People & Places

Schultz Wins International Honor for Pioneering Oral Rehydration Research
Wright Elected to German Academy of Sciences
Duling Wins Inaugural UVa Award

Schultz Wins International Honor for Pioneering Oral Rehydration Research

Stanley G. Schultz

Stanley G. Schultz, MD, APS Past-President and a longtime investigator, educator and administrator at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, received a prestigious international award for pioneering research that led to the development of oral rehydration therapy.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand presented Schultz with the Prince Mahidol Award for Medicine on Jan. 31 at the Grand Palace in Bangkok.

The annual prize, awarded by the Prince Mahidol Foundation on the recommendation of an international panel of experts, is a tremendous honor for Schultz, said Jerry S. Wolinsky, MD, interim dean of the UT Medical School.

“It is quite fitting that Dr. Schultz be recognized with the Prince Mahidol Award in Medicine for his pioneering work on the physiology of ion transport in the intestine and recognizing the profound implications of his findings for oral rehydration in cholera and other diarrheal diseases,” Wolinsky said. “Clinical applications of his insight have anonymously benefited the lives of millions. We are especially fortunate for all of the lives he has directly touched over the decades that he has tirelessly committed to nurturing our institution.”

Schultz is this year’s only recipient of the Prince Mahidol Award in the field of medicine. Three others will receive Prince Mahidol Awards in the field of public health. All are being recognized for work they did in the 1960s and 1970s to promote the discovery, introduction and widespread use of oral rehydration therapy. The simple, inexpensive treatment for severe diarrhea is estimated to have saved more than 40 million lives in the past 30 years.

The award acknowledges outstanding performance and/or research for the benefit of mankind and is named after Thai Prince Mahidol of Songkla, the father of King Bhumibol. Prince Mahidol, considered the Father of Modern Medicine and Public Health of Thailand, worked continually to upgrade medical care in Thailand. He earned his medical degree and a certificate of public health from Harvard University and practiced medicine in Thailand. In 1929, at age 37, he died of kidney disease.

Schultz, an adviser and former dean of the UT Medical School, said it is personally gratifying to receive the Prince Mahidol Award because it credits his basic research as a significant contribution to the human race.

In 1962, while Schultz was a captain in the medical corps at Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio, he started his career-long investigations on how substances are transported across membranes of the small intestine.

In a series of studies designed to examine the effects of glucose on sodium absorption, he found that when he exposed the mucosal surface of small intestinal tissue to the sugar and sodium, a marked increase in total sodium transport occurred. This indicated that both sugar and sodium were transferred into the tissue simultaneously.

Since it was known that water re-absorption is coupled with solute re-absorption, it followed that increasing sodium and glucose reabsorption by the gut would result in rapid rehydration. To treat dehydration, a person could drink a solution of sodium salts and glucose—a simple, effective and inexpensive cure.

“The mechanism of sodium-coupled solute absorption by the gut is now a standard model for the small intestine and the kidney,” said Schultz, who holds the H. Wayne Hightower Distinguished Professorship in the Medical Sciences and the Fondren Family Chair in Cellular Signaling at the UT Medical School. “It’s turned out to be a universal mechanism by which many nutrients and solutes are taken up by many cells. It is very important from a basic science point of view as well as a translational point of view.”

The Prince Mahidol award is one of numerous honors Schultz has received for his life-long work on the mechanisms of sodium and glucose-coupled absorption in the small intestine.

Schultz, now 75, was the recipient of the Hoffman-LaRoche Prize for Outstanding Contributions to Gastrointestinal Physiology in 1978. The American Physiological Society (APS) honored Schultz with the 2003 Daggs Award, a prestigious award given in recognition of distinguished contributions to the science of physiology and to the APS organization. Other awards include the New York University College of Medicine’s 2003 Solomon A. Berson Medical Alumni Achievement Award in Clinical Science, an award given for career contributions in clinical and basic science.

Schultz received his MD degree from New York University College of Medicine. He taught biophysics at Harvard Medical School and was professor of physiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine before joining the UT Medical School at Houston as professor and chairman of the Department of Physiology in 1979.

