flow, especially in striated muscle. Second, he seeks to understand the factors that control tissue oxygenation, and particularly the ways in which red cells are distributed among the microvessels. Dr. Duling has successfully mentored 35 postdoctoral fellows, 3 clinical fellows, and 7 predoctoral students. His mentees have gone on to successful and prominent positions (including 2 chairs, Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer, NIH Program Officer, among others) in a variety of careers: academia, industry, clinical centers, and government with national funding and numerous awards among themselves.

2008
Joey P. Granger, Ph.D.
University of Mississippi Medical Center

Dr. Granger received his Ph.D. at University of Mississippi Medical Center. He did his postdoctoral training at the Mayo Clinic and Foundation and has served as a faculty member at Mayo, as well as Eastern Virginia Medical School before returning to the University of Mississippi School of Medicine. In 1996, he became the Associate Director of the Center for Excellence in Cardiovascular-Renal Research. He was named the Billy S. Guyton Distinguished Professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics in 2004. In 2007, he was appointed Dean of the School of Graduate Studies in the Health Sciences. Dr. Granger's research investigates the physiological mechanisms whereby endothelial-derived factors alter renal function and lead to long-term alteration in the regulation of arterial pressure and hypertension, specifically pregnancy-induced hypertension. Dr. Granger has successfully mentored 5 visiting scientists, 13 postdoctoral fellows, and 10 predoctoral students. He started a mentoring group for junior faculty to help them obtain funding. Dr. Granger has had 16 medical and undergraduate student research fellows in his lab and established a summer research internship program for undergraduate students in his department.  He serves as an active judge for local science fairs, as well as being a frequent speaker at local high schools. As Dean, Dr. Granger improved graduate education by providing better stipend and health insurance support for all graduate students at his institution.

2007
Barbara A. Horwitz, Ph.D.
University of California, Davis

Dr. Horwitz received her Ph.D. from Emory University. She has spent most of her professional career at the University of California, Davis, starting as a postdoctoral fellow. In 1991 she became Chair of the Department of Animal Physiology, renamed the Section of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior. In 2001, she became Vice Provost for Academic Personnel. Dr. Horwitz leads a highly successful research program centered on the genetic, neural, and hormonal regulation of energy balance. She also has two grants to develop instructional materials for undergraduate physiology courses and another aimed at increasing the number of under-represented minorities in biomedical research. Dr. Horwitz has received many teaching awards from her university, as well as the University of California Presidential Award, and the APS Guyton Teacher of the Year Award. Dr. Horwitz is an outstanding mentor, guiding the development of 11 predoctoral students, 8 postdoctoral fellows, and countless undergraduate and high school students. A significant number of her undergraduate mentees have gone on to obtain Ph.D.'s or other post-baccalaureate/professional degrees.

2006
L. Gabriel Navar, Ph.D.
Tulane University School of Medicine

Dr. Navar received his Ph.D. at the University of Mississippi under the direction of Dr. Arthur Guyton. He served as a faculty member at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine and at the University of Alabama at Birmingham prior to his appointment as Professor and Chair of the Department of Physiology at Tulane University in 1988. Dr. Navar is also a co-Director of the Tulane Renal and Hypertension Center of Excellence. Dr. Navar leads a highly successful research program, contributing significantly to fundamental research in the fields of renal hemodynamics and hypertension. Dr. Navar's excellence in scientific research has been honored with awards from APS, the American Heart Association, and the American Society of Hypertension. Dr. Navar is an outstanding mentor, guiding the development of 21 predoctoral students, 42 postdoctoral fellows, and 4 visiting scientists during the past 40 years. Many of these mentees have gone on to a wide variety of prominent research and teaching positions.
 

2005
Christin Carter-Su, Ph.D.
University of Michigan

Dr. Carter-Su received her Ph.D. from the University of Rochester in New York. She had postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Rochester and Brown University. Her first faculty position was at the University of Michigan, where she rose through the ranks, reaching full professor in 1992. She was named Associate Director and Chief of the Biomedical Research Division of the Michigan Diabetes Research and Training Center in 1997. Dr. Carter-Su's exemplary research focuses on endocrinology and signal transduction, studying the molecular mechanisms of growth hormone action. She currently maintains her own NIH grants, as well as participating in two Center grants, one from NIH and the other from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. She holds one patent and has authored over 100 peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and reviews. Dr. Carter-Su has mentored more than 30 undergraduate students, 12 graduate and medical students (over 60 dissertation committees), and 16 Postdoctoral Fellows, as well as numerous colleagues. As was stated in the nomination, "Her clear thinking, experience and willingness to give time to people make her a very effective mentor."

2004
R. Clinton Webb, Ph.D.
Medical College of Georgia

Clinton Webb received his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. He had postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Michigan and Universitaire Instelling Antwerpen in Antwerp, Belgium. His first faculty position was at the University of Michigan, where he rose through the ranks, reaching full professor in 1989. He was named chair of the Department of Physiology at the Medical College of Georgia in 1999.

His exemplary research focuses on vascular smooth muscle and hypertension-related areas. He currently maintains his own NIH grants, as well as an NIH Program Project Grant. He holds one patent and has authored over 200 peer-reviewed papers and over 55 book chapters, reviews, etc.
He has mentored more than 150 undergraduate students, 13 graduate students (total of 48 dissertation committees), 20 Postdoctoral Fellows, and 10 visiting faculty, as well as numerous colleagues. As was stated in the nomination, "Clinton has nurtured, educated, mentored and modeled success in science for every undergraduate, graduate, fellow and post-doc that was fortunate enough to pass through his laboratory. He epitomizes what a mentor should be."