Wright Elected to German Academy of Sciences

Ernest M. Wright

Ernest M. Wright, professor of physiology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, has been elected to the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina in recognition of his scientific achievements in the field of transport proteins, which carry essential molecules in and out of cells. Founded in 1652 and officially renamed after Emperor Leopold I in 1677, Leopoldina is the world’s oldest academy involved in the natural sciences that has been permanently in existence since it was founded in 1652 as the Academia Naturae Curiosoriumin the Free Imperial City of Schweinfurt. It was officially recognized by Emperor Leopold I in 1677 and vested with the privileges of an Imperial Academy in 1687. The number of members below the age of 75 is formally limited to 1,000. Three quarters of the members come from Germany, Austria and Switzerland and the remainder comes from more than 30 other countries. Currently there are 34 Nobel Prize winners and in total there have been 163 members awarded this honor. There are 28 sections of the Leopoldina ranging from Mathematics to Medicine.

Duling Wins Inaugural UVa Award
APS Member, Brian R. Duling was one of two faculty members to receive the University of Virginia’s inaugural Distinguished Scientist Award created by the Office of the Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies to honor longtime faculty in science, medicine or engineering who have made extensive and influential contributions in their fields. Duling currently serves as the Robert M. Berne Chair in Cardiovascular Research in the School of Medicine, and holds a professorship in the Department of Molecular and Biological Physics. His research has shaped the study and understanding of microcirculation and vascular biology.
S. Kelly Ambler, is an Instructor, Division of Cardiology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO.  Formerly, Ambler was an Instructor, Department of Cardiology, Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, CO.

Lida Anestidou has attained the position of Program Officer, The National Academies Institute for Laboratory Animal Research, Washington, DC. Anestidou was formerly a Research Instructor, Center for Biomedical Ethics and Society, Nashville, TN.

Sandrine Therese A. Arbogast, a Postdoctoral Associate, has affiliated with INSERM U582, Institute of Myology, Paris, FRANCE.  Arbogast was formerly a Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington. 

Krista Natasha Blackwell is presently is a Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Medicine and Cardiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC. Blackwell was previously a Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, University of Medicine & Dentistry, Newark, NJ.
 
Douglas R. Bolster is currently Manager of Sports Nutrition, Department of Nutrition Sciences, Cadbury Schweppes, Plano, TX.  Bolster was formerly a Senior Research Scientist, Universities Space Research Association (USRA), NASA  Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX.  
 
Hua Linda Cai is currently an Assistant Professor of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA. Cai was previously associated with the Department of  Medicine, Section of Cardiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
 
Dominic Paul  D’Agostino has affiliated as a Postdoctoral Fellow with the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL. Prior to his new association, D’Agostino had been a Predoctoral Fellow, Department of Medicine, Pulmonary, University of Medicine & Dentistry, RW Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ.
 
Abigail Sarah Dean, a Postdoctoral Fellow, has recently affiliated with the Department of Physiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.  Dean was previously associated with the Department of Physiology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.
 
Maria Delivoria-Papadopoulos holds the position of Professor, Department of Neonatology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA.  Formerly, Delivoria-Papadopoulos had been affiliated with the Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
 
Carsten J. Duch, Associate Professor, has affiliated with Arizona State University, School of Life Sciences, Admin & Faculty, Tempe. Prior to his new position Duch was formerly a Jr. Group Leader, Freie University of Berlin, Institute of Biology, Berlin, Germany.

Michael J. Eppihimer has accepted the position of Senior Manager, Boston Scientific Corporation, Cell Biology, Natick, MA.  Eppihimer was previously an Associate Professor, Department of Bioengineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park.

C. Michael Foley is currently a Research Assistant Professor, Covance Laboratories, Inc., Madison, WI.  Foley was previously associated with the Department of Biomedical Science, University of Missouri-Columbia, Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, Columbia, MO.

Michael S. Gold, an Associate Professor, has affiliated with the Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA. Previously, Gold, as Assistant Professor, was associated with the Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Maryland Dental School, Baltimore.
 
Michael A. Hill has recently affiliated with the Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO.  Prior to his new position, Hill was associated with the Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Victoria, Australia.  

Yuh-Chin T. Huang, a Professor, has associated with the Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC.  Prior to his new position, Huang, as a Medical Officer, was formerly affiliated with the Department of Human Studies, Chapel Hill, NC.

Masahi Ichinose, a Research Fellow, joined the Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI.  Formerly, Ichinose was associated with the Institute of Health and Sports Sciences, Tsukuba University, Tsukuba, Japan.

Andrew Robert Judge, a Research Associate Scientist, has joined the University of Florida Applied Physiology & Kinesiology Department, Gainesville, FL.  Judge was formerly affiliated with the Department of Health Sciences, Boston University, MA.  
 
Frederick Steven Korte has affiliated with the Department of Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.  Korte was formerly associated with the Department of Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia.
 
Ronald A. Markle recently moved to Eberly College of Science, Penn State University, University Park, PA.  Formerly, Markle, a Professor, was with the College of Engineering & Natural Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff. 
 
Jeffrey B. Matthews, Professor and Chairman, is now affiliated with the Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.  Matthews as Professor and Chairman, was formerly with the Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH. 

David D. McPherson, a Professor, has joined the Department of Cardiology, University of Texas, Houston, TX.  Previously, McPherson, as a Professor, had been associated with the Department of Medicine and Cardiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL.   
 
Benjamin F. Miller, an Assistant Professor, has affiliated with the Department of Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins.  Formerly, Miller was a Lecturer, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
 
Kerrie Lynn Moreau, an Assistant Research Professor, has affiliated with the Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, University of Colorado, Denver and Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO.  Prior to her new position, Moreau was a Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder. 

Jeff L. Myers has accepted the position of Chief, Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, University of Tennessee Medical Group, Inc., Department of Pediatric Cardio-thoracic Surgery, Memphis, TN.  Prior to his new position, Myers had been Chief, Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tulane University Medical School, New Orleans, LA.
 
Surya Nauli, an Assistant Professor, has affiliated with the Department of Pharmacology, The University of Toledo, OH.  Nauli, formerly an Instructor, was associated with the Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA.
 
Vazhaikkurichi M. Rajendran, a Professor, has joined the Department of Internal Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown.  Rajendran had been a Senior Research Scientist, Department Digestive Disease, Yale University School of Medicine,
New Haven, CT.
 
Steven J. Schiff, a Professor, has recently affiliated with the Department of Engineering Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park. Prior to his new position, Schiff was associated with Krasnow Institute for Advance Study, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA.
 
Solomon Silas Senok, an Assistant Professor, has joined the University of Sharjah, College of Medicine, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.  Senok was previously affiliated with the Department of Physiology, Arabian Gulf University College of Medicine, Manama, Bahrain.  
 
Narong Simakajornboon, an Assistant Professor, has affiliated with the Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH. Simakajornboon was formerly associated with the Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA.   
 
Kai Singbartl has joined the Faculty of the University of Pittsburgh, Department of Critical Care Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA.  Prior to his present position, Singbartl was a Group Leader, Klin and Poliklin Anesthesiology Operative Intensive, University of Muenster, Germany.   
 
Michael K. Stickland is currently a Student, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  Formerly, Stickland was affiliated with the Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Middleton, WI.

Zhongjie Sun, an Associate Professor, joined the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City.  Sun as an Assistant Professor, was associated with the Department of Medicine and Physiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville.
 
Valory Rae A. Thatcher recently became an Instructor of the Science Division, Mt. Hood Community College, Gresham, OR.  Prior to her new position, Thatcher was affiliated with the Department of Biology, Portland Community College, Portland, OR.
 
Jason J. Villarin, a Postdoctoral Senior Fellow, has affiliated with the Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle.  As a Postdoc, Villarin was formerly associated with the University of Calgary, Faculty of Kinesiology, Calgary, Canada.
 
Robert L. Wardle, a Research Assistant Professor, has joined the Department of Physiology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC.  Prior to his new position, Wardle was a Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Cincinnati, Department of Molecular & Cellular Physiology, Cincinnati, OH.
 
Neal L. Weintraub, a Professor, has affiliated with the University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH.  Weintraub was previously an Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City.
 
Robert R. Wolfe, a Professor, has accepted a position with the Department of Geriatrics, University of Arkansas Medical Science, Little Rock, AK. Prior to his new position, Wolfe was associated with the Shriners Burn Hospital, Galveston, TX.
 
Michiko Yamasaki, a Postdoc Research Associate, has joined the Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA. Yamasaki was formerly associated with the Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

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